Malaysia is divided into two distinct parts: Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo. The two regions are 650km (403mi) apart, separated by the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia shares borders with Thailand and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak border Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo), and Sarawak surrounds the tiny enclave of Brunei. The Andaman Sea is on the west coast of the peninsula. The east coast of the peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak all adjoin the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia accounts for 40 percent of the country's land mass. Several mountain ranges run north-south along the spine of the peninsula. There is a wide, fertile plain on the west coast, and a narrow coastal plain on the east. Sabah and Sarawak are covered by dense jungles and have large river systems. Mt Kinabalu (4101m/13,450ft) in Sabah is one of the highest peaks in South-East Asia.
More than 60 per cent of the country is still rainforest, but a government plan to build a huge hydroelectric dam in Sarawak is expected to decimate 27,600ha (69,000ac) of forest, which does not augur well for the future. There are 8000 species of flowering plants in Peninsular Malaysia alone, including 2000 tree species, 800 different orchids and 200 types of palm. Fauna includes elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, tapirs, sun bears, orangutans and gibbons. East Malaysia has one of the most abundant and varied bird populations in the world.
Malaysia is hot and humid all year. Temperatures are usually between 20-30°C (68-86°F); humidity is usually 90 per cent. The region has a monsoonal climate, but only the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia has a real rainy season. The wettest season on the west coast of the peninsula is between September and December; on the east coast and in Sabah and Sarawak it's between October and February. Rain, when it comes, generally interrupts the sunshine only briefly; most of it falls in short, strong bursts.
24.4 million (UN, 2003)
329,733 sq km
Malay:49.0%, Chinese:25.0%, Other Indigenous:11.0%, Other:8.0%, Indian:7.0%
Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
The Visit Malaysia Year 2007 tourism campaign has been extended till August next year.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohamad Taiyab said the extension would be known as "One Golden Celebration" and it would start from Aug 31 this year.
The projected tourist arrivals for next year is 21.5 million while tourism revenue is expected to be RM49 billion.
"We decided to extend the tourism campaign to celebrate our 50 years of Independence for another year," Mirza told the New Straits Times.
He said it would not be fair to stop the tourism promotions at the end of the year as the celebration of the 50 years of Independence would only begin in August. Mirza said the extended campaign was aimed at ensuring continuity and keeping the momentum of the VMY 2007 campaign going.
The VMY 2007 tourism campaign was launched nationwide this year. At the end of the year, the campaign hopes to chart a revenue of RM44.5 billion from the anticipated 20.1 million tourist arrivals.
The campaign is widely promoted around the globe on a RM240 million budget set aside by the government last year.
Tourism Malaysia’s "Malaysia Truly Asia" campaign, which is advertised extensively in Europe and America, has reached out to millions of tourists.
"About 70 per cent of the tourists who came here were influenced by advertisements on television and cable TV, in newspapers, travel magazines, billboards, and the Internet. "
On next year’s activities, Mirza said the tourism campaign would include various celebrations.
Mirza added that from now on, Malaysia’s tourism campaigns would be based on various themes that would highlight the country’s attractions.