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The objective of this study was to determine the expression and transferability of tetracycline and erythromycin resistance among 188 MRSA strains from a Malaysian tertiary hospital. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for oxacillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin ranged from 4 to 512 μg/ml, 0.25 to 256 μg/ml, 0.5 to 256 μg/ml and 0.5 to 512 μg/ml, respectively. Tetracycline-resistant strains showed co-resistance towards ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) of high-level tetracycline (≥MIC 256 μg/ml) and erythromycin (≥MIC 128 μg/ml) resistant strains in between the years 2003 and 2008. All erythromycin-resistant strains harboured ermAor ermCgene and all tetracycline-resistant strains harboured tetMor tetKgene. The blaZwas detected in all MRSA strains, whereas ermA, tetM, ermC, tetKand msrAgenes were detected in 157 (84%), 92 (49%), 40 (21%), 39 (21%) and 4 (2%) MRSA strains, respectively. The blaZ, tetM, ermC and tetKgenes were plasmid-encoded, with ermCgene being easily transmissible. Tn5801-like transposon was present in 78 tetM-positive strains. ermAand tetMgenes were the most prevalent erythromycin and tetracycline resistance determinants, respectively, in MRSA strains. The association of resistance genes with mobile genetic elements possibly enhances the spread of resistant traits in MRSA.