Malaysia

Malaysia has thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia and separated into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo.

It borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines and gained independence on the 31st August 1957 from the United Kingdom.

The capital city is Kuala Lumpur. Borneo Malaysia is the only island in the world belonging to three separate countries, which is one of the things that make it unique and a popular tourist destination with its rainforest.

Other sites of interest are The Batu Caves, Petronas Twin Towers, Mount Kinabalu, Langkawi Island and Taman Negara National Park.

About Malaysia

Country flag
Short Name
MAS
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Language
Malay
Population
27,496,000
Area
329,847 km²
Calling Code
+60

National Olympic Committee

Country flag
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
Olympic Council of Malaysia
Recognition Year
1954
Address
Hang Jebat Road, Mezzanine Floor, Wisma OCM, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Web Address

Sports

One of Malaysia’s favorite games is Kite-flying.

It is one of the oldest Malaysian sports coming from the time of Melakan court.

Other popular sports include Silat, Sepak Takraw, football, horse racing, car racing, powerboat racing, cricket, squash, field hockey, table tennis and badminton.

Climate

Malaysia has an equatorial climate, but the diverse terrains influence the climatic influences.

The monsoons further modify the climate.

The northeast monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas while the southwest monsoon can bring floods.

Malaysia is in the typhoon belt, but the coasts are occasionally subject to the heavy rainstorms. Temperatures are relevantly high throughout the year.

On the peninsula, they average 25° to 28° C for most lowland areas.

In coastal areas in East Malaysia, minimum temperatures range from 22° to 24° C, temperatures are lower in the interior highland regions. The average annual rainfall on the peninsula is approximately 100 inches and the driest location, Kuala Kelawang, receives about 65 inches and the wettest, Maxwell's Hill, receives 200 inches annually.

Religion

Muslim, Buddhism and Christianity are the main religions.

Culture

Malaysia encompasses several major cultural traditions that stem from archipelagic Southeast Asia as well as from China, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West.

External cultural influences have had little impact in music, dancing, literature and arts.

Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms.

The music is based largely around the gendang a drum and other percussion instruments.

The country has a strong tradition of dance and drama. Other artistic forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre) and weaving.

Malaysian cuisine reflects the multi-racial aspects of Malaysia. Various ethnic groups in Malaysia have their dishes but many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic influences.

The most celebrated holiday is the "Hari Merdeka" (Independence Day), while Malaysia Day is only celebrated in the state of Sabah on September 16 to commemorate the formation of Malaysia in 1963.