Malaysia

I

Introduction

Malaysia, federation of 13 states forming a constitutional monarchy in South East Asia, comprising two distinct regions separated by some 650 km (400 mi) of the South China Sea. Malaysia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The regions are Peninsular Malaysia, formerly known as West Malaysia; and Sarawak and Sabah, formerly known as East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia comprises 11 states occupying the southern half of the Malay Peninsula, bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore, on the west by the Strait of Malacca, and on the east by the South China Sea. The states of Sabah and Sarawak occupy the northern third of the island of Borneo, and are bordered on the north and west by the South China Sea, on the east by the Sula and Celebes seas, and on the south by the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. The island of Labuan, formerly part of Sabah, was made a federal territory in 1984. The sultanate of Brunei forms a coastal enclave in northern Sarawak.

Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963 by the federal union of the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia—then forming the Federation of Malaya (an independent nation since 1957)—with the self-governing state of Singapore, and the former British colonies of Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak. Singapore left the new federation in 1965. Malaysia has a total land area of 329,758 sq km (127,320 sq mi). The federal territory of Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital and largest city.

II

Land and Resources

Peninsular Malaysia has an area of 131,598 sq km (50,810 sq mi). Its topography is dominated by a series of mountain ranges, running from the north down half the length of the peninsula; the most important is the Main Range, or Barisan Titiwangsa, which rises to over 2,134 m (7,000 ft). Heavily populated coastal lowlands border the ranges on the west; on the east the coastal lowlands are narrower and forested. In the south, the peninsula is relatively level.

A

Climate

Malaysia’s climate, except in the higher mountains, is hot and humid throughout the year. Average daily temperatures vary from about 21° to 32° C (70° to 90° F). Rainfall is generally high and distributed throughout the year, although precipitation peaks during the north-east monsoon months of November to March. The exposed northern slopes of Sarawak and Sabah receive as much as 5,080 mm (200 in) of rainfall per year. Average rainfall for the peninsula is about 2,540 mm (100 in).

B

Natural Resources

Malaysia has abundant mineral and forest resources. The country is rich in hydrocarbon fuels. Its offshore natural gas and oil deposits, which lie about 13th and 22nd respectively in the world rankings of reserves, are important sources of export revenue. Peninsular Malaysia was once one of the world’s largest producers of tin; in the early 1990s it ranked third after Brazil and Indonesia, although the late 1990s saw the decline of this industry, with Malaysia dropping to seventh place in 1998. Bauxite, iron, copper, and gold are also mined. Malaysia is also a leading producer of several cash crops. It is the largest producer of palm oil, accounting for about half of total world production, and the fourth-largest producer of cocoa. Malaysia was also formerly the world’s largest producer of rubber; by 1993, however, it had been overtaken by Thailand and Indonesia.