GeoVision Malaysia: General Information

Malaysia is situated in the central part of South-east Asia region. Malaysia lies between the Longitudes 100 degrees and 120 degrees East and Latitudes formed by the Equator and 7 degrees North.

To the north of Malaysia is Thailand, to the South is Singapore and Indonesia and to the east are the Philippines Islands.

Malaysia is comprised of the Malay Peninsula and the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak across the South China Sea on the island of Borneo.

Malaysia is a multi racial country with a population of approximately 18 million people. Malays, Chinese, Indians and the various indigenous groups form the majority of the Malaysian population.

There are thirteen states in Malaysia. Each state in Malaysia is either headed by a Sultan, or a Governor. The states which are headed by Royal families are Kedah, Perlis, Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang and Terengganu. The states which are head by Governors are Melaka, Pulau Pinang (Penang), Sabah and Sarawak. Federal

Bahasa Melayu is the official language of Malaysia. Being a multi-ethnic country, other languages such as English, Chinese and Tamil are widely used throughout Malaysia.

The unit of the Malaysian currency is the Ringgit. The Malaysian Ringgit is comprised of 100 sen. Currency notes are in the denominations of Ringgit Malaysia, RM2.00, RM5.00, RM10.00, RM20.00, RM50.00, RM100.00. RM1.00 once used to be issued in currency notes are currently being phased out with the introduction of RM1.00 coins. The issuance of the Malaysia currency is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia, under the Finance Ministry.

Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of the Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) or 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Time Zone.

Sunny, hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures may range from 21°C to 32°C (70° F to 90 °F). The annual rainfall in Malaysia ranges from 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm. (79 in. to 98 in.) Humidity in Malaysia is as high as 80% due to high temperature, high rate of evaporation and heavy rainfall.

Old Map Historical

Background Malaysia's strategic position between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea has long been a meeting and transitional place for traders and travellers from West to East and vice versa. As a result of that, Malaysia's history is one of continual interaction with foreign powers and influences. Hindu-Buddhist influence was strong in the centuries before the coming of Islam as evident in Kedah's Bujang Valley.

By 1400, when the Malacca Malay Kingdom was at the height of its power, Islam had become a major influence.

By 1511, however, Malacca had fallen to the Portuguese. Meanwhile the Dutch had been establishing their influence and presence in Java. By 1641, the Dutch had also taken over Malacca but they in turn lost it to the British who had been slowly consolidating their hold on the Malay states, following Francis Light's arrival in Penang in 1786. By 1815 Malacca was in British hands and in 1819, Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. Thereafter, through treaties, relentless political pressure and diplomacy, the British slowly extended their control over all the states of the Malay peninsula.

Sarawak, once part of the Sultan of Brunei's Empire, had been ruled since 1841 by a British adventurer named James Brooke and his descendants. In 1888, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) became British protectorates. By the 1920s, all the states that eventually comprised Malaysia were under British control. The first stirrings of Malaysian nationalism were felt in the 1930s and following the end of World War II, the momentum of nationalism picked up again, culminating in independence for the Federation of Malaya in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

Government

Malaysian Parliamentary democracy is based on universal suffrage. Malaysia comprises 13 states, nine of which have hereditary Rulers. The Supreme Head of State is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) who is elected every five years from among the nine Rulers.

The Head of government is the Prime Minister, who must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) or Parliament. Parliament itself comprises two Houses: The Dewan Rakyat, which is fully elective, and the Dewan Negara (Senate) to which members are nominated by H.M. the King from among citizens who have rendered distinguished public service or have achieved distinction in the professions or are representatives of racial minorities or are capable of representing the interests of the aborigines.

As Head of Government, the Prime Minister heads the Cabinet, which is made up of the various Ministers of Government.

Each of the 13 states of Malaysia also has its own Chief Minister or Mentri Besar, who is also elected to office. It has its own (elected) State Assembly.

Economy

Basically a developing free enterprise, the Malaysian economy is based on primary products but steadily undergoing industrialisation. Malaysia is among the world's largest producers of tin, rubber and palm oil.

Other major products: Petroleum (the exploration and production of which is carried under the supervision of the national oil corporation, Petronas) timber and pepper.