Netchap internet directory home » Travel Directory » Tourist Destinations of the world » Asia » Malaysia

Malaysia

Comprising of thirteen states and three federal territories, Malaysia nation falls in Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur is the capital city and Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. Other major cities include Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Alor Star, Malacca Town, and Klang. Other major cities include Ipoh,Georgetown, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Alor Star, Johor Bahru, Miri, Malacca Town and Klang.

The South China sea divides the country into two regions, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula. Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines are the countries that neighbor Malaysia.

The Federation of Malaya achieved independence from UK in 1957. The Federation of Malaya and British North Borneo Sarawak and Singapore federated to form Malaysia in 1963. Singapore was subsequently expelled.

Once the largest producer of rubber, palm oil and tin, there was an economic boom in the late twentieth century. The Malay forms the population's majority and there are sizable Indian and Chinese communities. Islam is the largest religion of the federation. Malaysia is a federal constitutionally elected monarchy.

Borneo and the Malay Peninsula share similar landscapes with coastal plains rising to mostly densely forested hills and mountains. At 4095 meters, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak. The climate is equatorial and receives tow monsoon rain spells annually - April to October, southwest October to February north east. The Malaccan Strait between Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra may be the most important shipping lane in the world. With much damaging logging and soil erosion, Malaysia's forest cover is 59 percent.

Malaysia is a multi-religious society with Islam as official religion. Some 60 percent of the population practice Islam; 19 percent Buddhism; 9 percent Christianity; and 6 percent Hinduism. Non Muslims who marry Muslims have to renounce their religion and convert to Islam.

Malaysian economy has had its ups and downs from the 1970s to early 2000s and is regarded as a newly industrialized economy.

Malaysia has extensive roads that connect all major cities and towns on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The road network connects all major cities and communities such as Johor Bahru, Klang Valley and Penang. The important expressway, the North-South Expressway is a part of Asian Highway Network, which connects to Singapore and Thailand. There are train services that connect the major places on the Malay Peninsula as well as Singapore. Major ports are Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas port.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main airport and there are Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Langkawi International Airport and Senai International Airport also. In tourism in Malaysia, there are exotic tropical islands such as Labuan, Langkawi, Pangkor, Penang, Redang Island, Tenggol Island and Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Malaysian Tourism : National parks and natural reserves include Bako National Park, Sarawak with bearded pigs and proboscis monkeys; Batang Ai National Park; Sarawak; Endau Rompin National Park; Johor, Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak; Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak; Kinabalu National Park, Sabah - with 4100 meter Mount Kinabalu; Kubah National Park, Sarawak; Taman Negara National Park regarded as the world's oldest rainforest covering Pahang Kelantan and Terengganu.