Country Guide • Malaysia
Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering on Thailand in the north, with Singapore and Indonesia to the south and the Philippines to the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650-950km (404-600 miles) across the South China Sea.
| Official Name | Federation of Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Area | 329,749km² (127,317mile²) |
| Population | 23,000,000 |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population per mile² | 181 |
| Capital City | Kuala Lumpur |
| Religions | The official religion is Islam. 53% Muslims, 29% Buddhists and Confucianists, 7% Hindus, 6% Christians and the remainder following local native tribal beliefs |
| Language | Official Language is Malay, but Chinese, Tamil and English is also spoken |
| Government | Parliamentary Monarchy |
| Currency | Ringgit |
| GDP | $210 billion |
| GDP per Head | $9,300 |
| Natural Resources | Tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas and bauxite |
| Land Use | Arable Land 5.5% |
| Agriculture | Peninsular Malaysia—rubber, palm oil, cocoa and rice. Sabah—subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts and rice. Sarawak—rubber, pepper and timber |
| Industry | Agriculture, Cement, Chemicals, Crude Oil Production, Electronics, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Rubber, Textiles and Tyre Manufacture |
| Tourism | Over the centuries Malaysia has resulted in a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribal cultures, traditions and religions. The magnificent landscape is no less exotic with dense jungles and lush tropical rainforests. Tropical island resorts with their endless white, sandy beaches offer a taste of paradise, while beneath warm coral seas world-class dive sites await exploration. Kuala Lumpur is the country’s showpiece, and it is a city of skyscrapers, contrasting vividly with historic Malacca, the ancient heart of the Malay culture. Penang island offers a heady mix of traditional culture and resort fun |
| Natural Hazards | Monsoons, Flooding, landslides and forest fires |
| Health Risks | Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies |
| Climate | Malaysia has a tropical climate with two monsoon seasons. The NW Monsoon from October - February and the SW Monsoon from April - October. Average annual rainfall for West Malaysia is 100 inches and for East Malaysia it is 150 inches. Humidity is high all year round and average temperature ranges for Kuala Lumpur are from 22 to 32°C all year round while in the mountains the average temperature ranges are from 13 to 27°C |
| Time | GMT/UTC+8 hours |
| National Days | August 31 |
| Visas | British citizens do not need a visa to enter Malaysia as a visitor. You will normally be given permission to stay for two months on arrival. Visas for longer stays or for non-tourist purposes must be obtained from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before travel. Entry to Malaysia is normally refused to visitors holding passports with less than six months' validity |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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