Emergency Contacts

No. Malaysia does not use 911. The national emergency number is 999. From a mobile phone, you can also dial 112, which is the international GSM emergency number — it will be redirected to Malaysia's 999 response centre automatically.

Yes. Emergency calls to 999 and 112 work from any GSM-compatible phone, even without a local SIM card, without credit, or from a locked phone. All emergency calls are free in Malaysia.

In urban areas like Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, ambulance response is relatively quick via the 999 system. In remote or rural areas, response times can be significantly longer due to distance and road conditions.

Options for remote areas:

• Government ambulance via 999 (Ministry of Health)
• St. John's Ambulance and Malaysian Red Crescent in some areas
• Gleneagles Hospital offers private air ambulance services for long-distance transfers
• Sabah Ambulance (Borneo Patient Transfer Services) for non-emergency transport

Highly recommended. While Malaysia doesn't require travel insurance for entry, tourists must pay for medical treatment at the time of service. Private hospital stays can cost around USD $50/night for a basic room, with complex procedures costing USD $7,000–$8,000 or more.

Recommended minimums: $100,000 medical coverage and $500,000 evacuation coverage. Some private hospitals accept cashless admission with eligible insurance policies.

Step 1: File a police report at the nearest police station immediately — this is required for all next steps.

Step 2: Contact your country's nearest embassy or consulate (see our Consulates page). They can issue an Emergency Travel Document.

Step 3: Malaysian Immigration can issue an Emergency Certificate (valid 9 months) — processing takes 3–5 working days.

The most common nature-related emergencies include:

• Jellyfish stings — Box jellyfish (Chironex species) are present in Sabah waters and can be life-threatening. Seek immediate hospital treatment.
• Snake bites — Cobras cause the most severe envenomation. Anti-venom therapy must not be delayed. Call 999 immediately.
• Diving decompression sickness — A hyperbaric chamber is available at the Malaysia Navy Base, Sepangar, Kota Kinabalu.
• Heatstroke & dehydration — Common among hikers on Mount Kinabalu and in tropical lowlands.

Yes. The Sabah Tourism Board emergency hotline is +60 19 939 2121. This is for tourism-related emergencies and assistance. For life-threatening situations, always call 999 first.

Tourist police units are stationed in major tourist areas including KK Waterfront, Semporna, and around Kinabalu Park.