Malaysia

constitutional monarchyIndependence 31 August 1957 (from UK)

Malaysia as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 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

Position2 30 N, 112 30 E

Area329,750 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

21.79 million July 2000 est. · 17.51m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.01% 2000 est. · 2.32% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.83 years 2000 est. · 68.82 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.29 children per woman 2000 est. · 3.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

20.96 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 30 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,700 1999 est. · $2,960 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 1999 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Malaysia was created in 1963 through the merging of Malaya (independent in 1957) and the former British Singapore, both of which formed West Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak in north Borneo, which composed East Malaysia. The first three years of independence were marred by hostilities with Indonesia. Singapore seceded from the union in 1965.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 329,750 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 12%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 68%other 17% (1993 est.)irrigated 2,941 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

329,750sq km

land: 328,550 sq kmwater: 1,200 sq kmslightly larger than New Mexico

Coastline

4,675km

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

Highest point

4,100m

Gunung Kinabalulowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

2,669km

border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

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

Natural hazards

flooding, landslides

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People

15 fields

Population

21,793,293

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 2.01% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

25.3Death

5.25Net migration

Net migration: note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)70.83

68.22 · 73.63

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)83.5%

89.1% · 78.1%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Malay and other indigenous 58%Chinese 26%Indian 7%others 9%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 35% (male 3,914,112; female 3,697,731)
15-64 years:: 61% (male 6,655,506; female 6,642,073)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 386,387; female 497,484) (2000 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

20.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.29 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Malaysian(s)
adjective:: Malaysian

Religions

Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages

Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai;
note - in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1999); Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

56%

NF 56%other 44%House of Representatives - last held 29 November 1999 (next to be held 3 November 2004)

House of Representatives, 193 seats, elected 29 November 1999one dot, one seat

NF 148PAS 27DAP 10NJP 5PBS 3

Percent of vote

NF 56%other 44%

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

constitutional monarchy

note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965);

nominally headed by the paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government;

powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government;

Sarawak - holds 28 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 persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan);
Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable

Independence

31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday

National Day, 31 August (1957)

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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1999);
Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
head of government:: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 8 January 1999)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections:: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms;
election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives;
following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results:: Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected paramount ruler;
Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah elected deputy paramount ruler

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (193 seats; members elected by popular vote weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms)

elections:: House of Representatives - last held 29 November 1999 (next to be held 3 November 2004)
election results:: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NF 56%, other 44%; seats by party - NF 148, PAS 27, DAP 10, NJP 5, PBS 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders

State Reform Party or STAR [PATAV Rubis];
Democratic Action Party or DAP [LIM Kit Siang];
Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia [LIM Keng Yaik];
Liberal Democratic Party [leader NA];
Malaysian Chinese Association or MCA [LING Liong Sik];
Malaysian Indian Congress or MIC [S. Samy VELLU];
National Front or NF [MAHATHIR bin Mohamad] (a coalition of 14 political parties, dominated by the UMNO, and including the UPKO, SAPP, and the Liberal Democratic Party);
National Justice Party or NJP [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail];
Parti Akar [Datuk PANDIKAR Amin Mulia];
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak or PBDS [Datuk Leo MOGGIE];
Parti Bersekutu [HARRIS Salleh];
Parti Islam SeMalaysia or PAS [Ustaz Fadzil Mohamed NOOR];
Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud];
Sabah People's Progressive Party or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee];
Sabah People's United Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS [Datuk Joseph KURUP];
Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Datuk Amar James WONG];
Sarawak United People's Party or SUPP [Datuk Dr. George CHAN Hong Nam];
United Kadazan People's Organization or UPKO (formerly Parti Demokratik Sabah) [Bernard DOMPOK];
United Malays National Organization or UMNO [OSU Sukam];
United Sabah Party (main opposition party) (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Dr. Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]

note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were dissolved - Spirit of '46 or Semangat '46 [Tengku Tan Sri RAZALEIGH, president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Datuk Seri Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery:: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 328-2700
FAX:: [1] (202) 483-7661
consulate(s) general:: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
embassy:: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address:: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone:: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX:: [60] (3) 242-2207

Flag description

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

Economy

Malaysia made a quick economic recovery in 1999 from its worst recession since independence in 1957.

30 fields

Real growth rate

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 8.5% (1999 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1999)

Unemployment rate

(1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

6.8%

(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998)

agriculture 12%industry 46%services 42% (1998)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

23%

18%

11%

Japan

21%

16%

Singapore

14%

Hong Kong

Netherlands

Taiwan

South Korea

Thailand

China

Exports $83.5 billion (1999 est.)Imports $61.5 billion (1999 est.)(1999 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$23.2 billionExpenditures

$27.6 billion (1999)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 94.78%hydro 5.22%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

57.435 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

53.423 billion (1998)Electricity exports

75 million (1998)Electricity imports

83 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Malaysia made a quick economic recovery in 1999 from its worst recession since independence in 1957. GDP grew 5%, responding to a dynamic export sector, which grew over 10% and fiscal stimulus from higher government spending. The large export surplus has enabled the country to build up its already substantial financial reserves, to $31 billion at yearend 1999.

This stable macroeconomic environment, in which both inflation and unemployment stand at 3% or less, has made possible the relaxation of most of the capital controls imposed by the government in 1998 to counter the impact of the Asian financial crisis. Government and private forecasters expect Malaysia to continue this trend in 2000, predicting GDP to grow another 5% to 6%. While Malaysia's immediate economic horizon looks bright, its long-term prospects are clouded by the lack of reforms in the corporate sector, particularly those dealing with competitiveness and high corporate debt.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $229.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,700 (1999 est.)

Labor force

9.3 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 15%, government 10%, construction 9% (1999 est.)

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 - products

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

Exports

$83.5 billion (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$61.5 billion (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, fuel and lubricants

Debt - external

$43.6 billion (1999 est.)

Currency

1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Exchange rates

ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 3.8000 (January 2000), 3.8000 (1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

2.17 million

(1998)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

4.4 million

(1998)

Telephone system

international service good

domestic:: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay;
adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei;
domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations
international:: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 56, FM 31 (plus 13 repeater stations), shortwave 5 (1999)

Radios

9.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

27 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

3.6 million (1997)

Transportation

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Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 32Unpaved 83

Networkskm

Highways

94,500Railways

1,801Waterways

7,296

Highways: paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways) · unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2000) · Waterways: (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km)

Railways

total:: 1,801 km
narrow gauge:: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2000)

Highways

total:: 94,500 km
paved:: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 23,530 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km

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

Merchant marine

total:: 361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,000,706 GRT/7,393,915 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 61, cargo 119, chemical tanker 34, container 55, liquified gas 19, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 57, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5 (1999 est.)

Airports

115 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Military

Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.6%

(FY98)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah State;
two islands in dispute with Singapore;
Sipadan and Ligitan Islands in dispute with Indonesia

Illicit drugs

transit point for some illicit drugs going to Western markets;
drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Malaysia.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/malaysia/2000.

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