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Area
329,758 sq km (127,320 sq miles), Include Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah, and
Sarawak of Borneo.
Population
24,100,000 (2004).
Capital
Kuala Lumpur. Population: 1,495,000 (2003)
Time Zone
GMT + 8
Government
Constitutional monarchy since 1963, gained independence from the British in
1957. Head of Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi since 2003.(Updated 2008)
Language
Bahasa Malaysia (Malay Language) is the national and official language,
English are second language and widely spoken. Other languages such as
Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Tamil, Iban, kadazandusun are spoken by
minorities.
Religion
Muslim (53%), Buddhist (19%) majorities and Hindus (6%). The remainder are
Christian, Taoist, Confucianism and Animist.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 3-pin plugs and bayonet-type light fittings are
generally used.
Geography
Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering on Thailand in
the north, with Singapore and Indonesia to the south and the Philippines to
the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and
Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650-950km (404-600
miles) across the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia is an area
of forested mountain ranges running north-south, on either side of which are
low-lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1900km (1200 miles).
The west coast consists of mangrove swamps and mudflats which separate into
bays and inlets. In the west, the plains have been cleared and cultivated,
while the unsheltered east coast consists of tranquil beaches backed by
dense jungle.
Two state in North Borneo which
is Sabah and Sarawak. Sarawak and Labuan which is part of Federal Territory
has alluvial and, in places, swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating
the jungle-covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow
coastal plain which gives way to mountains and jungle. Mount Tahan, at 2187m (7185ft),
is highest peak in peninsula Malaysia, while Mount Kinabalu, at 4095m
(13,432ft), is the highest peak in Malaysia and also stand highest peak in
South-East Asia.
The major islands are Langkawi
(a group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast; and Tioman,
Redang, Kapas, Gemok, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast while Manukan,
Gaya, Sulug, Pulau Tiga, Mamutik, Sapi, Turtle Island, Layang-layang,
Sipadan and Mabul Island in Borneo which are excellent sea diving spots.
Country Overview
Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering Thailand,
Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru,
Penang, Melacca and the Southwest are the most developed and densely
populated regions of the country. This is also where the most important
historical remains are to be found. Malaysia's capital city and
main international gateway, Kuala Lumpur, was founded in the 1890s, and its
architecture reflects a cosmopolitan mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and
European cultures. The city of Malacca is two
hours by road from Kuala Lumpur. Founded in the early 15th century, Malacca
remains predominantly a Chinese community, with reminders of periods under
Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Architectural remains include the Cheng
Hoon Teng Temple in the centre of the city.
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