Malaysia plug type and voltage: charging on the road
The three-pin plug, 230 volts at 50 hertz, and the adapter most travellers should pack.
By the Local SIM Malaysia team, checked October 2, 2026
The short answer
Malaysia runs on 230 volts at 50 hertz. Its sockets take the 13 A fused plug with three rectangular pins, made to MS 589-1 or the British BS 1363-1 and labelled type G on most adapters. A phone or laptop charger rated 100 to 240 volts needs only a plug adapter; UK plugs fit as they are.
- Voltage: 230 volts at 50 Hz, the nominal single-phase supply under MS IEC 60038, changed from 240 volts in 2008.
- Sockets: the 13 A fused plug with three rectangular pins, made to MS 589-1 or BS 1363-1 and known as type G on adapters.
- Other permitted plugs: a 15 A round-pin plug, and a two-pin 2.5 A plug allowed only on double-insulated equipment.
- Chargers: the 100 to 240 volt kind need an adapter, not a converter; a single-voltage 110 to 120 volt device should stay home.
- Switches: many sockets have a small switch beside them; check it is on before suspecting the charger.
Checked October 2, 2026
Your plug and what to pack
UK and Ireland
- Your plug
- Three rectangular pins
- For Malaysia
- No adapter needed
Europe (EU)
- Your plug
- Two round pins
- For Malaysia
- An adapter is needed
US and Canada
- Your plug
- Two flat pins
- For Malaysia
- An adapter is needed; check the charger's voltage label
Australia and New Zealand
- Your plug
- Two angled flat pins
- For Malaysia
- An adapter is needed
Good to know (Packing)
The 13 A standard
Suruhanjaya Tenaga, Malaysia's energy regulator, permits the 13 A fused plug made to MS 589-1 or BS 1363-1, the everyday socket; the same list names a 15 A round-pin plug and a 2.5 A two-pin plug for double-insulated equipment.
Switches beside the socket
Many Malaysian sockets are switched; if a charger shows no sign of life, check the switch beside the socket before suspecting the adapter.
Single-voltage devices
Hair dryers and other devices built for 110 to 120 volts need a converter, not just a plug adapter. If the label shows one voltage only, leave it at home.
Power banks in the air
Power banks travel in the cabin bag; Malaysia's civil aviation authority has asked airlines to tell passengers to keep them on their person rather than in the overhead locker, and airlines can set stricter rules.
The bottom line
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Charge the phone before you fly: the boarding pass and the arrival registration live on it, and the first socket at the hotel is the moment to plug it in.
Buy on VietSIMQuestions
What is the Malaysia plug type?
Malaysian sockets take the 13 A fused plug with three rectangular pins, made to MS 589-1 or BS 1363-1 and labelled type G on adapters. UK plugs fit as they are; plugs from the EU, the US and Australia need an adapter.
Do I need a voltage converter in Malaysia?
Not for a phone or laptop charger rated 100 to 240 volts; the nominal supply is 230 volts at 50 Hz, and those chargers handle it. A device built for 110 to 120 volts only, such as some hair dryers, needs a converter.
Can I bring a power bank to Malaysia?
Yes, in the cabin bag. Malaysia's civil aviation authority has asked airlines to tell passengers to keep power banks on their person rather than in the overhead locker, and airlines can set stricter rules of their own.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
- Suruhanjaya Tenaga: plugs permitted in Malaysia
- Suruhanjaya Tenaga: regulated electrical equipment in Malaysia (voltage and frequency)
- Sabah's energy regulator (ECoS): regulatory requirements related to national differences
- Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia: Safety Information 03/2025 on power banks
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