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.
Population
21,300,000
(1996 estimate)
Population Density
64 people/sq km
(167 people/sq mi)
(1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
46% Urban
54% Rural
Largest Cities
Kuala Lumpur1,145,075
Ipoh382,633 Johor Baharu328,646
(1991 census)
Ethnic Groups
47% Malay
32% Chinese
9% Indigenous people from Borneo
9% Indian
Languages
Official Language
Bahasa Malaysia
Other Languages
English, Chinese, Tamil, Iban,
Religions
53% Islam
25% Chinese folk religion
7% Hinduism
6% Buddhism
6% Christianity
3% Other
Time and Date in Kuala Lumpur
Countries Currency Unit
MYR/Unit
Units/MYR
DZD
Algeria Dinars
0.0490744
20.3772
USD
United States Dollars
3.79900
0.263227
ARS
Argentina Pesos
1.28998
0.775204
AUD
Australia Dollars
2.02682
0.493383
ATS
Austria Schillings **
0.240472
4.15849
BSD
Bahamas Dollars
3.79900
0.263227
BBD
Barbados Dollars
1.90905
0.523822
BEF
Belgium Francs **
0.0820271
12.1911
BMD
Bermuda Dollars
3.79900
0.263227
BRL
Brazil Reals
1.63398
0.612003
GBP
United Kingdom Pounds
5.41685
0.184609
BGL
Bulgaria Leva
1.69927
0.588490
CAD
Canada Dollars
2.38157
0.419891
CLP
Chile Pesos
0.00578719
172.795
CNY
China Yuan Renminbi
0.458961
2.17884
CYP
Cyprus Pounds
5.78234
0.172940
CZK
Czech Republic Koruny
0.107168
9.33112
DKK
Denmark Kroner
0.445418
2.24508
XCD
East Caribbean Dollars
1.40704
0.710713
EGP
Egypt Pounds
0.820076
1.21940
EUR
Euro
3.30897
0.302209
FJD
Fiji Dollars
1.69978
0.588313
FIM
Finland Markkaa **
0.556528
1.79685
FRF
France Francs **
0.504449
1.98236
DEM
Germany Deutsche Marks **
1.69185
0.591070
XAU
Gold Ounces
1,148.23
0.000870905
GRD
Greece Drachmae **
0.00971083
102.978
HKD
Hong Kong Dollars
0.487076
2.05307
HUF
Hungary Forint
0.0136079
73.4866
ISK
Iceland Kronur
0.0379924
26.3211
INR
India Rupees
0.0778421
12.8465
IDR
Indonesia Rupiahs
0.000386689
2,586.06
IEP
Ireland Pounds **
4.20152
0.238009
ILS
Israel New Shekels
0.800980
1.24847
ITL
Italy Lire **
0.00170894
585.158
JMD
Jamaica Dollars
0.0797942
12.5322
JPY
Japan Yen
0.0286393
34.9171
JOD
Jordan Dinars
5.35825
0.186628
LBP
Lebanon Pounds
0.00250925
398.526
LUF
Luxembourg Francs **
0.0820271
12.1911
MYR
Malaysia Ringgits
1.00000
1.00000
MXN
Mexico Pesos
0.421627
2.37176
NZD
New Zealand Dollars
1.67340
0.597587
NOK
Norway Kroner
0.429088
2.33052
NLG
Netherlands Guilders **
1.50154
0.665981
PKR
Pakistan Rupees
0.0632639
15.8068
PHP
Philippines Pesos
0.0744610
13.4298
XPT
Platinum Ounces
1,971.60
0.000507203
PLN
Poland Zlotych
0.923935
1.08233
PTE
Portugal Escudos **
0.0165051
60.5875
ROL
Romania Lei
0.000115348
8,669.39
RUR
Russia Rubles
0.122076
8.19163
SAR
Saudi Arabia Riyals
1.01305
0.987117
XAG
Silver Ounces
17.5888
0.0568545
SGD
Singapore Dollars
2.06221
0.484917
SKK
Slovakia Koruny
0.0792282
12.6218
ZAR
South Africa Rand
0.334485
2.98967
KRW
South Korea Won
0.00287628
347.672
ESP
Spain Pesetas **
0.0198873
50.2834
XDR
IMF Special Drawing Rights
4.73665
0.211120
SDD
Sudan Dinars
0.0146115
68.4391
SEK
Sweden Kronor
0.366666
2.72728
CHF
Switzerland Francs
2.25961
0.442555
TWD
Taiwan New Dollars
0.108698
9.19979
THB
Thailand Baht
0.0872296
11.4640
TTD
Trinidad and Tobago Dollars
0.620752
1.61095
TRL
Turkey Liras
0.00000282643
353,803.01
VEB
Venezuela Bolivares
0.00412581
242.377
ZMK
Zambia Kwacha
0.000849888
1,176.63
Malaysia :
Geographic coordinates
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Malaysia :
Population growth rate
1.96%
Malaysia :
Birth rate
24.75 births/1,000 population
Malaysia :
Death rate
5.2 deaths/1,000 population
Malaysia :
People living with HIV/AIDS
49,000
Malaysia :
Independence
31 August 1957
Malaysia :
National holiday
Malaysia Day, 31 August
Malaysia :
Constitution
31 August 1957
Malaysia :
GDP
purchasing power parity - $223.7 billion
Malaysia :
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $10,300
Malaysia :
Electricity - consumption
54.872 billion kWh
Malaysia :
Exports
$97.9 billion electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
Malaysia :
Imports
$82.6 billion machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food, fuel and lubricants
Malaysia :
Telephones
4.5 million
Malaysia :
Mobile cellular
2.698 million
Malaysia :
Radio broadcast stations
AM 56, FM 31 , shortwave 5
Malaysia :
Radios
10.9 million
Malaysia :
Television broadcast stations
27
Malaysia :
Televisions
10.8 million
Malaysia :
Internet country code
.my
Malaysia :
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
7
Malaysia :
Internet users
1.5 million
Malaysia :
Railways
1,801 km
Malaysia :
Highways
64,672 km
Malaysia :
Waterways
7,296 km
Malaysia :
Pipelines
crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Malaysia :
Ports and harbors
Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Malaysia :
Merchant marine
362 ships
Malaysia :
Airports
115
Malaysia :
Heliports
1
Malaysia :
Military branches
Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts