View source for Malaysia

{{redirect|MYS}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name              = Malaysia 
|conventional_long_name   = 
|common_name              = Malaysia
|image_flag               = Flag of Malaysia.svg
|image_coat               = Coat of arms of Malaysia.png
|symbol_type              = Emblem
|image_map                = LocationMalaysia.png
|national_motto           = ''"Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu"''<small><br/>"Unity Is Strength"{{smallsup|1}}
|national_anthem          = ''[[Negaraku]]''
|official_languages       = [[Malay language|Malay]]{{smallsup|2}}
|capital                  = [[Kuala Lumpur]]{{smallsup|3}}
|latd=3 |latm=08 |latNS=N |longd=101 |longm=42 |longEW=E 
|largest_city             = capital
|government_type          = [[Federal constitutional monarchy]]
|leader_title1            = [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]
|leader_name1             = [[Mizan Zainal Abidin]]
|leader_title2            = [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2             = [[Abdullah Ahmad Badawi]]
|sovereignty_type         = [[Independence]]
|established_event1       = from the [[United Kingdom]] ([[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] only)
|established_date1        = <br/>[[August 31]] [[1957]]
|established_event2       = Federation (with [[Sabah]], [[Sarawak]] and [[Singapore]]{{smallsup|4}})
|established_date2        = <br/>[[September 16]] [[1963]]
|area_rank                = 67th
|area_magnitude           = 1_E8
|area_km2                     = 329,847
|area_sq_mi                  = 127,355 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water            = 0.3
|population_estimate      = 27,356,000
|population_estimate_year = Oct 2007
|population_estimate_rank = 45th
|population_census_year   = 2000
|population_census        = 24,821,286
|population_density_km2       = 82
|population_density_sq_mi    = 213 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank  = 109th
|GDP_PPP_year             = 2006 <!--2006--NOT 2005-->
|GDP_PPP                  = $313.2 billion <!--from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html-->
|GDP_PPP_rank             = 34
|GDP_PPP_per_capita       = $12,800 <!--from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html-->
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank  = 61
|HDI_year                 = 2006
|HDI                      = 0.805
|HDI_rank                 = 61st
|HDI_category             = <font color="green">high</font>
|currency                 = [[Malaysian ringgit|Ringgit]] (RM)
|currency_code            = MYR
|time_zone                = [[Malaysian Standard Time|MST]]
|utc_offset               = +8
|time_zone_DST            = not observed
|utc_offset_DST           = +8
|cctld                    = [[.my]]
|calling_code             = 60
|ISO_3166-1_alpha2        = MY
|ISO_3166-1_alpha3        = MYS
|ISO_3166-1_numeric       = 458
|sport_code               = [[IOC]]/[[FIFA]]: MAS<br/>[[ISO]]: MYS 
|vehicle_code             = MAL
|demonym                  = [[Malaysian]]
|footnote1                = [http://www.gov.my/MyGov/BI/Directory/Government/AboutMsianGov/MsianFlagAndCrest/ Malaysian Flag and Crest] from www.gov.my.
|footnote2                = The current terminology as per government policy is ''Bahasa Malaysia'' (literally Malaysian language) <sup>[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/4/nation/17923478&sec=nation ref]</sup> but legislation continues to refer to the official language as ''Bahasa Melayu'' (literally Malay language). 
|footnote3                = [[Putrajaya]] is the primary seat of government.
|footnote4                = Singapore became an independent country on [[9 August]] [[1965]].
}}

'''Malaysia''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|/mə'le.ʒə, mə'lei.ʒə, mə'lei.zi.ɑ/}}) is a [[federation]] of [[States of Malaysia|thirteen states and three federal territories]] in [[Southeast Asia]] with a total landmass of 329,847 km².<ref> Article 1. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref><ref name="CIA Fact Book">CIA. [https://cia.gov/cia//publications/factbook/geos/my.html The World Fact Book. Malaysia]. Retrieved December 9 2006.</ref> The capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]] while [[Putrajaya]] is the seat of the federal government.<ref name="CIA Fact Book" /> The country is separated into two regions &mdash; the [[Malay Peninsula]] and [[Borneo]] &mdash; by the [[South China Sea]].<ref name="CIA Fact Book" /> Malaysia borders [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], [[Singapore]], [[Brunei]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref name="CIA Fact Book" /> Located near the equator, the weather is characterized by [[tropical]] climate.<ref name="CIA Fact Book" /> Malaysia is headed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] and politically led by a [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]].<ref>Article 33. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref><ref>Article 43. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref> The government is closely modeled after the [[Westminster]] [[parliamentary system]].{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

The country was once [[colony|colonized]] by the [[United Kingdom]]; [[British Malaya]] and Malaysia did not exist as a unified state prior to 1946 and 1963 respectively. The [[Federation of Malaya]] achieved independence from on [[August 31]] [[1957]].<ref name="TIME New Nation">[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,893616,00.html A New Nation]. September 9 1957.</ref> [[Singapore]], [[Sarawak]], [[British North Borneo]] and the Federation of Malaya federated to form Malaysia on [[September 16]] [[1963]].<ref name="LOC p22">Paragraph 22. Singapore. [http://countrystudies.us/singapore/10.htm Road to Independence]. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Country Studies/Area Handbook Series. U.S. Department of the Army. Retrieved December 9 2006.</ref> The early years of the federation were marred by an [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|armed conflict with Indonesia]] and the [[Singapore in Malaysia|expulsion of Singapore]].<ref name="TIME Art">[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828327,00.html The Art of Dispelling Anxiety]. August.</ref><ref name="LOC p25">Paragraph 25. Singapore. [http://countrystudies.us/singapore/10.htm Road to Independence]. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Country Studies/Area Handbook Series. U.S. Department of the Army. Retrieved December 9 2006.</ref> The Southeast Asian nation experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development during the late 20th century. With a GDP per capita standing at USD13,000, it from time to time has been considered as a [[newly industrialized country]].<ref name=Globalization>{{cite book|title=Globalization and the Transformation of Foreign Economic Policy|author=Paweł Bożyk|chapter=Newly Industrialized Countries|pages=164|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd|year=2006|isbn=0-75-464638-6}}</ref><ref name=Principles>{{cite book|title=Principles of Economics|author=N. Gregory Mankiw|year=4th Edition 2007|isbn=0-32-422472-9}}</ref> As one of three countries that control the [[Strait of Malacca]], international trade plays a large of its economy.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} At one time, it was the largest producer of [[tin]], [[rubber]] and [[palm oil]] in the world.<ref>[[American University]]. [http://www.american.edu/TED/tin.htm Tin Mining in Malaysia]. Retrieved November 14 2007. </ref><ref>National Economies Encyclopedia. [http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Malaysia-ECONOMIC-SECTORS.html Malaysia Economic Sectors]. Retrieved November 14 2007. </ref><ref>Malaysian Palm Oil Council. [http://www.mpoc.org.my/mktstat_pub_111006_01.asp Malaysian Palm Oil]. Retrieved November 14 2007. </ref> 
Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy.<ref>[[Bank Negara Malaysia|Bank Negara]]. [http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=111 BNM National Summary Data Page]. Retrieved November 8 2007</ref>

The population of Malaysia is approximately 27 million<ref name="CIA Fact Book" />. The [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] forms the majority of the population while there are sizable [[Chinese Malaysian|Chinese]] and [[Indian Malaysian|Indian]] communities. Islam is the largest as well as the official religion of the federation.<ref name="CIA Fact Book" /><ref>Article 3. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref> The [[Malay language]] is the official language.<ref name="CONSTITUTION 152" />

Malaysia is the founding member of [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] and participates in many international organizations such as the [[United Nations]].<ref>[http://www.aseansec.org/64.htm Overview]. Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved November 8 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.un.org/members/list.shtml List of Member States]. United Nations. Retrieved November 8 2007</ref> As a former British colony, it is also a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref>[http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/142227/members/ Members]. Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved November 8 2007.</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Image:LA2-NSRW-1-0148.jpg|thumb|left|The word Malaysia is visible on a 1914 map published in Chicago, United States.]]

The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the [[Federation of Malaya]], Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a 14-state federation.<ref name="LOC p22" /> A map published in 1914 in Chicago has the word Malaysia printed on it referring to certain territories within the [[Malay Archipelago]].<ref>[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_Student%27s_Reference_Work The New Student's Reference Work]. 1914.</ref> The Philippines once contemplated to name their state "Malaysia" but Malaysia adopted the name first in 1963 before the Philippines could act further on the matter. <ref>Sakai, Manako. Reviving Malay Connections in Southeast Asia.</ref> Other names were contemplated for the 1963 federation. Among them was Langkasuka; [[Langkasuka]] was an old kingdom located at the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the first millennium of the common era.<ref>Page 46-47. Suarez, Thomas. Early Mapping of Southeast Asia.</ref>

{{-}}

==History==
{{main|History of Malaysia}}
===Early history===
The earliest inhabitants of the [[Malay peninsula]] were the [[orang asli]] or indigenous people who migrated from [[Siam]] around 2500 [[BCE]]. [[Proto-Malay]]s originating from [[Java]] began arriving between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE. [[Ptolemy]] showed it on his early map with a label that translates as "''Golden Chersonese''", the Straits of Malacca were referred to as "''Sinus Sabaricus''". From the mid to the late first millennium, much of the Peninsula as well as the [[Malay Archipelago]] were under the influence of [[Srivijaya]].
Originally these were [[Hindu]] or [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] nations. 

There were numerous Malay kingdoms in the 2nd and 3rd century [[CE]]&mdash;as many as 30 according to Chinese sources. Kedah&mdash;known as Kedaram or Kataha, in ancient [[Pallava]] or [[Sanskrit]]&mdash;was in the direct route of invasions of Indian traders and kings. [[Rajendra Chola|Rajendra]] [[Chola dynasty|Chola]], who is now thought to have laid [[Kota Gelanggi]] to waste, put Kedah to heel in 1025 but his successor, Vir Rajendra Chola, had to put down a Kedah rebellion to overthrow the invaders. The coming of the Chola reduced the majesty of Srivijaya which had exerted influence over Kedah and Pattani and even as far as Ligor.

The Buddhist [[Nakhon Si Thammarat kingdom|kingdom of Ligor]] took control of Kedah shortly after, and its King [[Chandrabhanu]] used it as a base to attack [[Sri Lanka]] in the 11th century, an event noted in a stone inscription in Nagapattinum in [[Tamil Nadu]] and in the Sri Lankan chronicles, ''[[Mahavamsa]]''. During the first millennium, the people of the Malay peninsula adopted Hinduism and Buddhism and the use of the Sanskrit language until they eventually converted to Islam, but not before Hinduism, Buddhism and Sanskrit became embedded into the Malay worldview. Traces of the influences in political ideas, social structure, rituals, language, arts and cultural practices can still be seen to this day.

[[Image:P5260196.JPG|thumb|A Famosa in [[Malacca]]. It was built by the Portuguese in the 15th century.]]

There are reports of other areas older than Kedah&mdash;the ancient kingdom of [[Gangga Negara]], around [[Beruas]] in Perak, for instance, pushes Malaysian history even further into antiquity. If that is not enough, a Tamil poem, Pattinapillai, of the second century CE, describes goods from Kadaram heaped in the broad streets of the Chola capital. A seventh century Sanskrit drama, Kaumudhimahotsva, refers to Kedah as Kataha-nagari. The Agnipurana also mentions a territory known as Anda-Kataha with one of its boundaries delineated by a peak, which scholars believe is Gunung Jerai. Stories from the Katasaritasagaram describe the elegance of life in Kataha.

[[Image:KualaLumpurAbdulSamadBldg.jpg|thumb|[[Sultan Abdul Samad Building]] in Kuala Lumpur houses the [[High Court of Malaya]] and the Trade Court. Kuala Lumpur was the capital of the Federated Malay States and is the current Malaysian capital.]]
In the early 15th century, the [[Sultanate of Malacca]] was established under a dynasty founded by [[Parameswara]], a prince from [[Palembang]] with bloodline related to the royal house of Srivijaya, who fled from Temasek (now Singapore). Parameswara decided to establish his kingdom in Malacca after witnessing an astonishing incident where a white [[mouse deer]] kicked one of his hunting dogs. He took it as a sign of good luck and name his kingdom "Melaka" after the tree he was resting under. At its height, the sultanate controlled the areas which are now [[Peninsula Malaysia]], southern [[Thailand]] ([[Patani]]), and the eastern coast of [[Sumatra]]. It existed for more than a century, and within that time period [[Islam]] spread to most of the [[Malay Archipelago]]. [[Melaka|Malacca]] was the foremost trading port at the time in Southeast Asia.<ref>M.C. Ricklefs. pp. 19. ''A History of Modern Indonesia.'' [[Indiana University Press]]. 1981. ISBN</ref>

The first evidence of [[Islam]] in the Malay peninsula dates from the 14th century in [[Terengganu]], but according to the [[Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa|Kedah Annals]], the 9th sultan of Kedah, [[Maharaja Derbar Raja]], converted to Islam and changed his name to Sultan Muzaffar Shah. In 1511, Malacca was conquered by [[Portugal]], which established a colony there. The sons of the last Sultan of Malacca established two sultanates elsewhere in the peninsula&mdash;the Sultanate of Perak to the north, and the Sultanate of Johor (originally a continuation of the old [[Melaka|Malacca]] sultanate) to the south. After the fall of [[Melaka|Malacca]], three nations struggled for the control of [[Malacca Strait]]: the Portuguese (in Malacca), the Sultanate of Johor, and the [[Aceh|Sultanate of Aceh]]. This conflict went on until 1641, when the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] (allied to the Sultanate of Johor) gained control of Malacca.

===British arrival===
[[United Kingdom|Britain]] established its first colony in the Malay peninsula in 1786, with the lease of the island of [[Penang]] to the [[British East India Company]] by the Sultan of Kedah. In 1824, the [[United Kingdom|British]] took control of Malacca following the [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824]] which divided the [[Malay archipelago]] between Britain and the Netherlands, with Malaya in the British zone. In 1826, Britain established the [[crown colony]] of the [[Straits Settlements]], uniting its three possessions in Malaya: Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The Straits Settlements were administered under the East India Company in [[Calcutta]] until 1867, when they were transferred to the [[Colonial Office]] in London.

During the late 19th century, many Malay states decided to obtain British help in settling their internal conflicts. The commercial importance of [[tin]] mining in the Malay states to merchants in the Straits Settlements led to British government intervention in the tin-producing states in the Malay Peninsula. British [[gunboat diplomacy]] was employed to bring about a peaceful resolution to civil disturbances caused by Chinese gangsters, and the [[Pangkor Treaty of 1874]] paved the way for the expansion of British influence in Malaya. By the turn of the 20th century, the states of [[Pahang]], [[Selangor]], [[Perak]], and [[Negeri Sembilan]], known together as the [[Federated Malay States]] (not to be confused with the [[Federation of Malaya]]), were under the ''de facto'' control of British [[resident (title)|Residents]] appointed to advise the Malay rulers. The British were "advisers" in name, but in reality they exercised substantial influence over the Malay rulers.
[[Image:Mmsia1.jpg|thumb|Malaysia Day celebration in 1963. (''Majulah Malaysia'' means "Onwards Malaysia")]]
The remaining five states in the peninsula, known as the [[Unfederated Malay States]], while not directly under rule from London, also accepted British advisors around the turn of the 20th century. Of these, the four northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu had previously been under [[Thailand|Siamese]] control. The other unfederated state, [[Johor]], was the only state which managed to preserve its independence throughout most of the 19th century. [[Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor|Sultan Abu Bakar]] of Johor and [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] were personal acquaintances, and recognized each other as equals. It was until [[1914]] when Sultan Abu Bakar's sucessor, [[Sultan Ibrahim]] accepted a British advisor. 

On the island of [[Borneo]], Sabah was governed as the crown colony of [[British North Borneo]], while Sarawak was acquired from [[Brunei]] as the personal kingdom of the Brooke family, who ruled as [[White Rajahs]]. 

Following the [[Japan]]ese occupation of Malaya during [[World War II]], popular support for independence grew.<ref>[[Mahathir Mohamad]]. [http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990531/mahathir1.html Our Region, Ourselves]. [[Time Asia]]. May.</ref> Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the [[Malayan Union]] foundered on strong opposition from the [[ethnic Malay|Malays]], who opposed the emasculation of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the [[Chinese Malaysian|ethnic Chinese]].<ref>Time Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816440,00.html Token Citizenship]. May.</ref> The Malayan Union, established in 1946 and consisting of all the British possessions in Malaya with the exception of Singapore, was dissolved in 1948 and replaced by the [[Federation of Malaya]], which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection.

During this time, rebels under the leadership of the [[Communist Party of Malaya]] launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The [[Malayan Emergency]], as it was known, lasted from 1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] troops in Malaya.<ref>[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826360,00.html Siege's End]. May 2 1960.</ref> Against this backdrop, [[Hari Merdeka|independence]] for the Federation within the Commonwealth was granted on [[31 August]] [[1957]].<ref name="TIME New Nation">

===Post independence===
In 1963, Malaya along with the then-British crown colonies of [[Singapore]], [[Sabah]] (British North Borneo) and [[Sarawak]] formed Malaysia. The Sultanate of [[Brunei]], though initially expressing interest in joining the Federation, withdrew from the planned merger due to opposition from certain segments of its population as well as arguments over the payment of oil royalties and the status of the Sultan in the planned merger.<ref>[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,870532,00.html Hurray for Harry]. December</ref><ref>[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940146,00.html Fighting the Federation]. December</ref>
[[Image:Malaysia.JPG|thumb|[[Kuala Lumpur]], the capital and largest city in Malaysia]]
The childhood of independence were marred by [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|conflict with Indonesia]] (''Konfrontasi'') over the formation of Malaysia, Singapore's eventual exit in 1965, and racial strife in the form of [[May 13 Incident|racial riots]] in 1969.<ref name="Race war">[[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,900859,00.html Race War in Malaysia]. May. Retrieved December.</ref><ref name="TIME Art" /> The [[Philippines]] also made an active claim on Sabah in that period based upon the Sultanate of Brunei's cession of its north-east territories to the [[Sultanate of Sulu]] in 1704. The claim is still ongoing.<ref>Republic of the Philippines. Department of Foreign Affairs. [http://www.dfa.gov.ph/archive/speech/usec/faq.htm FAQs on the ICJ Decision]. Retrieved December.</ref>
After the [[May 13 Incident|May 13 racial riots]] of 1969, the controversial [[Malaysian New Economic Policy|New Economic Policy]]&mdash;intended to increase proportionately the share of the economic pie of the [[bumiputra]]s ("indigenous people", which includes the majority Malays, but not always the indigenous population) as compared to other ethnic groups&mdash;was launched by Prime Minister [[Tun Abdul Razak]]. Malaysia has since maintained a delicate ethno-political balance, with a system of government that has attempted to combine overall economic development with political and economic policies that promote equitable participation of all races.<ref name="New Economic Policy">[[Jomo Kwame Sundaram]]. [[United Nations Research Institute For Social Development|UNRISD]] [http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpPublications)/A20E9AD6E5BA919780256B6D0057896B?OpenDocument&panel=seriespapers The New Economic Policy and Interethnic Relations in Malaysia]. Retrieved December.</ref>

Between the 1980s and the mid 1990s, Malaysia experienced significant economic growth under the premiership of [[Mahathir bin Mohamad|Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad]].<ref>Anthony Spaeth. [[Time Magazine]]. ''[http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/mahathir/mahathir961209.html Bound for Glory]''. December 9 1996.</ref> The period saw a shift from an agriculture-based economy to one based on manufacturing and industry in areas such as computers and consumer electronics. It was during this period, too, that the physical landscape of Malaysia has changed with the emergence of numerous mega-projects. The most notable of these projects are the [[Petronas Twin Towers]] (at the time the tallest building in the world), KL International Airport (KLIA), [[North-South Expressway]], the Sepang F1 Circuit, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), the Bakun hydroelectric dam and Putrajaya, a new federal administrative capital.

In the late 1990s, Malaysia was shaken by the [[Asian financial crisis]] as well as political unrest caused by the sacking of the deputy prime minister Dato' Seri [[Anwar Ibrahim]].<ref>Anthony Spaeth. [[Time Magazine]]. [http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1998/980914/cover1.html He's the Boss]. September. </ref> In 2003, Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, retired in favour of his deputy, [[Abdullah Badawi]].

==Government and politics==
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{main|Politics of Malaysia}}
[[Image:MalaysianParliament.jpg|thumb|[[Malaysian House of Parliament|The Parliament building]], the symbol of democracy system practised by the Malaysian Government]]
[[Image:Perdana Putra Putrajaya Dec 2006 003.jpg|thumb|Malaysia PM's office, [[Putrajaya]]]]

Malaysia is a [[federation|federal]] [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]] [[elective monarchy]]. The federal [[head of state]] of Malaysia is the ''[[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]'', commonly referred to as the King of Malaysia. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term among the nine hereditary [[Malay Ruler|Sultan]]s of the [[Malay states]]; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection.<ref>Article 32. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref> 

The system of government in Malaysia is closely modeled on that of [[Westminster System|Westminster]] [[parliamentary system]], a legacy of [[British Empire|British colonial rule]]. In practice however, more power is vested in the executive branch of government than in the legislative, and the judiciary has been weakened by sustained attacks by the government during the Mahathir era. Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known as the [[Barisan Nasional]] (formerly known as the Alliance).<ref name="Dept of state">US Department of State. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm Malaysia]. Retrieved December.</ref>

[[Legislative power]] is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral [[Parliament of Malaysia|parliament]] consists of the [[lower house]], the House of Representatives or ''[[Dewan Rakyat]]'' (literally the "Chamber of the People") and the [[upper house]], the Senate or ''[[Dewan Negara]]'' (literally the "Chamber of the Nation").<ref>Article 44. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref><ref>Article 45. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref><ref>Article 46. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref> The 219-member House of Representatives are elected from single-member constituencies that are drawn based on population for a maximum term of 5 years. All 70 Senators sit for 3-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, 2 representing the federal territory of [[Kuala Lumpur]], 1 each from federal territories of [[Labuan]] and [[Putrajaya]], and 40 are appointed by the king. Besides the Parliament at the federal level, each state has a unicameral state legislative chamber ([[Malay language|Malay]]:''Dewan Undangan Negeri'') whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. [[Malaysian general election|Parliamentary elections]] are held at least once every five years, with the last general election being in March 2004.<ref name="Dept of state"> Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the House of Representatives and in most of the states, the state legislative chamber as well. Voting is not compulsory. {{cite}}

[[Executive branch|Executive power]] is vested in the [[Cabinet of Malaysia|cabinet]] led by the [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|prime minister]]; the Malaysian [[Constitution of Malaysia|constitution]] stipulates that the prime minister must be a member of the lower house of [[Parliament of Malaysia|parliament]] who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament.<ref>Article 43 (2). Constitution of Malaysia</ref> The cabinet is chosen from among members of both houses of Parliament and is responsible to that body.<ref>Article 43 (1). Constitution of Malaysia</ref>

State governments are led by chief ministers (''[[Menteri Besar]]'' in Malay states or ''Ketua Menteri'' in states without hereditary rulers), who is a state assembly member from the majority party in the Dewan Undangan Negeri. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}

===Citizenship===
{{main|Malaysian citizenship}}
Most Malaysians are granted citizenship by [[lex soli]].<ref>Article 14. Constitution of Malaysia</ref> All Malaysians are Federal citizens with no formal citizenships within the individual states except for states and the federal territory in [[East Malaysia]] where state citizenship is privilege and distinguishable from the Peninsula. Every citizen is issued with a biometric smartchip [[identity card]], known as ''[[MyKad]]'', at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times. A citizen is required to present his/her identity card to the police, or in the case of an emergency, to any military personnel, to be identified. If the card cannot be produced immediately, the person technically has 24 hours under the law to produce it at the nearest police station.

==Geography==
[[Image:My-map.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of Peninsular and East Malaysia]]
{{main|Geography of Malaysia}}
The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the [[South China Sea]], share a largely similar landscape in that both [[Peninsular Malaysia|West]] and [[East Malaysia]] feature coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains, the highest of which is [[Mount Kinabalu]] at 4,095.2 metres (13,435.7&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) on the island of [[Borneo]]. The local [[climate]] is [[equatorial]] and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) [[monsoon]]s.

[[Tanjung Piai]], located in the southern state of [[Johor]], is the southernmost tip of continental [[Asia]].<ref>Leow Chiah Wei. Travel Times. New Straits Times. [http://www.nst.com.my/Weekly/Travel/article/TravelTips/20050718145301/Article/index_html Asia's southernmost tip]. Retrieved December.</ref><ref>Sager Ahmad. Travel Times. New Straits Times. [http://www.emedia.com.my/Weekly/TravelTimes/Friday/Frontpage/20030627112206/recent_article Tanjung Piai, the End of Asia]. Retrieved December.</ref>

The [[Strait of Malacca]], lying between [[Sumatra]] and [[Peninsular Malaysia]], is arguably the most important shipping lane in the world.<ref>Andrew Marshall. Time Magazine. ''[http://www.time.com/time/asia/2006/journey/strait.html Waterway to the World]''. Retrieved December.</ref>

[[Putrajaya]] is the newly created administrative capital for the federal government of Malaysia, aimed in part to ease growing congestion within Malaysia's capital city, [[Kuala Lumpur]]. Kuala Lumpur remains the seat of parliament, as well as the commercial and financial capital of the country. Other major cities include [[Georgetown, Penang|Georgetown]], [[Ipoh]], [[Johor Bahru]], [[Kuching]], [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Miri]], [[Alor Star]], [[Malacca Town]], and [[Klang]].

===Natural resources===
Malaysia is well-endowed with natural resources in areas such as agriculture, forestry and minerals. In terms of agriculture, Malaysia is one of the top exporters of natural [[rubber]] and [[palm oil]], which together with sawn logs and sawn timber, [[cocoa]], [[black pepper|pepper]], [[pineapple]] and [[tobacco]] dominate the growth of the sector. Palm oil is also a major generator of foreign exchange. 

Regarding forestry resources, it is noted that logging only began to make a substantial contribution to the economy during the nineteenth century. Today, an estimated 59% of Malaysia remains forested. The rapid expansion of the timber industry, particularly after the 1960s, has brought about a serious erosion problem in the country's forest resources. However, in line with the Government's commitment to protect the environment and the ecological system, forestry resources are being managed on a sustainable basis and accordingly the rate of tree felling has been on the decline. 

In addition, substantial areas are being [[silviculture|silviculturally]] treated and reforestation of degraded forest land is also being carried out. The Malaysian government provide plans for the enrichment of some 312.30 square kilometres (120.5&nbsp;[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) of land with [[rattan]] under natural forest conditions and in rubber plantations as an inter crop. To further enrich forest resources, fast-growing timber species such as ''meranti tembaga'', ''merawan'' and ''sesenduk'' are also being planted. At the same time, the cultivation of high-value trees like [[teak]] and other trees for pulp and paper are also encouraged. [[Rubber]], once the mainstay of the Malaysian economy, has been largely replaced by [[oil palm]] as Malaysia's leading agricultural export.

[[Tin]] and [[petroleum]] are the two main mineral resources that are of major significance in the Malaysian economy. Malaysia was once the world's largest producer of tin until the collapse of the tin market in the early 1980s. In the 19th and 20th century, tin played a predominant role in the Malaysian economy. It was only in 1972 that petroleum and [[natural gas]] took over from tin as the mainstay of the mineral extraction sector. Meanwhile, the contribution by tin has declined. Petroleum and natural gas which were discovered in [[oilfields]] [[offshore]] Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu have contributed much to the Malaysian economy particularly in those three states. Other minerals of some importance or significance include copper, bauxite, iron-ore and coal together with industrial minerals like clay, kaolin, silica, limestone, barite, phosphates and dimension stones such as granite as well as marble blocks and slabs. Small quantities of [[gold]] are produced.

In 2004, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, [[Datuk Mustapa Mohamed]], revealed that Malaysia's [[oil]] reserves stood at 4.84 billion barrels while natural gas reserves increased to 89 trillion [[Cubic foot|cubic feet]] (2,500&nbsp;km³). This was an increase of 7.2%.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}

The government estimates that at current production rates Malaysia will be able to produce oil up to 18 years and gas for 35 years. In 2004, Malaysia is ranked 24th in terms of world oil reserves and 13th for gas. 56% of the oil reserves exist in the Peninsula while 19% exist in East Malaysia. The government collects oil royalties of which 5% are passed to the states and the rest retained by the federal government.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} <!---Every state  maintains the right to control resources inside the states. However oil and gas are controlled by the federal government. The states where the resources are found will be given royalties.--->

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Malaysia}}
[[Image:MosqueJamek.jpg|thumb|right|[[Masjid Jamek]] is one of the most recognizable mosques in Malaysia.]]
Malaya's population comprises many ethnic groups, with the [[Malay (ethnic group)|Malay]]s making up the majority, close to 62% of the population. By constitutional definition, Malays are [[Muslim]] who practices Malay norms and culture. Therefore, technically, a Muslim of any race who practices Malay norms and culture can be considered a Malay and have equal rights when it comes to Malay rights as stated in the constitution. About 24% of the population are [[Chinese Malaysian|Malaysians of Chinese descent]]. [[Indian Malaysian|Malaysians of Indian descent]] comprise about 8% of the population. About 90% of the Indian community are [[Tamil people|Tamil]]s but various other groups are also present, including [[Kerala|Malayali]]s, [[Punjabi]]s and [[Gujaratis]]. There are also various non-Malay peoples who are designated as indigenous, mostly in [[East Malaysia]]. These make up about 7% of the population.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Non-Malay indigenous groups make up more than half of the state of [[Sarawak]]'s population&mdash;constitute about 66% of [[Sabah]]'s population&mdash;and also exist in much smaller numbers on the Peninsula, where they are collectively known as [[Orang Asli]]. The non-Malay indigenous population is divided into dozens of ethnic groups, but they share some general cultural similarities. Other Malaysians also include those of, inter alia, [[Europe]]an, [[Middle East]]ern, [[Cambodia]]n, [[Thailand|Thai]]  and [[Vietnam]]ese descent. Europeans and [[Eurasian (mixed ancestry)|Eurasians]] include British who colonized and settled in Malaysia and some [[Kristang people|Portuguese]]. Most of the Middle Easterners are [[Arab]] descent. A small number of Cambodians and Vietnamese settled in Malaysia as Vietnam War refugees.

Population distribution is uneven, with some 20 million residents concentrated on the [[Malay Peninsula]], while [[East Malaysia]] is relatively less populated.

Due to the rise in labour intensive industries, Malaysia has 10 to 20% foreign workers with the uncertainty due in part to the large number of illegal workers, mostly [[Indonesia]]n. There are a million legal foreign workers and perhaps another million unauthorized foreigners. The state of Sabah alone has nearly 25% of its 2.7 million population listed as illegal foreign workers in the last census. However, this figure of 25% is thought to be less than half the figure speculated by NGOs.<ref name="SabahImmigrants">{{
cite web
|url=http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog_surat1/2006/08/all-sabahans-must-fight-bn-and-umno.html
|title= All Sabahans must Fight BN and UMNO
|publisher=Malaysia Today
|date=August 15, 2006
}}</ref> 

===Religion===
{{main|Religion in Malaysia}}
{{see|Status of religious freedom in Malaysia}}
[[Image:UbudiahMosque.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ubudiah Mosque|Masjid Ubudiah]] is a well-known historical mosque in [[Kuala Kangsar]].]]
[[Image:Melaka Kirche.jpg|thumb|right|Christ Church in [[Malacca Town]] was constructed in the 18th century by the Dutch.]]

Malaysia is a multi-religious society and [[Islam]] is the official religion. According to the Population and Housing Census 2000 figures, approximately 60.4 percent of the population practiced Islam; 19.2 percent [[Buddhism]]; 9.1 percent [[Christianity]]; and 6.3 percent [[Hinduism]]. The remaining 5 percent was accounted for by other faiths, including [[animism]], [[shamanism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Bahá'í]], [[Taoism]], [[Confucianism]], and other traditional Chinese religions.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.my/english/census/pressdemo.htm "Population and Housing Census" Press statement], ''Department of Statistics, Malaysia''. Accessed April 3, 2007.</ref>  Until the twentieth century, most practiced [[animism|traditional beliefs]], which arguably still linger on to a greater degree than Malaysian officialdom is prepared to acknowledge.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Although the Malaysian constitution theoretically guarantees religious freedom, in practice the situation is not so simple. All ethnic Malays are Muslim as defined in the Malaysian constitution.<ref>Article 160 (2). Constitution of Malaysia.</ref> Additionally, all non-Muslims who marry a Muslim must renounce their religion and convert to Islam. Meanwhile, Non-Muslims experience restrictions in activities such as construction of religious buildings and the celebration of certain religious events in some states.<ref name="Non Muslim restrictions 1">Inter Press Service: [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33451 Temple Demolitions Spell Creeping Islamisation]. Retrieved [[4 June]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name="Non Muslim restrictions 2">BBC : [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4965580.stm Pressure on multi-faith Malaysia]. Retrieved [[4 June]] [[2006]].</ref> Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of [[Sharia]] courts when it comes to matters concerning their religion. The jurisdiction of Sharia court is limited only to Muslims over matters of Faith and Obligations as a Muslim, which includes marriage, inheritance, apostasy, conversion, and custody among others. Any other criminal or civil offences are not under the jurisdiction of the Sharia Courts. As a rule, the Civil Courts cannot overule any decision made by the Sharia Courts, not even the Federal Court. The Sharia Courts has a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts.
As a legal matter, Muslims may not apostatise very freely, as doing so involves the Sharia court. The Sharia court is governed by judges who are trained in Sharia law. Generally, one who wishes to leave Islam makes a legal declaration, but this is still not recognised by the Malaysian civil courts. One has to obtain a declaration of [[apostasy]] from a Sharia court and the court will only grant the apostasy after the court is truly convinced that the petitioner no longer has faith in Islam. 

Malaysians tend to personally respect one another's religious beliefs, with inter-religious problems arising mainly from the political sphere. However, there is a growing divide because many Chinese and Indians feel oppressed by recent religiously-related political sentiments that threaten their freedom of religion.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

===Education===
{{main|Education in Malaysia}}
[[Image:Overfloor and Big Tree, Malay College.jpg|thumb|[[Malay College Kuala Kangsar]] (MCKK) is one of the earliest boarding schools to be established in [[British Malaya]].]]
[[Image:Nottinghamunimalaysia.JPG|thumb|[[University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus|University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus]].]]
Education in Malaysia is monitored by the federal government Ministry of Education.<ref>Ninth Schedule. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref>

Most Malaysian children start schooling between the ages of three to six, in [[kindergarten]]. Most kindergartens are run privately, but there are a few government-operated kindergartens.

Children begin primary schooling at the age of seven for a period of six years. There are two major types of government-operated or government-assisted primary schools. They are the national schools (''Sekolah Kebangsaan'') which use Malay as the medium of instruction, and the national-type schools (''Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan'') which use either Chinese or Tamil as the medium of instruction. Before progressing to the secondary level of education, students in Year 6 are required to sit for the ''[[Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah]] (UPSR)'', or Primary School Assessment Examination. An exam called ''[[Penilaian Tahap Satu]] (PTS)'', First Level Assessment, was used to measure the ability of bright students, and to allow them to move from Year 3 to 5, skipping Year 4.<ref>World Education Forum. [[UNESCO]]. [http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/malaysia/rapport_1.html Education for All 2000 Assessment Report. Malaysia.] Retrieved December.</ref> This exam was removed in 2001.

Secondary education in government secondary schools last for five years. Government secondary schools use Malay as the main medium of instruction. The only exceptions are the Maths and Science subjects as well as languages other than Malay. At the end of the third year or Form Three, students sit for the ''[[Penilaian Menengah Rendah]] (PMR)'', Lower Secondary Assessment. The combination of subjects available to Form 4 students vary from one school to another. In the last year (Form 5), students sit for ''[[Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia]] (SPM)'', Malaysian Certificate of Education, which is equivalent to the British Ordinary or 'O' Levels (now referred to as GCSE). The oldest in Malaysia is Penang Free School. Penang Free School is also the oldest school in South East Asia.

[[Mathematics]] and [[Science]] subjects in government primary and secondary schools such as [[Biology]], [[Physics]], [[Chemistry]] are taught in English. The reasoning was that students would no longer be hindered by the language barrier during their tertiary education in fields such as [[medicine]] and [[engineering]].

There are also 60 [[Chinese Independent High School]]s in Malaysia, where most subjects are taught in Chinese. Chinese Independent High Schools are monitored and standardized by the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM, more commonly referred to by its Chinese name, Dong Zong 董总), however, unlike government schools, every independent school is free to make its own decisions. Studying in independent schools takes 6 years to complete, divided into Junior Middle (3 years) and Senior Middle (3 years). Students sit for a standardised test by Dong Zong known as the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) in Junior Middle 3 (equivalent to PMR) and Senior Middle 3 (equivalent to AO level). A number of independent schools conduct classes in Malay and English in addition to Chinese, enabling the students to sit for the PMR and SPM as well.

Malaysia's secondary schools are grouped into a few types, namely SMK (National Schools)which include daily schools and religious schools (SMKA – There are 54 of them), SMJK (Chinese Independent Schools), SMT (Technical schools), SBP (Residential Schools, MRSM (Mara Junior College)and private-funding schools such SMA (Religious Schools), International Schools (such as Fairview International School)and Private Schools (such as Sri Cempaka and [[Kolej Yayasan Saad]])

Students who wish to enter public universities must complete one and a half more years of secondary schooling in Form Six and sit for the ''[[Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia]] (STPM)'', Malaysian Higher School Certificate; equivalent to the British Advanced or 'A' levels.

As for tertiary education, there are public universities such as [[University of Malaya]], [[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] and [[Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia]]. In addition, five international reputable universities have set up their branch campuses in Malaysia since 1998. A branch campus can be seen as an ‘off-shore campus’ of the foreign university, which offers the same courses and awards as the main campus. Both local and international students can acquire these identical foreign qualifications in Malaysia for a cheaper price. The foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia are: [[Monash University Malaysia Campus]], [[Curtin University of Technology Sarawak Campus]],  [[Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus]] and [[University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus]].

Students also have the option of enrolling in private colleges after secondary studies. Most colleges have educational links with overseas universities especially in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Malaysian students abroad study mostly in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[United States]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Canada]], [[Singapore]], and [[Japan]].

In addition to the National Curriculum, Malaysia has many international schools. International schools offer students the opportunity to study the curriculum of another country. These schools mainly cater to the growing expatriate population in the country. International schools include: the [[Australian International School, Malaysia]] (Australian curriculum), The [[Alice Smith School]] (British Curriculum), [[Elc International School]] (British Curriculum), [[The Garden International School]] (British Curriculum), Lodge International School (British Curriculum), The [[International School of Kuala Lumpur]] (International Baccalaureate and American Curriculum), The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur (Japanese Curriculum), The International School of Penang (International Baccalaureate and British Curriculum), Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur (French Curriculum) amongst others.

===Healthcare===
{{see|List of hospitals in Malaysia|Healthcare in Malaysia}}
Malaysian society places importance on the expansion and development of [[health care]], putting 5% of the government social sector development budget into public health care&mdash;an increase of more than 47% over the previous figure. This has meant an overall increase of more than RM 2 billion. With a rising and aging population, the Government wishes to improve in many areas including the refurbishment of existing hospitals, building and equipping new hospitals, expansion of the number of polyclinics, and improvements in training and expansion of [[telehealth]]. Over the last couple of years they have increased their efforts to overhaul the systems and attract more foreign investment.

The Malaysian health care system requires doctors to perform a compulsory three years service with [[public hospital]]s to ensure the manpower of these hospitals is maintained. Recently foreign doctors have also been encouraged to take up employment here. There is still, however, a compound shortage of medical workforce, especially that of highly trained [[Medical specialist|specialists]] resulting in certain medical care and treatment only available in large cities. Recent efforts to bring many facilities to other towns have been hampered by lack of expertise to run the available equipment made ready by investments.

The majority of [[private hospital]]s are in urban areas and, unlike many of the public hospitals, are equipped with the latest diagnostic and imaging facilities. Private hospitals have not generally been seen as an ideal investment&mdash;it has often taken up to ten years before companies have seen any profits. However, the situation has now changed and companies are now looking into this area again, particularly in view of the increasing interest by foreigners in coming to Malaysia for medical care and the recent government focus to develop the [[medical tourism|health tourism]] industry.<ref>[http://www.gov.my/MyGov/BI/Directory/NonCitizen/nHealth/nHealthTourism/ Health Tourism], ''Malaysian Government Portal''. Accessed October 12, 2007.</ref>

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Malaysia}}
The [[Malay Peninsula]] and indeed [[Southeast Asia]] has been a centre of trade for centuries. Various items such as [[porcelain]] and [[spice]]s were actively traded even before [[Sultanate of Malacca|Malacca]] and Singapore rose to prominence.
[[Image:20070104rubberlatex.jpg|thumb|Rubber latex.]]
[[Image:Putrajaya Jan 2007a.jpg|thumb|The Malaysian government Ministry of Finance building in Putrajaya.]]
In the 17th century, they were found in several [[Malay states]]. Later, as the [[British Empire|British]] started to take over as administrators of [[Malaya]], [[rubber]] and [[palm oil]] trees were introduced for commercial purposes. Over time, Malaya became the world's largest major producer of tin, rubber, and palm oil.<ref>Time Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,932934,00.html Rubber from Malaya]. March 1 1943.</ref> These three commodities, along with other raw materials, firmly set Malaysia's economic tempo well into the mid-20th century.

Instead of relying on the local Malays as a source of labour, the British brought in Chinese and Indians to work on the mines and plantations. Although many of them returned to their respective home countries after their agreed tenure ended, some remained in Malaysia and settled permanently.

As Malaya moved towards independence, the government began implementing economic [[Five-year plans of Malaysia|five-year plan]]s, beginning with the [[First Malayan Five Year Plan]] in 1955. Upon the establishment of Malaysia, the plans were re-titled and renumbered, beginning with the [[First Malaysia Plan]] in 1965.

In 1970s, Malaysia began to imitate [[Asian Tigers]] and committed itself to a transition from being reliant on mining and agriculture to an economy that depends more on manufacturing. With [[Japan]]ese investment, heavy industries flourished and in a matter of years, Malaysian [[export]]s became the country's primary growth engine. Malaysia consistently achieved more than 7% [[GDP]] growth along with low [[inflation]] in the 1980s and the 1990s.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

During the same period, the government tried to eradicate poverty with the controversial [[New Economic Policy (Malaysia)|New Economic Policy]] (NEP), after the [[May 13 Incident]] of racial rioting in 1969.<ref name="New Economic Policy">[[Jomo Kwame Sundaram]]. [[United Nations Research Institute For Social Development|UNRISD]] [http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpPublications)/A20E9AD6E5BA919780256B6D0057896B?OpenDocument&panel=seriespapers The New Economic Policy and Interethnic Relations in Malaysia]. Retrieved December.</ref> Its main objective was the elimination of the association of race with economic function, and the first five-year plan to begin implementing the NEP was the [[Second Malaysia Plan]]. The success or failure of the NEP is the subject of much debate, although it was officially retired in 1990 and replaced by the [[National Development Policy]] (NDP). Recently much debate has surfaced once again with regards to the results and relevance of the NEP. Some have argued that the NEP has indeed successfully created a Middle/Upper Class of Malay businessmen and professionals. They are, however, in the minority as many rural Malays still live below the poverty line. The Chinese control of the country's economy meanwhile, has been ceded largely in favour of the Bumiputras in many essential or strategic industries such as petroleum retailing, transportation, agriculture and etc. The minority of Indian descent has by and large been the most adversely affected by this policy. Indicators point to a higher incidence of crime and gang related activities among the Indians in recent years.       

The rapid economic boom led to a variety of supply problems, however. Labour shortages soon resulted in an influx of millions of foreign workers, many illegal. Cash-rich [[PLC]]s and consortia of banks eager to benefit from increased and rapid development began large infrastructure projects. This all ended when the [[Asian Financial Crisis]] hit in the fall of 1997, delivering a massive shock to Malaysia's economy.

As with other countries affected by the crisis, there was speculative short-selling of the Malaysian currency, the [[ringgit]]. [[Foreign direct investment]] fell at an alarming rate and, as capital flowed out of the country, the value of the ringgit dropped from MYR 2.50 per USD to, at one point, MYR 4.80 per USD. The [[Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange]]'s composite index plummeted from approximately 1300 points to around 400 points in a matter of weeks. After the controversial sacking of finance minister [[Anwar Ibrahim]], a National Economic Action Council was formed to deal with the monetary crisis. [[Bank Negara]] imposed [[capital controls]] and [[fixed exchange rate|pegged]] the Malaysian ringgit at 3.80 to the US dollar. Malaysia refused economic aid packages from the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) and the World Bank, however, surprising many analysts. 

In March 2005, the [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (UNCTAD) published a paper on the sources and pace of Malaysia's recovery, written by Jomo K.S. of the applied economics department, [[University of Malaya]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The paper concluded that the controls imposed by Malaysia's government neither hurt nor helped recovery. The chief factor was an increase in electronics components exports, which was caused by a large increase in the demand for components in the United States, which was caused, in turn, by a fear of the effects of the arrival of the year 2000 ([[Y2K]]) upon older computers and other digital devices.

However, the post Y2K slump of 2001 did not affect Malaysia as much as other countries. This may have been clearer evidence that there are other causes and effects that can be more properly attributable for recovery. One possibility is that the currency speculators had run out of finance after failing in their attack on the [[Hong Kong]] dollar in August 1998 and after the [[Russian ruble]] collapsed. (See [[George Soros]])

Regardless of cause/effect claims, rejuvenation of the economy also coincided with massive government spending and budget deficits in the years that followed the crisis. Later, Malaysia enjoyed faster economic recovery compared to its neighbours. In many ways, however, the country has yet to recover to the levels of the pre-crisis era. 

While the pace of development today is not as rapid, it is seen to be more sustainable. Although the controls and economic housekeeping may not have been the principal reason for recovery, there is no doubt that the banking sector has become more resilient to external shocks. The current account has also settled into a structural surplus, providing a cushion to capital flight. Asset prices are now a fraction of their pre-crisis heights.

The [[fixed exchange rate]] was abandoned in July 2005 in favour of a managed [[floating exchange rate|floating system]] within an hour of [[China]]'s announcing of the same move.<ref>{{cite news |title=Malaysia scraps ringgit peg  |url=http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_391738ae-cb73c03a-1da87db0-fb656a0a |date=[[2005-07-22]] |publisher=The Edge Daily}}</ref> In the same week, the ringgit strengthened a percent against various major currencies and was expected to appreciate further. As of December 2005, however, expectations of further appreciation were muted as [[capital flight]] exceeded USD 10 billion.<ref>Department of Statistics. Malaysia. ''[http://www.statistics.gov.my/english/bop/bopq405.htm Quarterly Balance of Payments Performance October - December, 2005]''. Retrieved December.</ref>

In September 2005, Sir Howard J. Davies, director of the [[London School of Economics]], at a meeting in [[Kuala Lumpur]], cautioned Malaysian officials that if they want a flexible capital market, they will have to lift the ban on short-selling put into effect during the crisis. In March 2006, Malaysia removed the ban on short selling.<ref>[[Financial Times]]. ''[http://news.ft.com/cms/s/3659eba2-ba91-11da-980d-0000779e2340.html Malaysia relaxes short-selling ban]''. Extracted March 28, 2006.</ref> Currently, Malaysia is considered a [[newly industrialized country]].<ref name=Globalization>{{cite book|title=Globalization and the Transformation of Foreign Economic Policy|author=Paweł Bożyk|chapter=Newly Industrialized Countries|pages=164|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd|year=2006|isbn=0-75-464638-6}}</ref><ref name=Principles>{{cite book|title=Principles of Economics|author=N. Gregory Mankiw|year=4th Edition 2007|isbn=0-32-422472-9}}</ref><ref>Boulton, William; Michael Pecht, William Tucker, Sam Wennberg (May 1997). [http://www.wtec.org/loyola/em/04_07.htm Malaysia]. ''Electronics Manufacturing in the Pacific Rim, World Technology Evaluation Center''. Retrieved on 26 September 2007</ref>

==Infrastructure==
{{main|Transportation in Malaysia|Communications in Malaysia}}
:''See also:'' [[:Category:Buildings and structures in Kuala Lumpur|''Buildings and structures in Kuala Lumpur'']] and [[:Category:Buildings and structures in Putrajaya|''Buildings and structures in Putrajaya'']]
[[Image:KualaLumpurTower.jpg|upright|thumb|The [[Kuala Lumpur Tower]] enhances communication quality within Kuala Lumpur and the [[Klang Valley]].]] 
[[Image:SprintHway1.JPG|thumb|The Damansara Link section of Klang Valley's [[Sprint Expressway]].]] 

Malaysia has extensive roads that connect all major cities and towns on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The total length of the [[Malaysian expressway system|Malaysian expressway network]] is 1,192 [[kilometres]] (740 [[mile]]s). The network connects all major cities and conurbations such as [[Klang Valley]], [[Johor Bahru]] and [[Penang]] to each other. The major expressway, the [[North-South Expressway]] spans from the northern and the southern tips of Peninsular Malaysia at Bukit Kayu Hitam and Johor Bahru respectively. It is a part of the [[Asian Highway Network]], which also connects into Thailand and Singapore. 

Roads in the East Malaysia and the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia are still relatively undeveloped. Those are highly curved roads passing through mountainous regions and many are still unsealed, gravel roads. This has resulted in the continued use of rivers and the necessary use of [[airplane]]s as the main or alternative mode of transportation for the interior residents. 

Train service in West Malaysia is operated by the [[Keretapi Tanah Melayu]] (Malayan Railways) and has extensive railroads that connect all major cities and towns on the peninsular, including [[Singapore]]. There is also a short railway in Sabah operated by [[Sabah State Railway]] that mainly carries freight.
 
There are [[Port|seaports]] throughout the country. The major ports are [[Port Klang]] and [[Port of Tanjung Pelepas]] in Johor. Other important ports can be found in [[Tanjung Kidurong]], [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Kuching]], [[Kuantan Port|Kuantan]], [[Pasir Gudang]], [[Penang]], [[Sandakan]] and [[Tawau]]. 

[[Airport]]s are also found throughout the country. [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] (KLIA) is the main airport of the country. Other important airports include [[Kota Kinabalu International Airport]], [[Penang International Airport]], [[Kuching International Airport]], [[Langkawi International Airport]], and [[Senai International Airport]]. There are also airports in smaller towns, as well as small domestic airstrips in rural Sabah and Sarawak. There are daily flight services between West and East Malaysia, which is the only convenient option for passengers travelling between the two parts of the country. Malaysia is the home of the first low-cost carrier in the region, [[Air Asia]]. It has Kuala Lumpur as its hub and maintains flights to Southeast Asia and China as well. In KL it operates out of the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in KLIA.

The intercity telecommunication service is provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay. International telecommunications are provided through submarine cables and satellite. One of the largest and most significant telecommunication companies in Malaysia is [[Telekom Malaysia Berhad]] (TM), providing products and services from fixed line, mobile as well as dial-up and broadband Internet access service. It has the near-monopoly of fixed line phone service in the country.

In December 2004, Energy, Water and Communications Minister [[Lim Keng Yaik|Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik]] reported that only 0.85% or 218,004 people in Malaysia used broadband services. However these values are based on subscriber number, whilst household percentage can reflect the situation more accurately. This represented an increase from 0.45% in three quarters. He also stated that the government targeted usage of 5% by 2006 and doubling to 10% by 2008. Lim Keng Yaik had urged local telecommunication companies and service provider to open up the last mile and lower prices to benefit the users.

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Malaysia}}
{{seealso| Tourism in Malaysia|Cuisine of Malaysia}} 
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society. The population as of February 2007 is 26.6 million consisting of 62% Malays, 24% Chinese, 8% Indians, with other minorities and indigenous peoples (Dept of Stats. Malaysia). The Malays, who form the largest community, are defined as Muslims in the [[Constitution of Malaysia]]. The Malays play a dominant role politically and are included in a grouping identified as [[bumiputra]]. Their native language is [[Malay language|Malay]] (''Bahasa Melayu''). Malay is the national language of the country.<ref name="CONSTITUTION 152">Article 152. Constitution of Malaysia.</ref>

In the past, Malays wrote in [[Sanskrit]] or using [[Sanskrit]]-based alphabets. After the 15th century, [[Jawi script|Jawi]] (a script based on Arabic) became popular. Over time, [[romanized]] script overtook Sanskrit and Jawi as the dominant script. This was largely due to the influence of the colonial education system, which taught children in romanised writing rather than in Arabic script.

The largest non-Malay indigenous tribe is the [[Iban people|Iban]] of Sarawak, who number over 600,000. Some Iban still live in traditional jungle villages in [[longhouse]]s along the Rajang and Lupar rivers and their tributaries, although many have moved to the cities. The [[Bidayuh]]s, numbering around 170,000, are concentrated in the south-western part of Sarawak. The largest indigenous tribe in Sabah is the [[Kadazan]]. They are largely [[Christianity|Christian]] subsistence farmers. The 140,000 [[Orang Asli]], or aboriginal peoples, comprise a number of different ethnic communities living in Peninsular Malaysia. Traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists, many have been sedentarised and partially absorbed into modern Malaysia.

The Chinese population in Malaysia is mostly [[Buddhist]] (of [[Mahayana]] sect) or [[Taoist]]. Chinese in Malaysia speak a variety of Chinese dialects including [[Mandarin Chinese]], [[Hokkien (dialect)|Hokkien]], [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]], [[Hakka]] and [[Teochew]]. Chinese have historically been dominant in the Malaysian business community. 

The Indians in Malaysia are mainly Hindu [[Tamil people|Tamil]]s from southern India who native language is [[Tamil language|Tamil]], there are also other Indian communities which is [[Telugu people|Telugu]], [[Malayalam]] and [[Hindi]]-speaking, living mainly in the larger towns on the west coast of the peninsula. Many middle to upper-middle class Indians in Malaysia also speak [[English language|English]] as a first language. There is also a sizable [[Sikh]] community in Malaysia of over 83,000. Most Indians originally migrated from India as traders, teachers or other skilled workers. A larger number were also part of the forced migrations from [[India]] by the British during colonial times to work in the plantation industry.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}<br>

[[Eurasian (mixed ancestry)|Eurasians]], Cambodians, Vietnamese, and indigenous tribes make up the remaining population. A small number of Eurasians, of mixed Portuguese and Malay descent, speak a [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]-based [[creole language|creole]], called [[Kristang language|Papiá Kristang]]. There are also Eurasians of mixed Filipino and Spanish descent, mostly in [[Sabah]]. Descended from immigrants from the [[Philippines]], some speak [[Chavacano]], the only [[Spanish-based creole language]] in [[Asia]]. [[Cambodia]]ns and Vietnamese are mostly Buddhists (Cambodians of [[Theravada]] sect and Vietnamese, Mahayana sect). 

Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms. The music is based largely around the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments (some made of shells); the rebab, a bowed string instrument; the serunai, a double-reed oboe-like instrument; flutes, and trumpets. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include [[wayang|wayang kulit]] (shadow puppet theatre), [[silat]] (a stylised martial art) and crafts such as [[batik]], weaving, and silver and brasswork.

===Holidays===
{{main|Holidays in Malaysia}}
Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Some holidays are federal gazetted public holidays and some are public holidays observed by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, but are not public holidays.
[[Image:RayaHajiFood.PNG|thumb|right|Typical festive fare during [[Hari Raya Puasa]] or [[Hari Raya Haji]] (clockwise from bottom left): beef soup, ''ketupat'' (compressed rice cubes), beef [[rendang]] and ''sayur lodeh''.]]
The most celebrated holiday is the "[[Hari Merdeka]]" (Independence Day) on [[August 31]] commemorating the independence of the [[Federation of Malaya]] in 1957, while [[Malaysia Day]] is only celebrated in the state of [[Sabah]] on [[September 16]] to commemorate the formation of Malaysia in 1963. Hari Merdeka, as well as [[Labour Day]] ([[May 1]]), the King's Birthday (first Saturday of June) and some other festivals are federal gazetted public holidays.

Muslims in Malaysia (including all Malays and other non-Malay Muslims) celebrate [[Muslim holidays]]. The most celebrated festival, [[Hari Raya Puasa]] (also called ''Hari Raya Aidilfitri'') is the Malay translation of [[Eid ul-Fitr]]. It is generally a festival honoured by the Muslims worldwide marking the end of [[Ramadan]], the fasting month. In addition to Hari Raya Puasa, they also celebrate [[Hari Raya Haji]] (also called ''Hari Raya Aidiladha'', the translation of [[Eid ul-Adha]]), Awal Muharram ([[Islamic New Year]]) and [[Mawlid|Maulidul Rasul]] (Birthday of the Prophet).

[[Culture of China|Chinese]] in Malaysia typically celebrate festivals that are observed by Chinese around the world. [[Chinese New Year]] is the most celebrated among the festivals  which lasts for fifteen days and ends with ''[[Lantern Festival|Chap Goh Mei]]''. Other festivals celebrated by Chinese are the [[Qingming Festival]], the [[Dragon Boat Festival]] and the [[Mid-Autumn Festival]]. In addition to traditional Chinese festivals, [[Buddhist]]s Chinese also celebrate [[Vesak Day]].  

The majority of Indians in Malaysia are [[Hindus]] and they celebrate [[Deepavali]], the festival of light, while [[Thaipusam]] is a celebration which [[pilgrims]] from all over the country flock to [[Batu Caves]]. Apart from the Hindus, [[Sikhs]] celebrate the [[Vaisaki]], the Sikh New Year. 

Other festivals such as [[Good Friday]] (East Malaysia only), [[Christmas]], [[Gawai Dayak|Hari Gawai]] of the [[Iban]]s ([[Dayak]]s), Pesta Menuai (Pesta [[Kaamatan]]) of the [[Kadazan-Dusun]]s are also celebrated in Malaysia.

Despite most of the festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group, all Malaysians celebrate the festivities together, regardless of their background. For years, when Hari Raya Puasa and Chinese New Year coincided, a slogan, ''Kongsi Raya'', a combination of Gong Xi Fa Cai (a greeting used on the Chinese New Year) and Hari Raya (which could also mean "celebrating together" in Malay language) was coined. For years when the Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali coincide, a slogan, ''Deepa Raya'', is similarly coined.

==See also==
{{Malaysian Topics|state=expanded}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Sources ==
{{sourcesstart|2}}
* [[1911 Encyclopædia Britannica]]. ''Malay States.''
* Zainal Abidin bin Abdul Wahid; [[Khoo Kay Kim|Khoo, Kay Kim]]; Muhd Yusof bin Ibrahim; Singh, D.S. Ranjit (1994). ''Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Menengah Sejarah Tingkatan 2.'' [[Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka]]. ISBN
* Adam, Ramlah binti, Samuri, Abdul Hakim bin & Fadzil, Muslimin bin (2004). ''Sejarah Tingkatan 3''. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. ISBN.
* [[Milton Osborne|Osborne, Milton]] (2000). ''Southeast Asia: An Introductory History.'' Allen & Unwin. ISBN
{{sourcesend}}

==External links==
{{portalpar|Malaysia}}
{{sisterlinks|Malaysia}}

===Government===
* [http://www.statistics.gov.my Malaysia Department of Statistics]
* [http://www.gov.my/ myGovernment Portal] - Malaysia Government Portal
* [http://www.bernama.com.my/ Bernama] - Malaysia national news agency
* [http://www.tourism.gov.my/ Tourism Malaysia] - Malaysia tourism portal
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/ Virtual Malaysia] - The Official Portal of the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia
* [http://www.pmo.gov.my/ Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia]
* [http://www.rtm.net.my/ Radio Televisyen Malaysia] - Government-owned television network
* [http://www.matrade.gov.my/ Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation]
* [http://www.smidec.gov.my/ Small Medium Industries Development Corporation]

===Others===
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html CIA - The world fact book about Malaysia ]

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