Kuraberu Malaysia

'Glad we chose Malaysia.' — for every family.

Essential Living Apps in Malaysia

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Setup order for relocation (before departure to after owning a car)

Before departure (in Japan)

  1. Register WhatsApp with your Japanese number
    All communication with schools and real estate is via WhatsApp. Use it to book viewings before departure too.
  2. Register Grab with your Japanese number
    Ready to use for the ride from the airport on arrival day. Pay by credit card for now.
  3. Open a Wise account and complete identity verification
    Verification can take a few days, so finish it while still in Japan.
  4. Install Google Translate and Klook
    Klook is also handy for airport transfers and outing tickets in your first week.
  5. Research housing on iProperty / PropertyGuru
    Getting a feel for areas and rent levels makes viewings after arrival smoother. Viewing appointments are usually arranged via WhatsApp.

First week after arrival

  1. Get a SIM card (obtain a local number)
    This is the starting point for everything. A local number is required to register for TNG and banking.
  2. Set up your carrier's official app
    Install your carrier's app — CelcomDigi, Hotlink or MyUMobile — so you can handle top-ups and add data entirely within the app.
  3. Register TNG eWallet via passport eKYC
    Right after getting a local number. Useful from day one at hawker stalls, parking, and transit.
  4. Set GrabPay/card as your Grab payment and register foodpanda
    Get both delivery giants ready to get through the setup-your-life phase.
  5. Register with Shopee
    Start sourcing furniture, appliances, and daily goods. Register your delivery address.

After settling in

  1. Open a bank account, then set up the bank app and DuitNow
    After opening the account, switching your TNG top-up method to the bank is also cheaper on fees.
  2. Manage utilities in-app with myTNB and Air Selangor
    Water-outage notifications directly affect quality of life.
  3. Add inDrive, eatigo, GSC/TGV and others as you like
    Once life is stable, expand into money-saving and entertainment apps.

After getting a car

  1. Setel, Waze, and parking apps (by state)
    Parking apps are Flexi Parking for KL and Smart Selangor Parking for Selangor.
  2. Set up TNG RFID, MyEG, MyBayar Saman, and Bjak
    Move all car upkeep into apps: tolls, road tax, saman fines, and insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I use TNG eWallet without a bank account?
A. Yes. TNG eWallet can be registered with passport eKYC verification, and you can top up with a credit card or via convenience-store and cash reloads. Since you can start a cashless life before opening a bank account, setting up TNG first is recommended in the early days of relocation.
Q. Can I top up and pay with a Japanese credit card?
A. It works in many apps, but some card issuers block overseas online payments. Grab and Klook usually work fine with Japanese cards, whereas TNG top-ups vary in fees and card compatibility, so if it fails, try another card or a cash reload.
Q. Which apps should I install in Japan before departure?
A. Five: WhatsApp, Grab, Wise, Google Translate, and Klook. WhatsApp and Grab can be registered with a Japanese phone number and used from arrival day. Wise verification can take a few days, so it goes smoothly if you finish opening the account while still in Japan.
Q. Should GrabPay or TNG be my main wallet?
A. The standard is TNG as your main wallet with GrabPay alongside. TNG has overwhelmingly broad coverage—hawker stalls, parking, and public transit—while GrabPay's strength is earning points on Grab rides and delivery. In Malaysia it's common not to stick to one wallet but to use two or three for different purposes.
Q. Which app should I install to pay for street parking?
A. The designated app differs by area. Flexi Parking is used within Kuala Lumpur, Smart Selangor Parking in Selangor state including Petaling Jaya, and JomParkir in places like Penang and Johor. Installing two to match your home and travel range is the safe bet.
Q. Can foreigners use the MyJPJ app?
A. Yes. A 2025 update opened registration to foreigners, so you can upload licence documents for verification and check or renew road tax digitally in the app. Note that vehicles registered under a foreigner still need to display a physical road tax sticker. MyEG and JPJ counters remain available as alternatives.
Q. Can I register for the apps while keeping my Japanese phone number?
A. WhatsApp and Grab can be registered with a Japanese number, but apps that become central to daily life, such as TNG eWallet and bank apps, require a Malaysian phone number. It's most efficient to get a SIM as soon as possible after arrival and set up your apps around the local number.
Q. Is LINE not used in Malaysia?
A. It's barely used. WhatsApp is the standard means of contact in Malaysia, and communication with schools, lessons, real estate, and shops all happens on WhatsApp. Using LINE for family and friends in Japan and WhatsApp locally—a two-track setup—is the typical style for Japanese relocators.
Malaysia life tips, updated regularly