Malaysia

At a glance Land People Economy Achievements and challenges Links with Australia Malaysia at a glance Did you know? The rafflesia, found in the rainforests of Malaysia, is the largest flower in the world, reaching up to 1 metre across its five red, white-spotted petals, and weighing up to 11 kilograms. Region East Asia Population 24,385,858 (July 2006 estimate) Land Geography Mountainous spines and narrow coastal plains Climate Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons People Religion: Muslim, 54%; Buddhist, 17%; plus Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh Language: Malay, 50.4%; Chinese, 23.7%; Indigenous 11%; Indian, 7.1%; others, 7.8% Economy GDP per person (PPP): $12,700 GDP by sector: Agriculture, 8.3%; Industry 48.1% Services 43.6% Government Federation of monarchies Land Physical geography Located just north of the equator, Malaysia has two main regions: West Malaysia (131,794 square kilometres) the peninsular, extending south of Thailand; and East Malaysia (198,000; square kilometres), the northern part of the island of Borneo. They are separated by the South China Sea. Both consist of rugged forested mountainous interiors descending to coastal plains. The total area, at 329,794 square kilometres, is about half that of New South Wales. There are a number of islands along the northwest coast, including Labuan, Penang and the Langkawi. The country's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, at 4,100 metres, is the highest peak in South-East Asia. Climate Malaysia's climate is tropical with high temperatures, high humidity and heavy rainfall. Southwest monsoons from June to October and northeast monsoons from November to March deliver rainfall ranging from 3,150 millimetres in Sabah to 2,250 millimetres in Sarawak and 2,500 millimetres in peninsular Malaysia. Temperatures are consistent all year round, and average 25-30°C in low-lying areas and 22-28°C in the upland districts. Environment The tropical climate and high rainfall promote the growth of dense rainforests, which cover more than half the land area. They are the 'larders and pharmacies' of the indigenous populations and home to an incredible variety of trees and plants, including orchids, pitcher plants and the rafflesia. There are a number of national parks, reserves and sanctuaries for their protection, but intensive logging for timber and planting of vast oil palm plantations is changing their nature. Birds include many brilliantly coloured parrots and hornbills and the tiny cave-dwelling swifts, whose nests are harvested for bird's nest soup. Habitat loss is endangering populations of orang-utan or 'man of the forest', the proboscis monkey Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Clouded Leopard, the Malaysian Tiger, the Sun Bear and the massive wild ox, the seladang or Malayan gaur. People The population of 24,385,858 lives mainly on the peninsular, with only about 5 million living in the East Malaysian states. About 66.3% of the population lives in urban areas, with the largest cities being Kuala Lumpur (3.7million) and Penang Island (1.06 million). Located in the heart of many trade routes, Malaysia has long attracted people from surrounding countries. People Culture and identity There is great ethnic diversity, with Malays and indigenous groups, 60%; Chinese, 26%; and Indians, 8%; as well as others from countries throughout Asia and Europe. The national language is Malay (Bahasa Malaysia), but English is widely spoken, particularly in business. Other languages include Mandarin (Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and other Chinese dialects), Tamil, Panjabi, Telugu, Malayalam and Thai. The most frequently spoken indigenous languages are from East Malaysia, Iban and Kadazan. Each group has its separate culture and religion, but over time they have influenced each other to create a uniquely Malaysian culture. Malaysia also is now home to refugees from Indonesia and Burma (Myanmar), as well as illegal immigrants associated with domestic labour and trafficking. There is a stunning and diverse range of traditional dress. Indigenous populations wear their unique styles of headdress and clothing made from forest materials. Traditional Malay women wear a loose fitting blouse over a full-length sarong of richly woven fabric or batik with a selendang (shawl) or tudung (headscarf). Malay men wear the baju melayu, a loose tunic worn over trousers. Chinese women traditionally wear a cheongsam or 'long dress'. The saree or salwar kameez is worn by Indian women, and the descendants of the Chinese immigrants who married Malay partners wear the elegant kebaya which has fine, lace-like embroidery on the collar, lapels, cuffs, hem and two triangular front panels that drape over the hips, known as lapik. Health There is generally a good state of health, with life expectancy being 72.5 years (male, 69.8 years and females, 75.38 years). Infant mortality is 17.16 deaths per 1,000 live births. Most people have safe water (99%) and sanitation (94%). Diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations. Only about 0.4% of the population lives with HIV/AIDS. Religion and beliefs Sunni Islam is the official religion (54%), but Taoism (22%), Buddhism (17%), Hinduism, Christianity and indigenous animist beliefs are also practised, reflecting the diversity of ethnic backgrounds. Freedom of worship is guaranteed under the constitution. Food and shelter There is a wide variety of food, reflecting the ethnic diversity of the population. Rice and noodles, cooked in a many ways, are the main staples. Chicken and fish are the meats eaten across all groups. The predominantly Muslim Malays eat beef, while the Chinese eat pork. Spices include turmeric, cumin, coriander, garlic, chillies and ginger. Main meals are often followed by plates of fresh fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutans and rose apples. Economy Wealth and poverty Malaysia is a middle-income, multi-sector economy. It has moved from exporting predominantly raw materials in the 1970s to electronics, oil and gas, and tourism in the 1990s. There is a large gap between the rich and the poor, with the top 10% earning 39% of the wealth and the bottom 10% earning only 1.4%. About 8% of the population lives below the poverty line. Education and work Public spending on education was 8% of GDP in 2002-04. Schooling is compulsory for six years, starting at age six. Net enrolment ratios are 93% for primary schools and 76% for secondary. The school year starts in January and comprises two terms. About 29% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education (26% of males and 33% of females in 2002-03). The illiteracy rate is roughly 11% (8% of males and 14.6% of females). Industries and products Malaysia is a major producer of rubber, palm oil, timber, cocoa, rice and pepper. Its industries revolve around processing rubber, oil palm and timber, and electronics and tourism. Trade Malaysia exported electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles and chemicals worth $158.7 billion to its major trading partners of the United States, 19.7%; Singapore, 15.6%; Japan, 9.3%; China, 6.6%; Hong Kong, 5.8%; and Thailand, 5.4% in 2005. The country imported electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products and chemicals worth $127.3 billion from its major trading partners of Japan, 14.6%; the United States, 13%; Singapore, 11.8%; China, 11.6%; Taiwan, 5.6%; Thailand, 5.3%; South Korea, 5%; and Germany, 4.5%. Achievements and challenges The natural disasters affecting Malaysia include floods, landslides and forest fires. Air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions and forest fires, water pollution from raw sewage and deforestation are other environmental challenges. Malaysia has successfully diversified its economy from mainly exports of raw materials to include manufacturing, services and tourism. Government initiatives to reduce illegal logging and improve replanting are beginning to reduce the impact of deforestation. Malaysia is becoming a more tolerant and multicultural society, but strong censorship laws are enforced. Links with Australia As near neighbours, Australia and Malaysia have a strong relationship that encompasses trade and investment, education, defence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, efforts to combat people smuggling, tourism and aviation. The countries also share a common parliamentary, legal and administrative tradition through their historical links to Britain and membership of the Commonwealth. Malaysia is Australia's ninth-largest trading partner, with total trade in 2005-06 of $11.35 billion (2.8% share of Australia's total trade). Australian exports to Malaysia, worth $2.54 billion, consisted of copper, aluminium, coal, ferrous waste and scrap, milk and cream, medicaments, zinc, chemicals and refined petroleum. Malaysia exported crude petroleum, computers, telecommunications equipment, integrated circuits and furniture worth $6.75 billion to Australia. Australia has been a major provider of education services to Malaysia since the Colombo Plan was instituted in 1950. Under it nearly 17,000 overseas students came to Australia, the majority of whom were Malaysians. Education for Malaysian students has traditionally been provided at universities in Australia, but university twinning arrangements and Australian branch campuses now allow Malaysian students to take Australian courses in Malaysia. Malays were involved in the pearling industry and the collection of trepang (sea slugs) off Australia's northern coast in the 19th Century. The latest Census, in 2001, recorded 78,850 Malaysia-born persons in Australia, with Victoria having the largest number, at 24,730, followed by New South Wales, 21,060; Western Australia; 17,390; and Queensland, 7,980. Malaysia recorded 265,000 Australian visitors in 2005, while there were 150,300 visitors from Malaysia to Australia in 2006. The Australia-Malaysia Institute was established by the Australian Government in April 2005 to strengthen people-to-people and institutional links with Malaysia, and to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation between Australia and Malaysia. Main Sources: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ http://www20.sbs.com.au/worldguide/ http://hdr.undp.org http://www.dfat.gov.au

At 451.9 metres high, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur form the world's tallest building. The 88-storey towers reflect Islamic influences through their eight-sided star floor plan, five tiers representing the five pillars of Islam and 63-metre masts resembling the minarets of a mosque.