Geography

Located between 2º and 7º north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.

Climate

Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.

Area

329,758 sq km

Population

25 million

People

Malaysia is a bubbling, bustling melting pot of races and religious where Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other people live together in peace and harmony. The largest ethnic groups in Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese and Indians. In Sabah and Sarawak, there are myriad of indigenous ethic groups with their own unique culture and heritage.

Language

Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. The ethnic groups also speak various languages and dialects.

Religion

Islam in the official religion but all other religions are freely practised.

Government

Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.

Economic Profile

Manufacturing constitutes the largest single component of Malaysia's economy. Tourism and primary commodities such as petroleum, palm oil, natural rubber and timber are other major contributors to the economy.