Malaysia

constitutional monarchy

Malaysia as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKuala Lumpur

Area329,750 km2

LocationSoutheast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Vietnam and Indonesia

Populationas each edition published it

18.85 million July 1993 est. · 17.51m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.32% 1993 est. · 0.97% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.82 years 1993 est. · 76.6 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.54 children per woman 1993 est. · 3.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

26.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 30 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,960 1992 est. · $34,100 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

8% 1992 est. · 5.1% in 2025

Geography

Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Vietnam and Indonesia

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Land useshare of 329,750 km2

arable land 3%permanent crops 10%meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 63%other 24%irrigated 3,420 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

329,750km2

land area: 328,550 km2comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Coastline

4,675km

(Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Seaexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

2,669km

total · Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Location

Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Vietnam and Indonesia

Map references

Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines;
Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into two parts;
two islands in dispute with Singapore;
two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Climate

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

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Natural resources

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

Environment

subject to flooding; air and water pollution

Note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People

14 fields

Population

18,845,340

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.32% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

28.93Death

5.77Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years68.82

65.96 · 71.81

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy78%

86% · 70%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Ethnic divisions

Malay and other indigenous 59%Chinese 32%Indian 9%

Labor force

7.258million

(1991 est.)

Infant mortality rate

26.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Malaysian(s)
adjective:: Malaysian

Religions

Peninsular Malaysia:: Muslim (Malays) Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians)
Sabah:: Muslim 38% Christian 17%, other 45%
Sarawak:: tribal religion 35% Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

Languages

Peninsular Malaysia:: Malay (official) English, Chinese dialects, Tamil
State of Sabah:: English Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and Hakka dialects predominate)
State of Sarawak:: English Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages,

Government

Constitutional monarchy

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Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Malaysia
former:: Malayan Union

Digraph

Type

constitutional monarchy

note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government;

powers of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state within Malaysia, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories*, (wilayah-wilayah Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau, Pinang, Sabah,

Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*, Independence

31 August 1957 (from UK)

Constitution

31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963

Legal system

based on English common law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

National Day, 31 August (1957)

Political parties and leaders

Peninsular Malaysia:: National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad;
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik;
Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, Datuk LIM Keng Yaik;
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), Datuk S. Samy VELLU
Sabah:: Berjaya Party, Datuk Haji Mohammed NOOR Mansor;
Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Joseph Pairin KITINGAN;
United Sabah National Organizaton (USNO), leader NA
Sarawak:: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud;
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai;
Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG;
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE;
major opposition parties are Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Elections

House of Representatives:: last held 21 October 1990 (next to be held by August 1995);
results - National Front 52%, other 48%;
seats - (180 total) National Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4, other 22;
note - within the National Front, UMNO got 71 seats and MCA 18 seats

Executive branch

paramount ruler, deputy paramount ruler, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) consists of an upper house or Senate (Dewan Negara) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State:: Paramount Ruler AZLAN Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Sultan Yusof Izzudin (since 26 April 1989); Deputy Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1989)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Abdul GHAFAR Bin Baba (since 7 May 1986)

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Abdul MAJID Mohamed
chancery:: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 328-2700
consulates general:: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador John S. WOLF
embassy:: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address:: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur
telephone:: [60] (3) 248-9011
FAX:: [60] (3) 242-2207

Flag

fourteen 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 fourteen-pointed star;
the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam;
the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy

The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly managed | public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 8%-9% average growth in | 1987-92.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,960

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 13% (1992); accounts for NA% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

4.7%

(1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1%

(1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$15.6 billionExpenditures

$18.0 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $4.5 billion (1992 est.)

Overview

The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly managed public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 8%-9% average growth in 1987-92. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Despite sluggish growth in the major world economies in 1992, demand for Malaysian goods remained strong and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $54.5 billion (1992 est.)

Exports

$39.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: electronic equipment, palm oil, petroleum and petroleum products, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
partners:: Singapore 23%, US 18.6%, Japan 13.2%, UK 4%, Germany 4%

Imports

$39.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: food, consumer goods, petroleum products, chemicals, capital equipment
partners:: Japan 26%, US 15.8%, Singapore 15.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Germany 4.2%

External debt

$25.7 billion (1992 est.)

Electricity

8,000,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 1,610 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

Peninsular Malaysia:: rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber
Sabah:: logging, petroleum production
Sarawak:: agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Agriculture

accounts for 20% of GDP

Peninsular Malaysia:: natural rubber, palm oil, rice
Sabah:: mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, rice
Sarawak:: rubber, timber, pepper;
deficit of rice in all areas;
fish catch of 608,000 metric tons in 1987

Illicit drugs

transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.7 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million

Currency

1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Exchange rates

ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.6238 (January 1993), 2.5475 (1992), 2.7501 (1991), 1.7048 (1990), 2.7088 (1989), 2.6188 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

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Merchant marine, 184 ships by type

passenger-cargo 1short-sea passenger 2cargo 71container 28vehicle carrier 2roll-on/roll-off 2livestock carrier 1oil tanker 38chemical tanker 6liquefied gas 6bulk 27184 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,869,817 GRT/2,786,765 DWT

Railroads

Peninsular Malaysia:: 1,665 km 1.04-meter gauge; 13 km double track, government owned
Sabah:: 136 km 1.000-meter gauge
Sarawak:: none

Highways

Peninsular Malaysia:: 23,600 km; 19,352 km hard surfaced, mostly bituminous surface treatment, and 4,248 km unpaved
Sabah:: 3,782 km
Sarawak:: 1,644 km

Inland waterways

Peninsular Malaysia:: 3,209 km
Sabah:: 1,569 km
Sarawak:: 2,518 km

Pipelines

crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km

Ports

Tanjong Kidurong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Tawau

Airports

total:: 111
usable:: 102
with permanent-surface runways:: 32
with runways over 3,659 m:: 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 18

Telecommunications

good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay;
adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei;
international service good;
good coverage by radio and television broadcasts;
994,860 telephones (1984);
broadcast stations - 28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV;
submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak;
SEACOM submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 domestic