December is considered a perfect time to visit the West Coast of Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur. Beach holidays to Langkawi and Penang are popular at this time of year, with long hours of sunshine and little rain expected.
By contrast the East Coast of Malaysia is in the grip of the Northeast monsoon in December, which can be characterized by heavy rain, which although often concentrated in dramatic thunderstorms can also sometimes be more persistent.
High winds and choppy seas are typical which mean December isn’t a popular time to visit this region of Malaysia. Many East Coast Malaysia resorts close during this time of year.
December sees the northern coast of Sabah continue to be affected by the Northeast monsoon, which typically brings a sudden heavy downpour late in the afternoon every other day or so.
As December progresses however, the number of days with rain usually decreases as the dry season approaches.
Sarawak is also under the influence of the monsoon in December, and fairly high rainfall can be expected in Kuching, along the coastal area around the Bako National Park and throughout the interior of Sarawak. Rainfall is usually concentrated in short sharp downpours in the late afternoon.