Malaysia Facts

• Official Country Name: Malaysia
• Capital: Kuala Lumpur
• Location:  Southeast Asia
• Area Code: +60
• Time Zone: UTC+8
• Population:  32.66 million
• Land Area (km²): 330345
• Languages: Malay
• Major Tourism Places: Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi

Malaysia is a constitutional federal monarchy lied in Southeast Asia. The territory of Malaysia is divided into east and west by the South China Sea, namely the Malay Peninsula (West Malaysia) and the northern part of Kalimantan Island (East Malaysia). Because of this special geographic location, Malaysia has formed a very diverse ethnic culture.

Malaysia has a land area of 330,345 square kilometers and a total coastline of 4,192 kilometers. West Malaysia is located in the south of the Malay Peninsula, bordering Thailand in the north, Singapore across the Johor Strait in the south, the South China Sea in the east, and the Strait of Malacca in the west. East Malaysia is located in the northern part of Kalimantan, adjacent to Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.

History

In the early years, the Ancient kingdoms of Kalah, Langkasuka and Johor were established on the Malay Peninsula. From the 7th to the 14th century, the influence of the Samboja kingdom extended to most parts of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. It was not until the fall of the Samboja kingdom in the 14th to 15th centuries that the Islamic religion introduced in the 10th century laid the foundation for the Malay Peninsula. The area split into a number of Sultanate, the most prominent of which is the Malacca Kingdom in the early 15th century.

After the collapse of the Malacca Kingdom, the last Sultan prince established the Johor Kingdom. At that time, the Malay Islands split into many small countries, including Aceh, Brunei, Johor, Perak, Banten, Yogyakarta, Kedah, Selangor, Sulu and Terengganu. After the end of the 16th century, European colonial powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain continued to expand in this region. In the 18th century, the first immigrants, including Arabs, Indians and Chinese, came to Malaysia.

From 1942 to 1945, Malaya was occupied by Japan, which aroused anti-colonial nationalism in the region. After Japan surrendered in 1945, the Malaysian Communist Party began to switch to anti-British colonial activities. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya declared independence. After many debates and confrontations, the eleven states of Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore finally formed Malaysia on September 16, 1963 (Singapore withdrew from Malaysia on August 8, 1965)

Administrative Division

Malaysia is divided into 13 states, including Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak. And there are three other federal territories: Capital Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Capital

The capital city Kuala Lumpur has a population of about 1.674 million people, with an area of 243 square kilometers. The Kuala Lumpur Petroleum Twin Towers with two major functions of sightseeing and communication are 466 meters high, and was once the tallest building in the world. It is one of the tallest towers in Asia, like two silver swords straight into the clouds. Kuala Lumpur is also the epitome of this multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples can be seen everywhere in the city.

Climate

Malaysia is located near the equator and belongs to the tropical rainforest climate and tropical monsoon climate, with no obvious four seasons. The annual temperature difference is extremely small, the average temperature is between 26℃～30℃, and the annual rainfall is abundant throughout the year. March to June and October to February are the rainy seasons in Malaysia. The average annual temperature in the inland mountains is 22℃～28℃, and the coastal plain is 25℃～30℃.

Religion

Malaysia is a nation based on agriculture, so it maintains many primitive beliefs, especially the strong religious flavor of various ethnic groups. Its religion is a fusion of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, with Hinduism being particularly far-reaching. Due to the long-term common life of multiple nationalities, a diverse cultural characteristic has formed.

Language

The official language is Malay. English has been the de facto official language for a long time in the past. Malay only became the main language after the May 13th racial riots in 1969. However, in many fields, English is still an active second language.
 

Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English (MySE), is an English form derived from British English. Manglish is also widely used. It is a colloquial English form, with a heavy influence of Malay, Chinese dialects and Tamil.

Currency

►Malaysian Ringgit

Malaysian Ringgit (M.＄) is the official currency of Malaysia. The international abbreviation "RM" is commonly used. The subsidized unit is paisa: 1 ringgit = 100 sen. The issuance of currency is the responsibility of Bank Negara Malaysia. The international organization for standardization has designated its standard code name MYR.
 

• Symbol: M.＄; Mal.＄
• Issuing Bank: Bank Negara Malaysia
• Subunit: sen
• Banknotes: 1 ringgit, 5 ringgit, 10 ringgit, 20 ringgit, 50 ringgit, 100 ringgit
• Coins: 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen

►Exchange Rate

The exchange rate between MYR and other currencies are as below:

1 AUD≈2.93 MYR; 1 CAD≈3.15 MYR; 1 CNY≈0.60 MYR; 1 EUR≈4.80 MYR;

1 GBP≈5.32 MYR; 1 JPY≈0.04 MYR; 1 USD≈4.27 MYR; 1 KRW≈0.003 MYR

►Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory in Malaysia, but small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated. In hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually added to the bill at checkout. Tourists may give tips to hotel attendants and baggage porters as appropriate at their discretion.

Transportation

►Air

The civil aviation company mainly includes Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia Airline. There are 118 airports in Malaysia, including 8 international airports, namely Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang Airport, Langkawi International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Malacca International Airport, Johor Senai International Airport and Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud International Airport. These airports and other domestic airlines constitute the backbone network of air transportation.

►Railway

Malaysia's railway network extends from the north to the south of Peninsular Malaysia and from east to west, providing convenient transportation for passengers. There are two main railway lines, divided into west coastline and east coastline. The country's railway system is state-owned, distributed on the peninsula (east coastline, west coastline) and Sabah (Sabah State Railway). The peninsula railway runs through the Malay peninsula and has links to Bangkok and Singapore.

►Highway

Malaysia's highway network is relatively developed, and highways link major urban centers, ports and important industrial areas. The highway is divided into two parts: government construction and private development, but the design, construction, and management are unified by the National Highway Administration. The road network covers 98721 kilometers, including 1821 kilometers of highways. The longest highway is North-South Highway, with a total length of 800 kilometers, between the Thai border and Singapore.

►Water

The domestic river transportation is underdeveloped, and more than 80% of sea transportation depends on foreign shipping. The main shipping company is Malaysia Shipping International. There are 19 ports in Malaysia. The main international ports are Klang Port, Penang Port, Johor Port, Malacca Port, Melaka Gateway, Tanjung Pelepas Port, Kuantan Port, Gambang Port, Kuching Port, Bintulu Port and Labuan Port etc.

Ferries and hydrofoils regularly travel between the Malay Peninsula and several famous islands such as Langkawi Island, Penang, Pangkor Island and Tioman Island. Ferries are also available from Changi Ferry Terminal in Singapore to Tanjung Belunkor in Desaru, Johor.

Tourism

Malaysia's tourism resources are very rich, with many high-quality beaches, exotic islands, pristine tropical jungles, precious plants and animals, diverse caves, ancient folk customs, long historical and cultural heritage and modern city.
 

►Best Time to Visit Malaysia

Malaysia is suitable for tourism all year round, especially from May to September. There is relatively little rainfall from May to July, which is good for tourists to arrange their trips.

►Best Places to Visit Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and a new metropolis where history and modernity, oriental civilization and western colors can be perfectly integrated. Strolling around Kuala Lumpur, you can see the beautiful national flower "hibiscus", as well as tropical plants such as orchids and frangipani. As an immigrant country, tourists can experience diverse ethnic cultures here. The National Mosque, Chinatown, Little India and other buildings are all very unique and exotic. Of course, the food in Kuala Lumpur is also an important reason for attracting tourists, and the variety of special snacks will definitely satisfy the taste of foodies.

Melaka

Malacca is the oldest city in Malaysia with a history of more than 700 years. It was also the capital of the Kingdom of Malacca. It is well known by tourists because of the important geographical location of the Strait of Malacca, but the sights and culture of this small town are also worth exploring. Malacca was once colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Japan, so it retains multi-national architecture, rich culture, and residents of various descents. The Red Square Dutch Square is a landmark that is a must-see for all tourists.

Penang

Penang, including Penang Island and Granville Province on the mainland, is the first place in Malaysia to be defined as a city. Penang Island is a small turtle-shaped island, facing the Malay Peninsula across the sea. The island is full of verdant vegetation, and the forest covers an area of 30%. It is known as "the emerald in the Indian Ocean" and "the pearl of the East". One reason for visitors to Penang is Georgetown's various street artworks, and those murals or iron wire comics become a distinctive part of the city's landscape.

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia. Numerous shops, hotels, and travel agencies are scattered in city center, so it's very easy to travel freely. Kota Kinabalu is in the tropics, with excellent sun and beaches. It is also loved by diving enthusiasts. Mountain Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu has a height of 4095 meters, which is the highest peak in Southeast Asia.