Hi Mktong,
1. May I relate my limited knowledge & experience with regard to FAA licence conversion. As long as you are a citizen of Malaysia, your FAA licence will not be recognised by M'sian DCA (MDCA) for the purpose of flying for hire and reward on any M'sian registered aircraft. Therefore, you have to sit for all CAA (UK) International Services papers (6 + 3) as mentioned by few guys earlier + few local technical papers such as airframe, engine etc (can't remember all ....), and of course M'sian Airlaw.
2. Post 97 (after Asian economy crisis), Govt of M'sia through Ministry of Transport through MDCA, has issued an AIC, stated that no overseas flying school will be recognised for the purpose of ab-initio training and issuing of Malaysian Licence (CPL & ATPL). The only exception was given to the Chopper Flightline School in Brisbane QLD, where the Royal M'sian Police Air Wing sent their cadets to do the ab-initio training on helicopter. That is why MAS & Air Asia have to send their cadets to MFA for the purpose of ab-initio training. This rule has not been lifted yet until today.
3. So what is the implication? Any M'sian citizen
MUST obtain a written permission from MDCA if you decided to carry out your ab-initio training overseas. If you haven't got one, you better go and visit MDCA and start putting your request for this exemption.
4. If MDCA decided NOT to grant your request, your training in USA will be considered as NULL & VOID
because MDCA never recognise your training and the training school. You may have to restart your training with MFA as this is the only flying school for fixed wing recognised by MDCA at the moment (am not sure whether Langkawi flying school has received their operating permit yet). Again, this is for the purpose of issuing of M'sian licence only. You may fly in M'sia using your FAA licence but only on a US registered aircraft.
5. MDCA normally will not entertain any request for revalidation of foreign licence to M'sian licence as long as the holder is a citizen of Malaysia. May be you may rule out the option of revalidating your FAA licence.
6. Mktong, licence is a big issue, once it is sorted, then you may start looking for a job. As what have been mentioned by few other guys before, job prospect in M'sia as a commercial pilot is quite good for the next few years as long as there is no misfortune happens.
I wish you all the best and Good Luck.
