Area
329,733 sq kilometres or 127,311 square miles.
Population
23,266,000 as per the official estimate in 2000.
Population Density
70.6 per sq kilometre.
Capital
Kuala Lumpur Population
1,297,526 (2000).
Geography
Malaysia is in
central South-East Asia,
shares the borders in the north
with Thailand, in the south with Singapore
and Indonesia and in the east with the Philippines. The country consists of the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.
Peninsular
Malaysia is a mountainous region running from the north
to the south on either side of which are low-lying coastal plains. The
coastline stretches some 1,900 kilometres or 1,200 miles. The west coast comprises
mudflat's and mangrove swamps, that separate into bays and inlets.
The plains in the
east coast are unsheltered and boast quiet beaches that are backed by dense
jungle while in the west have been cleared and cultivated.
Sarawak consists of swampy coastal plains with
rivers penetrating the jungle-clad hills and mountains of the
interior while Sabah comprises a narrow coastal plain that gives way
to the mountains and jungles. Mount Kinabalu standing at 4,094 metres or
13,432 feet is the highest point in Malaysia.
The larger islands are Langkawi (consists of 99 islands), Penang,
Pangkor, Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east
coast.
Government
Constitutional monarchy since 1963. Gained independence from the
United Kingdom in 1957.
Head of State: King Syed
Sirrajuddin ibni al-Marhum Syed Putra Jamalullail since 2001.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir
Mohammad since 1981.
Language
Bahasa Malaysia is the official language and English
is widely spoken. Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil
are spoken by minorities.
Religion
Muslim (53%) and Buddhist (19%)
make up the majorities. Also Taoist, Christian, Hindu, Confucianism
and Animist.
Time
GMT + 8 hours.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs and
bayonet-type light fittings. |
