Malaysian passport named fourth most powerful in Asia, 12th in the world

Malaysia’s emblematic red and gold passport has been ranked fourth most powerful in Asia, for the second year in a row.

Rejoice citizens, not only do we have the best food this side of the Pacific, but we can also add the world’s 12^th most preeminent passport, according to the Henley Passport Index, which ranks the travel document according to the amount of countries one can travel to visa-free. Malaysians enjoy travel to 166 countries visa-free.

No longer on that visa-free travel list? North Korea. A cooling of relations between the two nations has resulted in Malaysian travel to the hermit state being banned until further notice. Pyongyang’s delights will have to wait, rakyat.

However, we’re still playing second-fiddle to our friendly rival across the Causeway, Singapore. Passport holders from the city-state are ranked first in Asia, and 2^nd globally, with 176 countries open to visa-free travel. Germany was ranked first in the world, with 177 countries.

At number two and three in Asia were Japan and South Korea, respectively.

Malaysia and Singapore placed well above regional neighbors Thailand (64), Indonesia (72), Philippines (72), Cambodia (86), Vietnam (88), Laos (88) and Myanmar (92).

Least powerful this year? War ravaged countries Syria (102), Iraq (103) and Afghanistan. (104).