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Background: 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.
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Common Name: Malaysia
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Local Official Name: Malaysia
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Abbreviated Name: Malaysia
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Official Name: Malaysia
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Official Script Name: Malaysia
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Local Common Name: Malaysia
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Former Name: Federation of Malaysia
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail
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Government Type: constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang)
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Independence: 1957 August 31 (from UK)
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Constitution: 1957 August 31 , amended 1963 September 16
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National Holiday: Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August
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International Organization Participation: APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage: 21 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
Chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12 December 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 7 January 2004)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
Elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12 December 2001 (next to be held in 2006); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
Election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler
Legislative Branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next must be held by 2009)
Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199, DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1
Judicial Branch:
Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister)
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Party Leaders: ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN, consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]; opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA - consists of PAS and PKR
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International Disputes: Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih - but parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in hostile confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil block; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a now dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; in 2003, Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of international adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
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Illicit Drugs: regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties
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Location of Malaysia: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
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Continent: Asia
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Land Area Total: 329,750 sq km
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Region: South East Asia |
Land Area Land: 328,550 sq km
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Capitol City: Kuala Lumpur
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Land Area Water: 1,200 sq km
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Latitude: 002 30 N
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Border Boundary Land: 2,669 km
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Longitude: 112 30 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 4,675 km
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Arable Land: 5.46 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 17.54 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 4,100 m
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Location: Gunung Kinabalu
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Indian Ocean
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Largest City in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
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Kuala Lumpur Largest City Population: 1,384,000
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Threatened Species: 828
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Environmental Issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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Irrigated Land: 3,650
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Bordering Countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
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Natural Resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
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Geographical Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
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Comparative Area of Malaysia: slightly larger than New Mexico
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Malaysia's Geography: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
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General Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
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Natural Hazards: flooding, landslides, forest fires
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Economic Overview: Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001 grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion mitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy rebounded in 2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003, notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5% in 2005. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the cost of government subsidies for domestic gasoline and diesel fuel has risen and offset some of the benefit. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005, but so far there has been little movement in the exchange rate. Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation, and a small external debt are all strengths that make it unlikely that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on continued growth in the US, China, and Japan - top export destinations and key sources of foreign investment.
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GDP: $290,200,000,000 USD
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Currency: ringgit
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GDP per Capita: $12,100 USD
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Currency Code: MYR
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GDP Growth Rate: 5.30 %
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Currency Exchange Rate History: ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003), 3.8 (2002), 3.8 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 8.40 %
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GDP of Industry: 48.00 %
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GDP of Services: 43.60 % |
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Inflation Rate: 3.00 % |
Population in Poverty: 8.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 3.60 %
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Tourism: 7,931,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 1.40 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $30,570,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 39.20 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $34,620,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 79,280,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 75,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 73,630,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 100,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 87.96%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 12.04%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 770,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 53,500,000,000 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 510,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 28,530,000,000 cu m
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Oil Exports: 230,200 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 22,410,000,000 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 3,100,000,000 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 2,124,000,000,000 cu m
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External Debt: $52,000,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber
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Primary Industries: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum prod
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Industrial Growth Rate: 4.10 %
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Import Amount in USD: $118,700,000,000 USD - electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals
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Import Partners: Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5%
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Export Amount in USD: $147,100,000,000 USD - electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
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Export Partners: US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%, Thailand 5.4%
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GINI Index: 49.20%
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Labor Force Number of People: 10,670,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: local trade and tourism 28%, manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, services 10%, government 10%, construction 9%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 441 |
Number of People with Radios: 10,900,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 88 |
Number of People with Televisions: 10,800,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 4,446,300 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 14,611,900 |
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Internet Service Providers: 151,239 |
Internet Users: 10,040,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .my |
Newspapers: 158 |
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Two Letter Country Code: MY |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 60 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
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Telephone Systems: General assessment: modern system; international service excellent
Domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations
International: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
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Highways: 55,943 km |
Railways: 1,890 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 7,369 km |
Waterways: 7,200 km
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Airports: 37 |
Heliports: 2
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Motor Vehicles: 15 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 130,844,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 6.20 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container 48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, South Korea 1, Singapore 44)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman Islands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4)
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Ports and Harbors: Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas
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Population: 24,385,858 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 22.86 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 74.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 1.78% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 3.04 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 4,093,859 |
Population Female 0-14: 3,862,730 |
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Population Male 15-64: 7,660,680 |
Population Female 15-64: 7,613,537 |
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Population Male 65+: 509,260 |
Population Female 65+: 645,792 |
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Population 0-14: 32.60% |
Literacy Rate: 88.70% |
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Population 15-64: 62.60% |
Literacy rate of Males: 92.00% |
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Population 65+: 4.30% |
Literacy rate of Females: 85.40% |
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Population that is Male: 50.50
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Population that is Female: 49.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 72.50 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 17.16 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 69.80 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 75.38 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.40%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 52,000
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 2,000 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: MALAYSIAN
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Ethnic Groups: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8%
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Primary Language: Bahasa Melayu
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Other Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
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Primary Religion: Muslim
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Other Religions: Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
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Branches: Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM)
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 11,094,576 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 9,188,175 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 476,314 People per year
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Expenditures: $1,690,000,000 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 2.03
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Malaysia Spa and Resort Directory
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