During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's departure from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies.

Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Southeast Asia

slightly larger than New Mexico

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

3,650 sq km (2003)

580 cu km (1999)

flooding; landslides; forest fires

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

Muslim (or Islam - official) 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

29,179,952 (July 2012 est.)

1.542% (2012 est.)

20.74 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

4.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population

KUALA LUMPUR (capital) 1.493 million; Klang 1.071 million; Johor Bahru 958,000 (2009)

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.64 children born/woman (2012 est.)

8% of GDP (2009)

0.941 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

1.82 beds/1,000 population (2009)

0.5% (2009 est.)

100,000 (2009 est.)

5,800 (2009 est.)

16.3% (2006)

4.1% of GDP (2008)

constitutional monarchy

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

Independence Day 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

31 August 1957; amended many times

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

21 years of age; universal

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures to serve three-year terms with a two term limit) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)

civil courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister); sharia courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance only for Muslims; decisions of sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Bar Council; BERSIH (electoral reform coalition); PEMBELA (Muslim NGO coalition); PERKASA (defense of Malay rights)

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers

tiger

Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB, Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic finance, high technology industries, biotechnology, and services. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand and reduce the economy's dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics, oil and gas, palm oil and rubber - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel, combined with strained government finances, has forced Kuala Lumpur to begin to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas. The oil and gas sector supplies more than 40% of government revenue. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves, and a well-developed regulatory regime has limited Malaysia''s exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless, Malaysia could be vulnerable to a fall in commodity prices or a general slowdown in global economic activity because exports are a major component of GDP. In order to attract increased investment, NAJIB has raised possible revisions to the special economic and social preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy of 1970, but he has encountered significant opposition, especially from Malay nationalists and other vested interests.

$453 billion (2011 est.)

$430.9 billion (2010 est.)

$402 billion (2009 est.)

$278.7 billion (2011 est.)

5.1% (2011 est.)

7.2% (2010 est.)

-1.6% (2009 est.)

$15,800 (2011 est.)

$15,300 (2010 est.)

$14,400 (2009 est.)

11.91 million (2011 est.)

3.1% (2011 est.)

3.4% (2010 est.)

3.8% (2009 est.)

46.2 (2009)

49.2 (1997)

20.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

21.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

-5% of GDP (2011 est.)

53.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

53.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

3.2% (2011 est.)

1.7% (2010 est.)

3% (31 December 2011)

2.83% (31 December 2010)

4.92% (31 December 2011 est.)

5.05% (31 December 2010 est.)

$85.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$72.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$384.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$358.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$362.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$328.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$414 billion (31 December 2011)

$410.5 billion (31 December 2010)

$256 billion (31 December 2009)

Peninsular Malaysia - palm oil, rubber, cocoa, rice; Sabah - palm oil, subsistence crops; rubber, timber; Sarawak - palm oil, rubber, timber; pepper

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

1.4% (2011 est.)

$30.99 billion (2011 est.)

$27.29 billion (2010 est.)

$225.6 billion (2011 est.)

$199 billion (2010 est.)

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

China 17.9%, Singapore 12.8%, Japan 10.6%, US 8.6%, Thailand 4.4%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2010 est.)

$177.1 billion (2011 est.)

$157.3 billion (2010 est.)

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Singapore 20.5%, China 13.7%, Japan 10%, US 7.9%, Thailand 6%, Indonesia 5.6% (2010 est.)

$133.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$106.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$87.81 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$81.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$112.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$101.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$109.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$96.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -

3.06 (2011 est.)

3.22 (2010 est.)

3.52 (2009)

3.33 (2008)

3.46 (2007)

calendar year

112 billion kWh (2010 est.)

95.02 billion kWh (2009 est.)

105 million kWh (2009 est.)

12 million kWh (2009 est.)

25.24 million kW (2009 est.)

91.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

8.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

603,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)

236,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

199,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

5.8 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

649,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

542,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)

213,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)

178,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)

66.5 billion cu m (2010 est.)

35.7 billion cu m (2010 est.)

31.99 billion cu m (2010 est.)

2.94 billion cu m (2010 est.)

2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

181.9 million Mt (2010 est.)

4.243 million (2011)

36.661 million (2012)

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays throughout the country, and the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays throughout the country; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks as well as regional and local stations; many private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 400 radio stations overall (2008)

.my

363,007 (2010)

15.355 million (2009)

117 (2012)

3 (2012)

condensate 3 km; gas 1,757 km; liquid petroleum gas 155 km; oil 30 km; refined products 114 km (2010)

7,200 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km) (2011)

Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas

the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; increased naval patrols since 2005 in the Strait of Malacca resulted in no reported incidents in 2010

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2010)

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)

while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge; land and maritime negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market