Malaysia

agricultural land:

23.2%;

• arable land 2.9%;
• permanent crops 19.4%;
• permanent pasture 0.9%

forest:

62%

other:

14.8% (2011 est.)

total:

11.2 cu km/yr (35%/43%/22%)

per capita:

414 cu m/yr (2005)

• flooding;
• landslides;
• forest fires

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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

noun:

Malaysian(s)

adjective:

Malaysian

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.9 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

degree of risk:

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases:

dengue fever

water contact disease:

leptospirosis

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Malaysia

local long form:

none

local short form:

Malaysia

former:

Federation of Malaya

name:

• Kuala Lumpur;
• note - Putrajaya is referred to as an administrative center not the capital;
• Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

geographic coordinates:

3 10 N, 101 42 E

time difference:

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

• 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 3 components, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

• previous 1948;
• latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957;
• amended many times, last in 2007 (2010)

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

chief of state:

• King Tuanku ABDUL HALIM Mu'adzam Shah (selected on 13 December 2011; installed on 11 April 2012);
• the position of the king is primarily ceremonial but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister

head of government:

Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Najib Razak (since 3 April 2009); Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed Yassin (since 9 April 2009)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king

elections/appointments:

• king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term;
• election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states;
• election last held on 14 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016);
• prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives;
• following legislative elections, the leader who commands support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister

election results:

Tuanku ABDUL HALIM Mu'adzam Shah elected king; Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Najib Razak (UMNO) sworn in as prime minister for second term 0n 3 April 2009

description:

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king and 26 indirectly elected by 13 state legislatures; members serve 3-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections:

House of Representatives - last held on 5 May 2013 (next to be held by May 2018)

election results:

• House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - BN coalition 47.4%, opposition parties 50.9%, other 1.7%;
• seats by coalition/party - BN coalition 133, opposition parties 89

highest court(s):

• Federal Court (consists of the chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, chief justice of the High Court of Malaya, chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak and 7 judges);
• note - Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts

judge selection and term of office:

Federal Court justices appointed by the monarch on advice of the prime minister; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts:

• Court of Appeal;
• High Court;
• Sessions Court;
• Magistrates' Court

• Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or GERAKAN [MAH Siew Keong]
• Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [TEO Chee Kang]
• Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LIOW Tiong Lai]
• Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [Govindasamy PALANIVEL]
• Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]
• Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]
• Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Adenan SATEM]
• Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]
• Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [TIONG King Sing]
• Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [Dr. SIM Kui Hian]
• United Malays National Organization or UMNO [NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]
• United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Wilfred Madius TANGAU]
• People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]
• Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [TAN Kok Wai]
• Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang
• People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail]
• Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]
• State Reform Party (Parti Reformasi Negeri) or STAR [Jeffery KITINGAN]

chief of mission:

Ambassador AWANG ADEK Bin Hussin (since 21 May 2015)

chancery:

3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 572-9700

FAX:

[1] (202) 572-9882

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Joseph Y. YUN (since 2 October 2013)

embassy:

376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

mailing address:

US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

telephone:

[60] (3) 2168-5000

FAX:

[60] (3) 2142-2207

• 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

note: the design is based on the flag of the US

• 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, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing;
• Sabah - logging, petroleum and natural gas production;
• Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum and natural gas production, logging

agriculture:

11%

industry:

36%

services:

53% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.8%

highest 10%:

34.7% (2009 est.)

general assessment:

modern system featuring good intercity service on Peninsular Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radio relay and an adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service excellent

domestic:

domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 140 per 100 persons

international:

• country code - 60;
• landing point for several major international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and Europe;
• satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2011)

• 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 55 radio stations overall (2012)

• condensate 354 km;
• gas 6,439 km;
• liquid petroleum gas 155 km;
• oil 1,937 km;
• oil/gas/water 43 km;
• refined products 114 km;
• water 26 km (2013)

total:

1,849 km

standard gauge:

59 km 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)

narrow gauge:

1,792 km 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified) (2014)

country comparison to the world: 75

total:

144,403 km (excludes local roads)

paved:

116,169 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)

unpaved:

28,234 km (2010)

country comparison to the world: 33

major seaport(s):

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

container port(s) (TEUs):

George Town (Penang)(1,202,180), Port Kelang (Port Klang)(9,435,403), Tanjung Pelepas (7,302,461)

LNG terminal(s) (export):

Bintulu (Sarawak)

LNG terminal(s) (import):

Sungei Udang

• 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

• 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent and proof of age);
• mandatory retirement age 60;
• women serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces;
• no conscription (2013)

males age 16-49:

7,501,518

females age 16-49:

7,315,999 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49:

6,247,306

females age 16-49:

6,175,274 (2010 est.)

male:

265,008

female:

254,812 (2010 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

refugees (country of origin):

93,866 (Burma) (2014)

stateless persons:

• 40,000 (2014);
• note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants;
• Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982;
• Filipino and Indonesian children who have not have been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped "foreigner" are not eligible to go to government schools;
• these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for a passport

current situation:

• Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking;
• Malaysia is mainly a destination country for foreign workers who migrate willingly from countries including Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, and Vietnam but subsequently encounter forced labor or debt bondage at the hands of their employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors;
• a small number of Malaysian citizens were reportedly trafficked internally and abroad for commercial sexual exploitation in 2013;
• refugees are also vulnerable to trafficking;
• some officials are reportedly complicit in facilitating trafficking

tier rating:

• Tier 3 - Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so;
• in 2013, authorities continued to detain trafficking victims in government facilities as part of a court-ordered protection measure, the government identified significantly fewer trafficking victims and reported fewer investigations and convictions compared to the previous year;
• many front-line officials continued to lack the ability to recognize indicators of human trafficking and instead treated these cases as immigration violations;
• NGOs provided the majority of victim rehabilitation and counseling services with no financial support from the government (2014)

• drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously, including enforcement of the death penalty;
• 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