About Our Country

Jalur Gemilang, the national flag of Malaysia

Geography

Malaysia is located in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia. The nation includes the Malay Peninsula as well as Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan on the island of Borneo. Its area is approximately one third the size of Ontario.

Malaysia is located slightly above the equatorial latitude, giving it a hot and humid climate all year round. Its strategic location also protects it from most natural disasters and makes it a strong economic location. Most of Malaysia is covered with forests and mountain ranges. Its highest mountain range is in Sabah where Malaysia's highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu sits atop proudly. Its vast network of rain forests makes Malaysia a megadiverse country, rich in flora and fauna.


Population-wise, Malaysia is home to a total of 29.72 million citizens. Demographically, Malaysia is a multicultural nation with the Malays forming the majority at 50.4% of population. Its biggest minority is Chinese (24.6%), followed by various Indigenous groups in East Malaysia (11%) and Indians (7.1%). The rest is a mix of other cultures such as Europeans, Middle Eastern, Southeast Asians. Some of the biggest indigenous groups from East Malaysia are Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan-Dusun and Bajau.

History

The ancestors of the people that now inhabit the Malaysian peninsula first migrated to the area between 2500 and 1500 B.C. Those living in the coastal regions had early contact with the Chinese and Indian civilisation; seafaring traders from India brought with them Hinduism, which was blended with the local animist beliefs. As Muslims conquered India, they spread the religion of Islam to Malaysia. In the 15th century, Islam acquired a firm hold on the region when the Hindu ruler of the powerful city-state of Malacca, Parameswara Dewa Shah, converted to Islam. Malacca Sultanate along with few other kingdoms in Southeast Asia prospered until the arrival of colonialism in 1500s. 

Malaysia was colonised by the Portuguese and the Dutch before the rise of British Empire.
British interest in the region grew in the 1800s, with the British East India Company's establishment of a trading settlement on the island of Penang and Singapore. Similar events took place in the states of Sabah and Sarawak of East Malaysia. In the 1880s, Britain formally established protectorates in Malaysia. At about the same time, Britain brought in workers from China and India to work in Malaysia with increasing demand of industrial revolution. The migrants form the majority of Chinese and Indians living in Malaysia today.

Forming the Independent State of Malaysia

Following the Japanese occupation of Malaysia during World War II, a growing nationalist movement along with the threat of communism prompted the British to establish the semi-autonomous Federation of Malaya in 1948, though it was rejected soon after. Nationalist movements grew among many people of different walks of life and a political party consisting of Malaya's three main races (Malay, Chinese, Indian) was soon formed. They largely won election in 1955 and Malaya earned its independence on the 31st of August 1957.


The first prime minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, soon suggested the formation of Malaysia, consisting of Malaya, states of Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, along with Brunei and Singapore. Brunei withdrew but the rest joined on Sept. 16, 1963, as part of Federation of Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore withdrew from the federation to become a separate nation. Since 1966, the 11 states of former Malaya have been known as West Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak as East Malaysia.


Though development was slow after its independence, Malaysia soon gained momentum and developed steadily towards forming a better nation. With many development strategies being implemented, Malaysia reached the status of developing country and is highly considered as one of the booming Asian economies (claiming the title of Asian Tiger Cubs). Though Malaysia sometimes is plagued economic crisis (1997 Asian Economic Crisis) and disasters, the country remains a strong home for its proud citizens.