Istana Negarathe National Palace in Segambutis a sub-district of Kuala LumpurMalaysia's capital city. The palace is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agongthe ruling monarch of Malaysia. Image: kk nationsonline.org
Destination Malaysiaa Nationsonline country profile of the nation in Southeast Asiaformerly known as British Malaya and later as the Federation of Malaya.
Malaysia consists of two geographical regions separated by the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia (or West Malaysia) on the Malay Peninsula borders Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south. Malaysian Borneo (or East Malaysia) is located on the northern part of the island of Borneoa hugerugged island in the Malay Archipelago (Greater Sunda Islands) and the third largest island in the world. East Malaysia borders Indonesia and surrounds the Sultanate of Brunei. Malaysia shares maritime borders with the Philippines and Vietnam.
The country's combined area of 329,847 km²making it slightly larger than Norway or somewhat larger than the U.S. state of New Mexico. The highest mountain is Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m) in Sabah state on the island of Borneo. Mt. Kinabalu and surrounding Kinabalu Park are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Malaysia has a population of 34.1 million people (in 2024). The largest city and national capital is Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's multi-ethnic population consists of 64% Bumiputera (Malays 53% and other indigenous peoples 11%)21% ethnic Chinese6% ethnic Indians and 10% foreigners. Spoken languages are Malay (official)EnglishTamiland Cantonese Chinese. Malaysia's official religion is Islam; around 63% of the population are Sunni Muslims19% are Buddhists and 6% are Hindus.
What is Malaysia known for?
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Image: kk. nationsonline.org
It is a divided country; Western Malaysia occupies the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and is bordered by the Strait of Malacca to the westthe South China Sea to the eastand the Johore Strait separates it from Singapore. East Malaysia (or Malaysian Borneo) is located in the northern part of the island of Borneo. It shares the island with Kalimantanthe Indonesian part of Borneo. Malaysian Borneo features coastlines on the South China Seathe Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea.
Malaysia's population is a mix of three major ethnic groupseach with its own heritageculture and tradition. 60% of the population are Bumiputeraa term that describes the traditional inhabitants of the country and includes MalaysOrang Asli and other indigenous peoples. Minorities are Chineseabout 20%and Indians (6%). Malaysia has more than 130 living languages; the official language is Bahasa Malaysia (Melayu).
What is Malaysia famous for?
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpurthe 88-floor building is the 21st-century icon for Malaysia.
Mosquesthe country is home to several Muslim places of worship that are prominent landmarks. Famous examples are the Masjid Jamek Mosque and the National Mosque of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpurthe Iron Mosque and the pink Putra Mosque in Putrajayathe futuristic Cyberjaya Mosque in Selangorand the state mosque of Selangorthe Blue Mosque in Shah Alam.
Popular Malaysian dishes like the omelet sandwich Roti johnPenang's Nasi kandarRendang from Sumatraspicy Laksa soupmeat on a stick known as Satay and the classic rice noodle dish Char kway teow.
Malaysia Truly Asia (the advertising slogan was introduced worldwide in 1999).
Malaysia's wildlife is famous for big catssuch as tigers and leopardsthe Malayan tapir and the endangered Borneo pygmy elephants and Borneo orangutans.
The Cameron Highlands in Pahang state is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia.
The Langkawi archipelagothe Jewel of Kedahis a popular tourist destination.
Mount Kinabalu on Borneo is the highest mountain in Malaysia.
The Taman Negaraa national park in Peninsular Malaysia and one of the oldest deciduous forests in the worldis estimated to be more than 130 million years old. Mount Tahan (at 2,187 m) is located within the Taman Negara National Forest and is the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia.
Malaysia | Federation of Malaysia | Persekutuan Malaysia
Background:
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country in Southeast Asia and one
of the wealthiest and most developed countriesoutranked in GNP only by Singapore
and oil-rich Brunei. The Federation of Malaya became an independent country on
31 August 1957.
On 16 September 1963the federation was enlarged by the accession of SingaporeSabah (formerly British North Borneo) and Sarawak. The name "Malaysia" was adopted from that date. Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965.
Country Profile
Official Name: Persekutuan Malaysia
short form: Malaysia
int'l long form: Federation of Malaysia
Other Cities:
PenangIpohMalaccaJohor BaruKuchingKota KinabaluAlor SetarShah Alam.
Government:
Type: Federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch.
Independence: 31. August 1957. (Malayawhich is now peninsular Malaysiabecame
independent in 1957. In 1963 MalayaSabahSarawakand Singapore formed Malaysia.
Singapore became an independent country in 1965).
Constitution: 31 August 1957
amended 16 September 1963.
Geography:
Location: Southeastern Asiapartly on the Malay Peninsula south of Thailand and on the northern one-third
of the island of Borneobordering IndonesiaBruneiand the South China Sea
south of Vietnam. Area: 330,000 km² (127,316 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Coastal plains and interiorjungle-covered mountains. The South China
Sea separates peninsular Malaysia from East Malaysia on Borneo.
Climate: Tropicalannual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to
February) monsoons.
People:
Nationality: Malaysian(s). Population: 34.1 million (2024)
Real GDP per capita: $33,600 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups: 64% Bumiputera (Malays 53% and other indigenous peoples 11%)21% ethnic Chinese6% ethnic Indians and 10% non-Malaysian citizens.
Religions: Islam (63%)Buddhism (19%)Christianity (10%)Hinduism (6%)Confucianism
(2.6%)Animism (1%)others (including TaoismSikhismBaha'i faith). Languages: MalayCantoneseHokkienCantonese and Mandarin
ChineseEnglishTamilindigenous.
Literacy: 95%.
Transparency: Rank 57 (out of 180 countries); Score 51on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). Malaysia is ranked in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 between Saudi Arabia and Namibia.
Natural resources: tinpetroleumtimbercopperiron orenatural gas
bauxite.
Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia: rubber and palm oil processing and manufacturinglight manufacturing industryelectronicstin mining and smeltinglogging and processing
timber.
Sabah: loggingpetroleum production.
Sarawak: agriculture processingpetroleum production and refininglogging.
Exports - commodities: semiconductors and electronic equipmentpalm oilpetroleum and liquefied natural gaswood and wood productspalm oilrubbertextileschemicalssolar panels
Exports - partners:Singapore 14%China 13%United States 12%Japan 6%Hong Kong 6%Thailand 5% (2022) Imports - commodities: electronicsmachinerypetroleum productsplasticsvehiclesiron and steel productschemicals
Imports - partners: China 28%Singapore 12%United States 6%Taiwan 6%Japan 5%Thailand 5% (2022)
The Perdana Putra in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya. The building is part of the Prime Minister's Department Complex. Image: Stefan Fussan
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. The country's political system is a constitutional monarchy based on the British Westminster parliamentary system.
Nine of Malaysia's statesknown as the Malay Statesare constitutionally run by traditional Malay rulers of royal descent (sultans).
The representative head of state is the sultan (king); the sultan is chosen every five years from the ranks of the rulers of the nine Sultanates (according to the principle of rotation). The executive power of Malaysia is vested in the cabinet led by the prime ministerwho is the head of government.
Government
Note: External links will open in a new browser window.
Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja)
Official website of the Council of Rulers of Malaysiathe council consists of the nine rulers of the Malay statesand the (ceremonial) governorsor Yang di-Pertua Negeriof the other four states. One of the duties of the council is to elect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Paramount Ruler) and his deputy every five years.
Parlimen Malaysia
Official Website of the national assembly of Malaysia. The bicameral parliament consists of the lower housethe House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) and the upper housethe Senate (Dewan Negara).
Federal States of Malaysia
The principal administrative divisions of Malaysia are the 13 federal states (negeri-negeri) and three federal territories (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan).
The federal territories are Kuala LumpurMalaysia's capital.
Putrajayathe planned city was founded in 1995 and is located about 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur; it serves as the new administrative center of the federation.
Labuanthe territory consists of the island of Pulau Labuan and six smaller islands off the coast of Borneo in East Malaysia.
The map shows the 13 States of Malaysia. Image: nationsonline.org
List of the federal states of Malaysia with links to the official state website.
Johor
The State of Johor (Johore) occupies the southern part of the south of the Malay Peninsula. The capital is Johor Bahru. The Johor–Singapore Causeway links the city of Johor Bahru across the Straits of Johor to Singapore.
Kedah State
The State of Kedah is located in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia; it borders Thailand and includes the Langkawi Archipelago. The capital is Alor Setar. The royal capital is Anak Bukit.
Kelantan
The State of Kelantan is located in the north-eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia; it borders Thailand in the north. The capital is Kota Bharu.
Malacca
The historic city-state of Malaysia is located in the southwestern region of the Malay Peninsulaon the Strait of Malacca.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur. The building originally housed the offices of the British colonial administration. Image: kk. nationsonline.org
Negeri Sembilan
The State of Negeri Sembilan is located on the Malay Peninsula's southwest coast. The capital is Seremban.
Pahang
The State of Pahang is a sultanate and a federal state of Malaysia located in the center of the peninsula. The capital is Kuantan. Kuantan Port is a major maritime gateway to the east coast region of the peninsula.
Penang
Penang is located on the northwest coast of Western Malaysia and includes Penang Island. The state capital is George Town on the Island. Two bridges link Penang Island to the mainland.
Perak
The State of Perak is located on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. The capital city is Ipoh.
Perlis
The smallest state in Malaysia is Perlis. It shares an international border with Thailand. The capital is Kangar.
View of the Central Business District of KuchingSarawakfrom Fort Margherita. In the background Riverside Suites (center) and Riverside Majestic Hotel on the Sarawak River. Image: Sasha India
Sabah
The State of Sabah occupies the northern part of the island of Borneo. The capital and largest city is Kota Kinabalu.
Sarawak
The State of Sarawak stretches along Borneo's northwest coast. The capital and largest city is Kuching.
Selangor
The State of Selangor is located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia on the Strait of Malacca.
The capital is Shah Alam. The royal capital is Klang.
Terengganu
The State of Terengganu (Trengganu) is a sultanate located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The royal capital is Kuala Terengganu.
Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur. Image: Uwe Aranas
Freedom of Press Malaysia
When Malaysia first saw a transition of power through elections in May 2018the environment for journalists became much more favorableand the country rose dramatically in the RSF's Press Freedom Index. But all this has been reversed since the former governing coalition returned to power in March 2020. [1]
The same political coalition ruled Malaysia from independence in 1957 until 2018holding on to power by manipulating electoral districtsappealing to ethnic nationalismand suppressing criticism through restrictive speech laws and the persecution of opposition leaders. [2]
English language newspaper Daily Express
English-language newspaper in Sabah (East Malaysia) and the sister newspaper of the Overseas Chinese Daily News.
DayakDaily
DayakDaily is a news portal based in KuchingSarawak.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT)
Independentbilingual news online portal in English and Bahasa Malaysiafocusing on current Malaysian affairs.
Great! i did light leak because i dropped my sprocket rocket on the floor at Melaka!
Replica of the Flor de la Mar (Flower of the Sea)a Portuguese ocean-going sailing ship (carrack) that sank off the coast of Melaka. Malacca Maritime Museum. Image: 134340
Jabatan Muzium Malaysia
The Department of Museums MalaysiaJMM provides some information about Malaysia's museums
such as the Perak Museum in Taiping (Malaysia's oldest museum)the Malay World Ethnological Museumthe Museum of Aboriginal Arts and Crafts (Muzium Seni Kraf Orang Asli)the National Automobile Museum (Muzium Automobil Nasional) and the Labuan Marine Museum.
Muzium Negara
Official website of the National Museum of Malaysia.
MyCraftShoppe
Online platform for handicrafts from Malaysia.
Floating Mosque of Klangthe royal capital of Selangor. Image: Ahmad Rithauddin
Business & Economy of Malaysia
Religion meets commerce. Jamek MosqueKuala Lumpur's oldest mosqueat the confluence of Gombak (left) and Klang riversis surrounded by banks and insurance skyscrapers. To the right behind the mosque is the Masjid Jamek rapid transit station. Image: Marcin Konsek
Economy of Malaysia
Malaysiaa middle-income countryit has transformed itself since the 1970s from a mainly agricultural producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investment in Islamic financehigh technology industriesbiotechnologyand services. Export goodsespecially electronicsoil and gaspalm oil and rubberare a major driver of the economy.
Bank Negara Malaysia
The Central Bank of Malaysia is wholly owned by the Federal Government.
Bursa Malaysia
Formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock ExchangeBursa Malaysia is the stock exchange of Malaysia.
Axiata
Malaysian multinational telecommunications conglomerate with subsidiary holdings in many Asian countries.
CIMB
A large Malaysian universal bank headquartered in Kuala Lumpur.
FGV Holdings Berhad
A government-linked global agribusiness based in Malaysiawhich produces oil palm and rubber plantation productsoleochemicals and sugar products.
Marrybrown
Marrybrown is a halal-certified fast food restaurant chain.
Maxis Communications
Maxis is a communications service provider based in Malaysia.
Media Prima
Media Prima is Malaysia's largest media and entertainment company. It operates four TV and four radio channels and publishes three national newspapers - New Straits TimesBerita Harian and Harian Metro.
Maybank
Malayan Banking Berhad. Maybank is Malaysia's largest bank.
Permodalan Nasional Berhad
PNB is a government-linked investment group and one of the largest fund management companies in Malaysia.
Petronas
State-owned multinational oil and gas company.
Tenaga Nasional
TNB is a multinational electricity company based in Kuala Lumpur.
Myrapid
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad owns and operates the country's urban rail servicesincluding three LRT networks and the Kuala Lumpur Monorailand will run the planned MRT line in Greater Kuala Lumpur.
The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge crossing the Penang Strait. The bridge is also known as the Second Penang Bridge and is one of two bridges that link Penang Island to the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. It is Malaysia's longest bridgewith a total length of 24 km (15 mi.). Image: Christopher Harriot
Tourism in Malaysia
Popular Cenang beach on Langkawi island. Image: Jutta M. Jenning
Destination Malaysia - Travel and Tour Guides
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Discover Malaysia:
Malaysia Truly Asia
Official Website of Tourism Malaysia by the Ministry of TourismArts & Culture.
Tourism Malaysia
Official site of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB).
Johor Tourism
Official tourism guide to Johor state.
Langkawi
The official tourism site of the Langkawi archipelago.
Tourism Terengganu
A travel and tourism guide to the Malaysian state on the east coast of peninsular
Malaysia.
Wikivoyage Malaysia
The free worldwide travel guide to Malaysia in many languages.
Cities Kuala Lumpur
Government of the City of Kuala Lumpur.
Theme parks Genting SkyWorlds
The upcoming movie-inspired theme park at Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands.
Lost World of Tambun
Lost World of Tambun is an action-adventure theme park in Ipoh.
Legoland Malaysia
Colorful Danish interlocking plastic toy bricks also in Southeast Asia.
Sunway Lagoon
The Sunway Lagoon is a theme park in Bandar SunwaySubang JayaSelangor.
The BOH Tea Plantationestablished in 1929is located in the Cameron Highlands in the northwest corner of Pahang state; it is the largest tea plantation in Malaysia. Image: Tinu711
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia
There are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysiatwo cultural and two natural sites. Additionallysix properties are listed in UNESCO's Tentative List (see the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia).
The following links lead to a detailed description of the respective World Heritage Site at UNESCO.
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
The property includes four archaeological sites in two clusters spanning nearly 2 million yearsone of the longest records of early man in a single location and the oldest outside the African continent. Situated in the lush Lenggong Valley in upper Perakthe property features open-air and cave sitescave drawingsand Palaeolithic tool workshopsevidence of early technology. In many of the caves in the Lenggong areathere have been finds of jewelrypotteryweapons and stone toolsevidence that early humans lived and hunted here. Gua Gunung Runtuh cave was the burial place of the Perak Man; the skeleton has been dated to around 11,000 years old. It is South-East Asia's oldest and most complete human skeleton.
Melaka and George TownHistoric Cities of the Straits of Malacca
Melaka (Malacca) and George Townthe historic cities on the Strait of Malaccadeveloped during 500 years of trade and cultural exchange between East and West on the Strait of Malacca. Influences from Asia and Europe gave the towns a specific multicultural heritage. With its government buildingschurchessquares and fortificationsMalacca shows the beginnings of this historywhich has its origins in the Malay Sultanate of the 15th century and the Portuguese and Dutch periods from the early 16th century. In contrastGeorge Townwith its residential and commercial buildingsrepresents the British era from the late 18th century.
Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Parkon the island of Borneo in the state of Sarawakis the best-studied tropical karst area in the world. The park is important for its high biodiversity and its karst features; it contains seventeen vegetation zoneswhere about 3,500 species of vascular plants are found.
The karst formationknown as the Pinnacles in Gunung Mulu National Parkis a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image: Gurazuru
Education in Malaysia
The new building of the Faculty of Business and Administration of the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. Image: ZLonLon
University of Malaya
Universiti Malaya (UM) is the oldest and most prestigious university in the country; the public research university is located in Kuala Lumpur.
Universiti Teknologi (UTM)
Official web portal of the University of Technologythe public research University in Johor Bahru.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
The University of Science is a public research university and one of the oldest institutes of higher learning in Northern Malaysiafounded in 1969.
The snow-free Mount Kinabaluthe highest peak (4,094 m) in both Borneo and Malaysia. Image: Cccefalon
Department of Environment
Official site of the Malaysian Department of EnvironmentMinistry of Natural
Resources & Environment.
Malaysia History
Weld Quay in the Port of PenangGeorge Town in the 1910s. Image: KleingrotheCarl Josef (1864-1925)
History of Malaysia
"Malaysia" is a concept created in the second half of the 20th century. The British Empirewhich ruled Malaya from 1826 to 1957wanted a clean exit from its possessions in Southeast Asia and to ensure that its former colonies did not turn to communism. To achieve thisBritain developed the idea of a "Federation of Malaysia" in which their former territories on the Malay PeninsulaSingaporeNorth Borneo (Eastern Sabah)Brunei and Sarawak would form a single political entity.
So the British convinced local leaders in SabahSarawakand Brunei of the big ideaand they (half-heartedly) agreed to the creation of the new state of Malaysia.
On 16 September 1963the Federation of Malaysia was launched in a tenseturbulent and threatening atmosphere. The new state's two neighborsIndonesia and the Philippinesopposed its creation and consequently withheld recognition. [3]
Pre-colonial period
The region of the Malay Peninsula was part of various early SiameseKhmerChams and Malay kingdoms which became part of the historic Indospherethe cultural influence zone of Greater India. Indian influence in the region dates back to at least the 3rd century BC.
As early as the 1st century BCthe peninsula's ports and trading centers had trade relations with China and India.
By the 6th and 7th centuriesa sophisticated trading system had developed on the Malay Peninsula.
Western coastal settlements of Borneo had become trading ports in the first millennium AD. Popular merchandise were goldcamphortortoise shellshornbill ivoryrhinoceros horncrane crestbeeswaxlakawood and spices.
Islam came to the Malay Archipelago through the Arab and Indian traders in the 13th centuryending the age of Hinduism and Buddhism.
The Nunuk Ragang (the red Banyan tree) Heritage Building in Sabah resembles the trunk of the legendary giant banyan tree. The site is traditionally considered as the location of the original home of the ancestors of the Kadazan-Dusun natives who inhabit most of northern Borneo. Image: CEphoto
The Indigenous People of Malaysia
In the multi-ethnic countryseveral terms describe members of the various population groups in Malaysia. These terms are often used interchangeably.
Three major ethnic groups make up the population of Malaysia: MalaysChineseand Indians.
The most diverse group are the Malaysalso known as Bumiputera (or 'son of the soil').
Malaysia's constitution defines a Malay (not the Bumiputera) as a person who professes the religion of Islamhabitually speaks Malayconforms to Malay customs and is the child of a Malaysian parent.
This regulation excludes people who practice a religion other than Islamsuch as HinduismBuddhismChristianityand Animism.
The Indigenous Peoples of Peninsular Malaysia
The Orang Asli are
indigenous peoples and the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.
They consist of several ethnic groups:
The Semang or Negritoswho mostly live as hunter-gatherers
The Senoiwho cultivate rice and millet in the highlandsand
The Jakun (or aboriginal Malays) farm in the lowlands and trade as forest gatherers.
Orang Asli
Wikipedia article about the Orang Aslithe "Original People," a collective term used in Malaysia for various indigenous peoples in the interior of the Malay Peninsula.
The Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak and Sabah
The indigenous peoples of Sarawak include IbansBidayuhOrang UluMelanausPenans and Malays.
The indigenous peoples of Sabah include Kadazan-DusunsBajausMurutBruneian Malays and Suluks.
Demographics of Sarawak
Wikipedia article about the many races and ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Demographics of Sabah
Wikipedia article about the many races and ethnic groups in Sabah and Labuan.
Additional Information
Selected country profiles and data of Malaysia published by international organizations.
are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
