Southeast Asia
Can you drink tap water in Malaysia?
Boil itFilter or boil
Can you drink the tap water in Malaysia?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Tap water is treated, but old pipes and tanks mean most people filter or boil it; buy bottled or use a filter.
Key facts
- Safely managed drinking water: 95% of people (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water by place in Malaysia
| Place | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated, but pipes and building tanks vary; most residents filter or boil it. Bottled water is cheap. |
| Penang | Filter or boil | Penang's tap water is treated and generally clean but filters are common; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Langkawi | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but not trusted by most visitors; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Malacca | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated, but filtered or bottled water is common; ice from restaurants is factory-made. |
| Kota Kinabalu | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but not usually drunk; use bottled water or a filter. |
| Cameron Highlands | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but can be cloudy after heavy rain; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Perhentian Islands | No, drink bottled | No safe tap water; buy bottled water or use refill stations at hostels. Water supply is limited and sometimes rationed. |
| Ipoh | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but most residents filter or boil it; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Johor Bahru | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but not trusted; most residents filter or boil it. Bottled water is cheap. |
| Genting Highlands | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but not drunk by most; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Kuching | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated and generally clean, but many residents filter or boil it. Bottled water is cheap. |
| Tioman | No, drink bottled | No safe tap water; buy bottled water or refill at hostels. Supply is limited in dry spells. |
| Redang | No, drink bottled | No safe tap water; resorts supply bottled water or filtered stations. Water supply is limited. |
| Semporna | No, drink bottled | No safe tap water; buy bottled water or use refill stations. Islands rely on rainwater and delivered supply. |
| Sandakan | Filter or boil | Tap water is treated but not trusted; drink bottled or filtered water. |
| Taman Negara | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water; guesthouses sell refills. Avoid river water and ice in remote stalls. |
Tap water by place
- Kuala LumpurTap water
- PenangTap water
- LangkawiTap water
- MalaccaTap water
- Kota KinabaluTap water
- Cameron HighlandsTap water
- Perhentian IslandsTap water
- IpohTap water
- Johor BahruTap water
- Genting HighlandsTap water
- KuchingTap water
- TiomanTap water
- RedangTap water
- SempornaTap water
- SandakanTap water
- Taman NegaraTap water
Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water
- US State Department travel advisory
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (Immigration Department)
- DE Rantau Nomad Pass (MDEC)
- Tourism Malaysia
- Speedtest Global Index: Malaysia
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.