|
|
About Malaysia
|
During
the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies
and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied
by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on
the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became
independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed
in 1963 when the former
British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah
and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The
first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian
efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and
Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965.
|
 |
|
 |
| Malaysian
Geology |
| Tectonically,
Peninsular Malaysia forms part of the Sunda Shield. Its Triassic
fold-mountain belt, the spine of the Peninsula, continues from eastern
Burma through Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, the Banka and Billiton
Islands, and eastwards into Indonesian Borneo. Thick
formations
of Lower Carboniferous limestone in central Pahang and carbonaceous
shales with limestone lenses in east Pahang provide the earliest
indications of the formation of the basin to the east of the Main
Range. Sedimentation here was typically shallow marine and, in
Kelantan, was probably continuous till the Early Permian. |
| Topography
& Climate |
| In
Peninsular Malaysia a mountainous spine known as the Main Range or
Banjaran Titiwangsa runs from the Thai border southwards to Negeri
Sembilan, effectively separating the eastern part of the Peninsula from
the western. Malaysia lies entirely in the equatorial zone. The climate
is governed by the regime of the north-east and south-west monsoons
which blow alternately during the course of the year and whose
existence in the days of sailing ships made the country the natural
meeting and exchange point for traders from East and West. |
Transportations
|
Railways: total: 2,418 km
(2002).
Highways: total: 65,877 km;
paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways); unpaved: 15,942
km (1999).
Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular
Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km).
Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota
Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan,
Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir
Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang,
Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala,
Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau.
Airports: 114 |
| Communications |
Telephones: main
lines in use: 4.6 million (2000); mobile cellular: 5 million (2000).
Radio broadcast
stations: AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001).
Radios: 10.9
million (1999).
Television
broadcast stations: 1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001).
Televisions: 10.8
million (1999).
Internet Service
Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000).
Internet users: 5.7
million |
| Additional
Information |
Head of State: Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud (2006)
Prime Minister: Abdullah Badawi
(2003)
Current government officials
Land area: 126,853 sq mi
(328,549 sq km); total area: 127,316 sq mi (329,750 sq km)
Population (2007 est.):
24,821,286 (growth rate: 1.8%); birth rate:
22.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 16.6/1000; life expectancy: 72.8;
density per sq mi: 196
Capital and largest city (2003
est.): Kuala Lumpur, 3,688,200 (metro. area), 1,403,400
Other large cities: Kelang,
683,200; Johor Bharu, 682,100
Monetary unit: Ringgit
Languages:
Bahasa Melayu (Malay, official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese,
Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai;
several indigenous languages (including Iban, Kadazan) in East Malaysia
Ethnicity/race: Malay 50.4%,
Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions: Muslim, Buddhist,
Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; Shamanism (East Malaysia)
Literacy rate: 89% (2003 est.) |
|
| Useful
Information |
|
|
| Interest
Information |
|
|
|
Home