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| Malaysia Information |
| Malaysia History |
| Malaysia Culture |
| Malaysia Weather |
| Malaysia When to go |
| Malaysia Food |
| Malaysia Nightlife |
| Malaysia Visa and Passport |
| Malaysia Good to know |
Population: 25,715,819 Dialing Code: +60 Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai Religions: Muslim 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) Internet TLD: .my Located: 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 Area: 329,750 sq km Residents with HIV: 80,000 Literacy: 88.7% Comparative Size: slightly larger than New Mexico Nationality Noun: Malaysian(s) Nationality Adjective: Malaysian currencyMYR |
Contrasts in races, culture and geography have shaped Malaysia and the country that it is today. Here, one can shop, admire high technology and skyscrapers in one day and relax on the beach or trek in dense jungles on the other. Soaring skyscrapers look down upon stilt houses, while five-star resorts sit a few meters away from prehistoric reefs. The mainland Peninsular Malaysia dons the big city lifestyle while Malaysian Borneo offers untouched nature and adventures.
Multiracial beauty
Malaysia's sphere of influence goes beyond its self-promotion as being “Truly Asia.” The first Malaysians might be the ancestors of Asia's Malay race, but through generations of trade and colonialism, the country has now become a concoction of Malay, Indian, Thai and Chinese characteristics with a pat of western influence. Its prevailing religion, in fact, is Islam, which is of Arab origin. Such multiculturalism has made Malaysia not only a gastronomical hub, but also a home to hundreds of colorful festivals like Hari Raya Puasa or Aidilfitri, the Muslim equivalent of Christmas.
Mixture of old and new
Geographically, Malaysia is as varied as its culture. The South China Sea slices the country into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. Peninsular Malaysia contains the new Malaysia via the shopping districts and the modern buildings of the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur or KL, home to the 88-storey Petronas Towers, the world's tallest skyscrapers. Old Malaysia, meanwhile, is represented by Malaysian Borneo's primitive rainforests, which cover 59 percent of Malaysia. Such rainforests are said to be the oldest in the world, even predating those in Africa and Latin America.