The Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia is a melting pot of many cultures. It is the smallest country in the region after Brunei and Singapore. Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city.
Malaysia consists of two distinct parts separated by about 400 miles (650 kilometers) of the South China Sea. West Malaysia is part of the mainland of Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the north and the island nation of Singapore to the south. West Malaysia is connected to Singapore by a raised road and railway. To the southwest, the Strait of Malacca separates West Malaysia from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. About 80 percent of Malaysia's people live in West Malaysia.
East Malaysia occupies the northwestern part of the island of Borneo. The South China Sea is to the north and west, the Sulu and Celebes seas are to the east, and the Indonesian province of Kalimantan is to the south. East Malaysia contains two states—Sarawak and Sabah. Within Sarawak along the northern coast is the small independent kingdom of Brunei.
Malaysia has a total area of 127,311 square miles (329,735 square kilometers). West Malaysia is dominated by a number of mountain ranges that run from north to south. Coastal lowlands border these ranges. East Malaysia has three regions—the coastal plains, the hill-and-valley area, and the mountains that divide it from Kalimantan. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest peak in Malaysia at 13,455 feet (4,101 meters). Rivers and streams flow year-round in both parts of the country because of constant rains.
Malaysia is hot and humid throughout the year. Because of that, more than half of the country is covered by rain forests. The lush forests contain about 8,000 species of flowering plants, including at least 2,500 kinds of trees and 800 varieties of orchids.
The country's rich and diverse animal life includes elephants, tigers, leopards, wild oxen, small bears, wild pigs, orangutans, monkeys, deer, and some rhinoceroses. Such reptiles as crocodiles, lizards, and turtles also live there. East Malaysia is home to one of the largest and most varied bird populations in the world.
Malaysia has a complex mixture of ethnic groups and cultural traditions. More than half the people are Malays. They usually practice Islam—the country's official religion—and speak Malay—the official language. The other native peoples are members of more than 25 ethnic groups. They practice mostly traditional religions. About a quarter of Malaysia's people are Chinese. They are mostly Buddhist or Taoist. Indians and other South Asians form about 10 percent of the population and are mainly Hindu or Muslim. Many of them speak Tamil.
Malaysia's economy has been one of the strongest in Southeast Asia. The production and export of raw materials has long been important. Malaysia is the world's largest producer of palm oil and a major producer of natural rubber and tin. It is also rich in other minerals, including petroleum, natural gas, bauxite, copper, and iron. The major industries include electronics, textiles, chemicals, steel, automobile assembly, and cement.
Rice is the main food crop. However, Malaysia does not grow enough for its people, so it must buy rice from other countries. Other important Malaysian crops include cocoa, pepper, coconuts, and sugarcane. The sea provides a good supply of fish. Many of the trees in the rain forests have been cut down because of the profit that can be made from the wood.
People have lived in the region that is now Malaysia for a long time. Bones and tools found in East Malaysia date back some 40,000 years. West Malaysia was formerly called Malaya. It has been inhabited for at least 6,000 to 8,000 years. In the 2nd or 3rd century AD, small kingdoms developed in Malaya. Travelers from India brought Hindu and Buddhist influences to the region.
The great port of Melaka was founded on the southwest coast of Malaya in about 1400. It quickly became an important spice-trading center. The ruler of Melaka converted to Islam, and the religion spread throughout the area.
European powers soon began to intrude into the region, each seeking to control the highly profitable spice trade. The Portuguese captured Melaka in 1511. The Dutch occupied Melaka in 1641.
The British were trading with China and wanted a base in the region. They settled on Singapore island in 1819. In 1824 they acquired Melaka from the Dutch. As the 19th century progressed, Britain's hold on the territory tightened. The country invested heavily in Malaya and developed rubber plantations. Local resistance to British rule was widespread, and revolts simmered for years.
Japan occupied Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak during World War II. The three regions became British colonies after the war. In 1957 the British gave up their control over Malaya. In 1963 Britain proposed that Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore, and Brunei join together. All but Brunei agreed to form the independent Federation of Malaysia. Singapore withdrew in 1965.
The new nation faced many political problems. Tensions arose between the Malay majority and the more wealthy ethnic minorities. After a series of riots in 1969–70, the government adopted a new economic policy. Stability returned, and the economy began to prosper.
Political and economic turmoil erupted again at the end of the 20th century. The firing of the deputy prime minister in 1998 set off numerous protests and charges of government corruption.In 1998 the country was hit by a financial crisis sweeping through Southeast Asia. The economy began growing again in 1999. Population (2001 estimate), 22,602,000.
