| GENERAL INFORMATION
Official Name Persekutuan Tanah Malaysia (Federation of Malaysia)
Capital Kuala Lumpur
Flag
The Malaysian flag, adopted in 1963, wasinspired by the United States flag. The 14 stripes and the 14 points on thestar stand for the original 14 Malaysian states. After Singapore seceded in1965, the extra stripe and point were retained to represent the capitalterritory of Kuala Lumpur. The star and crescent represent Islam. Yellow is theofficial color of the monarchy; blue reflects the British colonial influence inMalaysia; and red and white are traditional Malaysian colors.
Anthem “Negara-Ku”/ (“My Country”)
LAND
Area 329,758 sq km / (127,320 sq mi)
Highest Point Mount Kinabalu 4,101 m (13,455 ft) above sealevel
Lowest Point Sea level along the coast
CLIMATE
Average Temperatures
| Kuala Lumpur |
|
|
| January |
27° C |
81° F |
| July |
28° C |
82° F |
| |
|
|
| George Town |
|
|
| January |
28° C |
82° F |
| July |
28° C |
82° F |
Average Annual Precipitation
Kuala Lumpur 2,440 mm (96 in)
Kuching 3,900 mm (154 in)
POPULATION
Population 21,820,143 (2000 estimate)
Population Density 66 persons/sq km / (171 persons/sq mi) (2000estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown (1998 estimate)
56% Urban
44% Rural
Largest Cities
Kuala Lumpur - 1,145,342
Ipoh - 382,853
Johor Baharu - 328,436
(1996 census)
Ethnic Groups
59% Indigenouspeoples
including ethnic Malays, Orang Asli, Ibans,Bidayuh, and Kadazans
26% Chinese
7% Indian
8% Other
Languages
Official Language Bahasa Malaysia
Other Languages English, Chinese, Tamil,Iban, other minority languages
Religions
53% Islam
19% Buddhism
11% Christianity
8% Hinduism
9% Other
ECONOMY
Gross Domestic Product $72.5 billion (1998)
Chief Economic Products
Agriculture and Forestry
Rice, palm oil, rubber, cacao, pepper, coconuts,pineapples, timber
Mining
Petroleum, natural gas, tin, bauxite, iron ore,copper
Manufacturing
Semiconductors and electronic products, rubberproducts, refined petroleum, motor vehicles
Employment Breakdown
49% Services
33% Industry
17% Agriculture,Forestry, and Fishing
Major Exports
Semiconductors and electronic products,petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber,textiles
Major Imports
Machinery and transportation equipment, basicmanufactures, chemicals, fuels, food
Major Trading Partners
Exports: United States, Singapore , Japan, Hong Kong,United Kingdom, Thailand, Germany
Imports: Japan, United States, Singapore, Taiwan,Germany, United Kingdom, South Korea
Currency Ringgit
Exchange Rate 3.90 ringgits = U.S.$1 (1998 average)
GOVERNMENT
Form of Government Federal constitutional monarchy
Head of State Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head of theFederation)
Selected by and from the nine hereditary rulersfor a five-year term
Head of Government Prime minister
Appointed by the head of state upon advice ofparliament
Legislature
Bicameral legislature
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) 193 members
Dewan Negara (Senate) up to 70 members
Voting Qualifications Universal suffrage for all citizens age 21 andolder
Highest Court Federal Court of Malaysia
Armed Services Army, Navy, Air Force - 105,000 troops
Political Divisions 13 states and two federal territories
EDUCATION
Major Universities and Colleges
University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur
University of Science George Town
National University Bangi
International Islamic University Petaling Jaya
University of Technology Johor Baharu
Source by Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2001. © 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. |
