Immigration Malaysia

Question:
I will be traveling to Malaysia via Singapore in February to visit a pen/phone-pal. I will fly into Singapore and she will take me to her home in Johor Bahru. While making the flight arrangements with a travel agent, I was told that I may not be allowed into Singapore because they generally don't trust men with long hair. They assume such men are "hippie-types" and may carry drugs or cause trouble. It doesn't matter if I'm a good person or how well I dress, I was told I probably wouldn't be allowed into the country. I have shoulder-length hair and I really don't mind cutting it if I need to. I just want to know how true this rumor is and has anybody here seen someone get turned away because of this? It disappoints me a little and my friend is very upset because she would really like to see me the way I am now and in the pictures she's seen. The most important thing is that we want to be together and I'm not going to let the length of my hair jeopardize that. I'd appreciate advice on this or other tips for an American visiting Malaysia and Singapore. A travel book told me I should not chew gum on subways/trains. Not a problem since I don't like gum, but that makes me wonder what else I should watch out for. This is my first time out of the USA, and I want it to be a pleasant trip.

Answer:
I don't know about Singapore but this is certainly not true about Malaysia. In fact a lot of Malaysian men keep long hair. You'll definitely be allowed into the country. You just won't be allowed on tv, that's all (which is a different subject altogether). However, having long hair may subject you to greater scrutiny by the immigration and I think this would happen in any country. Immigration officials in any country are on the lookout for potential troublemakers and will therefore discriminate on the basis of physical appearance. Chewing gum is not banned in Malaysia and Singapore but you're not allowed to bring any into Singapore.