Foreigners find paradise on a budget

Right at home: Chatmanee said Malaysia’s strategic location, as well as its cultural proximity to her home country, made it the perfect destination for her.

PETALING JAYA: Expatriate-friendly policies, a relatively lower cost of living and similar local culture are some of the factors drawing foreigners to make Malaysia their temporary homes while earning a living here.

Thai national Chatmanee Hussadisarn, 26, said she never thought that she would stay in Malaysia for more than three years. She had initially entered the country on a two-year employment pass, which has been extended for another two years.