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During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's withdrawal in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies and has introduced some civil reforms..
Malaysia is located in Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam.
When you travel to Malaysia remember that the climate is tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.
Top places in Malaysia
A Taste of Malaysia. Visit Malaysia for Vacations, Tours and HolidayMalaysia is one of the richer of the Southeast Asian countries, and is a nation which is developing rapidly. Combining influences from its past, which have included Hinduism, rule from Indonesian empires and British colonialism, this is a multi-cultural nation. With gorgeous beaches, heaps of natural beauty, unique wildlife, and a cuisine which combines Chinese-Malay into Nonya, Indian curries and Malay specialities, Malaysia has a lot to offer tourists of all budgets.
When to Visit MalaysiaAs with many countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has two seasons, which are a wet season and a dry season. The good thing is though, that whilst a wet season hits one side of the country, it is still dry on the other, so a beach holiday could be taken at any time of year. The wet season on the west side of the peninsular lasts between April and October, and takes the form of afternoon thunderstorms which relieve the humidity. The east coast wet season is between November and February, and the rainfall here is heavier. Plan a trip to Malaysia accordingly.
Things to See and Do in MalaysiaKuala Lumpur – The capital of Malaysia has grown from a small village to a busy, vibrant city within barely 150 years. Although it does not have many 'must-see' sights other than the Petronas Twin Towers, it is a charming place to walk around. The architecture is a mix of modern and colonial, and some of the finest examples of colonial architecture can be found in the centre. With mosques, a good Chinatown, parks and great shopping, it is easy to spend a few pleasant days in Kuala Lumpur, especially when taking advantage of the air conditioning in the modern shopping malls.George Town – This is the capital of the island of Penang, and has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town was founded by the British in 1786, and as might be expected, there are some wonderful examples of colonial architecture, from Penang City Hall to Fort Cornwallis. In addition, there are plenty of other things to see such as mosques, museums and galleries. From George Town, you can also head out to beaches such as Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Duyung, and Muka Head.
Melaka – This historic city is situated on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, and its centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Invaded and colonised over the years by the Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British, it is a remarkable place with a wealth of architectural buildings and styles.
Other practical travel information for Malaysia
Terrain is: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.
Be careful of natural hazards like: flooding; landslides; forest fires.
Religions in Malaysia are Muslim (or Islam - official) 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census).
Ethnic Groups: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.).
Most popular languages in Malaysia are:
Malay 58.4% (official),
The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur.
Other largest cities and towns in Malaysia that are actually worth visiting:
Kuala Lumpur (1,297,526),
Johor Baharu (328,436),
Petaling Jaya (254,350),
Population of Malaysia is about 22,244,000 people.
If you plan a short trip or vacation in Malaysia in future, make sure you add Singapore
, Brunei Darussalam
, Christmas Island
, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
to your list.
Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Informations in Malaysia
Voltage: 240V, Frequency: 50Hz
Malaysia use electrical sockets (outlets): A, C, G, M
Road speed limits are used in most countries to set the maximum speed at which vehicles may legally drive on particular stretches of road. Take a look at the speed restrictions:
Within towns: 50–70
Automobiles and motorcycles (single carriageway):: 80–90
Expressways/motorways (dual carriageway): 110
Trucks or automobiles with trailer: 50–70
Outside built-up areas / highways: 80–90
Enforcement tolerance: 80 km/h speed limit on federal and state roads during festive seasons
Emergency Phone Numbers
Common emergency phone number: 999/112
Country calling code: 60
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Malaysia currency is Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
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Detailed weather forecast for Malaysia
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