With a bicameral government under a constitutional monarchy (see page 15), the independent Federation made Malay the compulsory national language and Islam the official religion.
In Malay the official religion is Islam and the official language is Malay.
Located on the northeast coast of Pulau Pinang (Betel Nut Island), Georgetown is the draw to Penang state, with rich colonial and historic roots amid the clutter of a market and commercial town.