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Malaysia - An Introduction
One of the wealthiest and best developed countries in South
East Asia, Malaysia's cosmopolitan mix of Malay, Chinese and
Indian people make it a rewarding and fascinating location
for any visitor.
Malaysia is divided into two distinct areas:
Peninsular Malaysia and Eastern Malaysia. The former shares
a border with Thailand to the north, with Singapore lying
at its southern tip.
Halfway up the peninsula on its eastern side
is Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital. Contingency planning
and controlled development have made Kuala Lumpur one of the
most pleasant and attractive cities in Asia. It is now also
home to the tallest building in the world, the Petronas Twin
Towers.
The peninsula's impressive infrastructure, coupled
with beautiful scenery, makes travelling more of a pleasure
than a chore.
Eastern Malaysia comprises the states of Sabah
and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo across the South
China Sea. This part of the nation is home to a mix of indigenous
tribes, each with their own culture and language. Vast stretches
of uncharted rainforests give way to rugged mountain peaks,
such as the imposing Mr. Kinabalu, towering 4101m into the
sky.
This is also the kingdom of one of the world's
rarest mammals, the orang utan; its name derives from the
Malay language, and literally translates as 'person of the
jungle'.
Due to its proximity to the equator, Malaysia
has a hot, humid climate (20-30ºC) that changes little
throughout the year. The country's language is Bahasa Malaysia,
although within the respective ethnic groupings, Chinese and
Tamil are spoken. However, English is also widespread, and
is the language of the business community.
Any food lover will be in heaven when they visit
Malaysia! The country's racial mixture gives rise to a cuisine
that is as diverse as it is delicious. One Malaysian creation
that everyone seems to enjoy is 'satay', delicious meat kababs
in a spicy peanut sauce.
This, along with many other culinary delights
can be found on the many street stalls that pepper the sidewalk
in any typical Malaysian town.
Author
David Collins
Factfile
Area: 329,750 square kilometres
Population: 19.7 million
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
People: 50% Malay, 33% Chinese, 9% Indian. Also indigenous
tribes such as Orang Asli and Iban
Language: Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese dialects, Tamul English,
plus the indigenous languages of the tribal people
Religion: 52% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 12% Taoist, 8% Christian,
8% Hindu, 2% Tribal
Major products: Tin, rubber, palm oil, timber, textiles, electronics
Currency: Ringgit
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