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Malaysia is situated in Southeast-Asia, just slightly north of the Equator. It is 13 hours ahead of the US Eastern Standard Time. It is made up of two regions - Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, covering an area of about 330,404 sq. km. Although Peninsular Malaysia accounts for only 40% of the country's area, it is home to 85% of the population of Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia consists of 11 states (Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan), while East Malaysia consists of only 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak). Malaysia has a tropical climate, which is warm and humid throughout the year. The temperature varies from 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F), while the humidity stands at about 80%. With the occurrence of the annual Southwest monsoon (April to October) and Northeast monsoon (October to February), the average annual rainfall is high, between 2,000mm to 2,500mm.
Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-cultural country with a population of approximately 25 million. The Malays, Chinese and Indians form the majority on the peninsula; while the Iban, Kadazan and Bidayuh are the main indigenous ethic groups in Sabah and Sarawak. Overall, the Malays and other indigenous groups form 59% of the population, while the Chinese and Indians represent 32% and 9% of the population, respectively. Although Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) is the national language, English is used extensively in the business and science fields. Chinese dialects and Tamil are widely used within the respective communities. The official religion is Islam, but other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity are widely and freely practiced in Malaysia.
| Location | Lies between latitudes 1° and 7° North and longitudes 100° and 120° East |
| Time | Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 8 hours |
| Neighbours | Peninsular Malaysia: Thailand (north), Singapore (south), Indonesia (west) East Malaysia: Indonesia (south), Philippines (northeast) |
| Terrain | Mountainous, with dense tropical jungle |
| Highest point | Peninsular Malaysia: Gunung Tahan (2,179.7 meters) East Malaysia: Mt. Kinabalu (4,081.3 meters) |
| Main rivers | Peninsular Malaysia: Perak River and Pahang River East Malaysia: Kinabatangan River (Sabah), Rejang River (Sarawak) |
| Climate | Tropical (hot and humid), 21-32°C Southwest monsoon (April-July), Northeast monsoons (October-February) |
| Average annual rainfall | 2,000-2,500 mm with wide local variations |
| Country status | Federal constitutional monarchy |
| Independence date | August 31, 1957 |
| Capital | Kuala Lumpur (estimated population 1.16 million) |
| Other cities | George Town (Penang), Ipoh (Perak), Johore Bahru (Johor), Kuantan (Pahang), Kuching (Sarawak) |
| Currency | Malaysian Ringgit (RM) RM (Ringgit) = 100sen |
| Exchange rate | US$1=RM3.5 |
| Population | 25 million (as of year 2000) |
| Ethnic groups | 59% Malay and other indigenous groups, 32% Chinese and 9% Indian |
| Main languages | Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese, Tamil |
| Main religions | Islam (official), Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity |
| Tourism | Significant contribution to economy; approximately 6.4 million arrivals per year |
| Imports | Manufactured goods, chemicals, food, live animals |
| Exports | Manufactured goods, petroleum, natural gas, rubber, palm oil, timber, tin |
| Main crops | Rubber, rice, coconut, pepper, cocoa, palm kernels, tea |
to listen to the Malaysian anthem.
