Malaysia

Malaysia
Motto: Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu[1]
برسکوتو برتمبه موتو‎ (Jawi)
"Unity is Strength"
Anthem: "Negaraku"
"My Country"
Location of Malaysia (dark green)

– in Asia (dark gray & white)
– in ASEAN (dark gray)

Capital
and largest city
Kuala Lumpur[fn 1]
3°8′N 101°41′E / 3.133°N 101.683°E / 3.133; 101.683
Administrative centerPutrajaya[fn 2]
2°56′N 101°42′E / 2.933°N 101.700°E / 2.933; 101.700
National languages (official)Malay (de jure) [a][b][c]
Recognized languagesEnglish (de facto)[c]
Ethnic groups
(2023)[2][3][4]
Religion
(2020)[5]
Demonym(s)Malaysian
GovernmentFederal parliamentary constitutional elective monarchy
Ibrahim Iskandar
Anwar Ibrahim
Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah
LegislatureParliament
Dewan Negara (Senate)
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)
Independence 
31 August 1957[7]
22 July 1963
31 August 1963[8]
16 September 1963
Area
• Total
330,803[9][10] km2 (127,724 sq mi) (67th)
• Water (%)
0.3
Population
• 2024 estimate
34,564,810[11] (43rd)
• 2020 census
32,447,385[12]
• Density
101/km2 (261.6/sq mi) (116th)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• Total
Increase $1.306 trillion[13] (30th)
• Per capita
Increase $39,030[13] (53rd)
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• Total
Increase $445.519 billion[13] (36th)
• Per capita
Increase $13,315[13] (67th)
Gini (2021)Positive decrease 40.7[14]
medium inequality
HDI (2022)Increase 0.807[15]
very high (63rd)
CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (RM) (MYR)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
Date formatdd-mm-yyyy
Drives onleft
Calling code+60
ISO 3166 codeMY
Internet TLD.my

Malaysia[d] is a country in Southeast Asia. A federal constitutional monarchy, it consists of 13 states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land borders with Brunei and Indonesia, as well as a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, the country's largest city, and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. Putrajaya is the administrative centre, which represents the seat of both the executive branch (the Cabinet, federal ministries, and federal agencies) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 34 million, the country is the world's 43rd-most populous country. Malaysia is tropical and is one of 17 megadiverse countries; it is home to numerous endemic species. Tanjung Piai in the Malaysian state of Johor is the southernmost point of continental Eurasia.

The country has its origins in the Malay kingdoms, which, from the 18th century on, became subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. During World War Two, British Malaya, along with other nearby British and American colonies, was occupied by the Empire of Japan.[16] Following three years of occupation, Peninsular Malaysia was briefly unified as the Malayan Union in 1946 until 1948 when it was restructured as the Federation of Malaya. The country achieved independence on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became a separate, independent country.[17]

The country is multiethnic and multicultural, which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The official language is Malaysian Malay, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the official religion, the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system, and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen from among the nine state sultans every five years. The head of government is the prime minister.

The country's economy has traditionally been driven by its natural resources but is expanding into commerce, tourism, and medical tourism. The country has a newly industrialised market economy, which is relatively open and state-oriented. The country is a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

  1. ^ "Malaysian Flag and Coat of Arms". Malaysian Government. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Minister: Census shows Malaysia's oldest man and woman aged 120 and 118; preliminary census findings to be released in Feb 2022". Malaymail. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. ^ Department of Statistics Malaysia (2021). "Current population and estimates, Malaysia 2021 Group". Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ^ MyGOV - The Government of Malaysia’s Official Portal. (n.d.). https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/30114
  5. ^ "Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristic Report 2020". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  6. ^ "The States, Religion and Law of the Federation" (PDF). Constitution of Malaysia. Judicial Appointments Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.
  7. ^ Mackay, Derek (2005). Eastern Customs: The Customs Service in British Malaya and the Opium Trade. The Radcliffe Press. pp. 240–. ISBN 978-1-85043-844-1. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. ^ "31 Ogos 1963, Hari kemerdekaan Sabah yang rasmi". AWANI. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Laporan Kiraan Permulaan 2010". Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia. p. 27. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Malaysia country profile". BBC News. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Malaysia". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2022. (Archived 2022 edition.)
  12. ^ "Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. p. 48. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 Edition. (Malaysia)". www.imf.org. International Monetary Fund. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  14. ^ "World Bank Open Data".
  15. ^ "Human Development Report 2023/2024" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Malaya in World War II". World War Two Database. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  17. ^ Baten, Jörg (2016). A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present. Cambridge University Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-107-50718-0.


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