« Main Page |  Business & Economy of Malaysia »

Introduction: Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of 329,845 square kilometers (127,354 sq mi). The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population of Malaysia is about 20 million. Peninsular Malaysia’s neighbors are Thailand and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak border Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo) and Sarawak surrounds the tiny enclave of Brunei. Malaysia has a tropical climate and divided into West Malaysia and East Malaysia. The two parts are separated 650km (403 miles) apart by theSouth China Sea. West Malaysia is the Peninsular, which consist of 11 states. East Malaysia comprises the two states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are situated on the Island of Borneo. The next immigrants were the Proto-Malays and the Deutero-Malays.
General Information: Capital : Kuala Lumpur Coordinates : 3°08′N 101°42′E Official language : Malay Area : 329,845 km2 Population : 28,310,000 Currency : Ringgit (RM) (MYR) Time zone : MST (UTC+8) Calling code : +60 History Background: There is a strong interlink between the country’s multi-racial and multicultural make-up and its history. Its interesting cultural diversity can be largely attributed to the country’s long and on-going interaction with the outside world and colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. The country achieved independence on August 31, 1957 as The Federation of Malaya and with the subsequent entry of Sabah and Sarawak in 1963, Malaysia was formed. British and Dutch interest in the region grew in the 1800s, with the British East India Company’s establishment of a trading settlement on theisland of Singapore. Trade soared, with Singapore’s population growing from only 5,000 in 1820 to nearly 100,000 in just 50 years. In the 1880s,Britain formally established protectorates in Malaysia.
Geography: Malaysia is the 43rd most populated country and the 66th largest country by total land area in the world. It is comparable in population to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, and is roughly similar in size to Norway and Vietnam. Ethnically and culturally, Malaysia is a fundamentally Malay country overlaid with Chinese, Indian and British influences, and possessing several indigenous tribal peoples such as the Iban, Penan and Negrito. Peninsular Malaysia accounts for 40% of the country’s landmass. The Andaman Sea is on the West Coast of the peninsula. The East Coast of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak all adjoin the South China Sea. There are several mountain ranges running north- south along the backbone of the peninsula. A wide, fertile plain trails the West Coast, while a narrow coastal plain runs along the east
Language and Culture: The national language of Malaysia is Bahasa Melayu, but English is widely spoken and understood, and taught as a second language. The people of Malaysia also converse in a range of Chinese and Indian dialects. Various other languages are spoken and East Malaysia features several other indigenous languages. Malaysia is rich in culture. Islam is the official religion but all other religions are practiced freely.
For other countries general information, please visit our countrywise network sites at : http://www.japanesecartrade.com/help/sites

« Main Page |  Business & Economy of Malaysia »