Malasia 말레시아
페이지 정보
본문
https://www.bing.com/search?q=%EB%A7%90%EB%A0%88%EC%9D%B4%EC%8B%9C%EC%95%84&FORM=ATUR02&PC=ATUR&PTAG=ATUR14RAND
==========================================================================
말레이시아는 동남아시아에 있는 연방제 입헌 군주국이다. 말레이시아는 13개의 주와 3개의 연방 직할구로 구성되어 있고, 남중국해로 나뉜 말레이반도 지역과 보르네오섬 지역으로 구성되어 있다. 태국, 인도네시아, 브루나이와 국경을 맞대고 있고, 해상 국경은 싱가포르와 베트남, 필리핀과 맞대고 있다. 말레이시아의 역사는 18세기부터 대영 제국의 식민지가 된 말레이 왕국으로 거슬러 올라간다. 처음 영국의 식민지가 된 곳은 해협식민지로 불리었고, 다른 곳들은 보호령이 되었다. 1946년 말레이반도의 주들이 연합하여 말라야 연합을 세웠고, 1948년 연합을 재편성하여 말라야 연방이 설립되었다. 1957년 8월 31일 영국으로부터 완전히 독립을 하게 되었으며, 1963년 9월 16일 말라야 연방은 사바, 사라왁, 싱가포르와 연합하면서 Malaya란 이름에 si를 추가해 Mala
===========================================
말레이시아
문서
토론
읽기
편집
역사 보기
위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전.
말레이시아
Malaysia
Flag of Malaysia.svg
국기 Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg
국장
표어 Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu
표어 설명 (단결은 힘)
국가 나의 땅(Negaraku)
1:25
Malaysia on the globe (Southeast Asia centered).svg
수도 쿠알라룸푸르 (공식)
푸트라자야 (행정) 북위 3° 08′ 09″ 동경 101° 41′ 17″
북위 2° 55′ 00″ 동경 101° 40′ 00″
쿠알라룸푸르는 말레이시아의 공식적인 수도이자 최대 도시이고 푸트라자야는 말레이시아의 행정 수도이다푸트라자야 (파랑)푸트라자야 (파랑)쿠알라룸푸르 (빨강)쿠알라룸푸르 (빨강)
말레이시아 (말레이시아)
정치
정치체제 군주제, 입헌제, 연방제, 양원제, 내각제
양 디페르투안 아공 압둘라 이브니 아흐맛샤
총리 안와르 이브라힘
역사
독립 영국으로부터 독립
• 독립 1957년 8월 31일
• 확장 1963년 9월 16일
지리
면적 329,847 km2 (67 위)
내수면 비율 0.3%
시간대 MST (UTCUTC+8)
DST UTC+8
인문
공용어 말레이시아어
인구
년 어림 (42위)
인구 밀도 72명/km2 (97위)
경제
GDP(PPP) 2018년 어림값
• 전체 999.397억$ (26위)
• 일인당 30,860$ (46위)
GDP(명목) 2018년 어림값
HDI 0.802 (57위, 2018년 조사)
통화 링깃 (MYR)
종교
국교 이슬람교
종교 이슬람교 63.5%
불교 18.7%
기독교 9.1%
힌두교 6.1%
기타 0.9%
불명 1.8%[1][2]
기타
ISO 3166-1 458, MY, MYS
도메인 .my
국제 전화 +60¹
¹ 020은 싱가포르에서 전화를 걸 때 사용된다.
말레이시아(말레이어: Malaysia)는 동남아시아에 있는 연방제 입헌 군주국이다. 말레이시아는 13개의 주와 3개의 연방 직할구로 구성되어 있고, 남중국해로 나뉜 말레이반도 지역과 보르네오섬 지역으로 구성되어 있다. 태국, 인도네시아, 브루나이와 국경을 맞대고 있고, 해상 국경은 싱가포르와 베트남, 필리핀과 맞대고 있다. 수도는 쿠알라룸푸르이지만, 연방정부는 푸트라자야에 있다.그리고 다리를통해 싱가포르와 연결된다
말레이시아의 역사는 18세기부터 대영 제국의 식민지가
===================================================
Malaysia
Country in Asia
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It's known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers. ― Google
Capital: Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Dialing code: +60
Currency: Malaysian ringgit
Population: 32.37 million (2020) World Bank
Official language: Malay
-------------------------------------------
Malaysia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Not to be confused with Malesia.
Malaysia
A blue rectangle with a gold star and crescent in the canton, with 14 horizontal red and white stripes on the rest of the flag
Flag
Shield showing the symbols of the Malaysian states with a star and crescent above and a motto below, supported by two tigers
Coat of arms
Motto: Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu[1]
"Unity is Strength"
Anthem: Negaraku
"My Country"
1:25
Malaysia (orthographic projection).svg
Show globe
Show map of Southeast Asia
Show all
Location of Malaysia (dark green)
– in Asia (dark gray & white)
– in ASEAN (dark gray)
Capital
Putrajaya (administrative)
2°56′N 101°42′E
Kuala Lumpur (ceremonial, legislative and judicial)
3°8′N 101°41′E
Largest city Kuala Lumpur
Official language
Malay[a][b][c]
Recognised language English[c]
Ethnic groups See below
Religion See below
Demonym(s) Malaysian
Government Federal parliamentary constitutional elective monarchy
• Monarch
Abdullah
• Prime Minister
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Legislature Parliament
• Upper house
Dewan Negara (Senate)
• Lower house
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)
Independence from the United Kingdom
• Federation of Malaya
31 August 1957[2]
• Sarawak self-governance
22 July 1963
• North Borneo self-governance
31 August 1963[3]
• Proclamation of Malaysia
16 September 1963
Area
• Total
330,803 km2 (127,724 sq mi) (67th)
• Water (%)
0.3
Population
• Q1 2020 estimate
Neutral increase 32,730,000[4] (43rd)
• 2020 census
32,447,385[5]
• Density
98/km2 (253.8/sq mi) (116th)
GDP (PPP) 2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $1.089 trillion [6] (31th)
• Per capita
Increase $32,901[6] (54th)
GDP (nominal) 2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $439.373 billion[6] (34th)
• Per capita
Increase $13,268[6] (66th)
Gini (2015) Positive decrease 41[7]
medium
HDI (2021) Decrease 0.803[8]
very high · 62nd
Currency Ringgit (RM) (MYR)
Time zone UTC+8 (MST)
Date format dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side left
Calling code +60
ISO 3166 code MY
Internet TLD .my
Malaysia (/məˈleɪziə, -ʒə/ (listen) mə-LAY-zee-ə, -zhə; Malay: [məlejsiə]) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, largest city and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. The nearby planned capital of Putrajaya is the administrative capital, which represents the seat of both the executive branch (Cabinet, federal ministries and agencies) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 32 million, Malaysia is the world's 45th-most populous country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia is in Tanjung Piai. In the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, home to numerous endemic species.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. Peninsular Malaysia was unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. The independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became a separate independent country.[9]
The country is multiethnic and multicultural, which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The country's official language is Malaysian Malay, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the country's established religion, the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen from among the nine state sultans every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
After independence, the Malaysian GDP grew at an average of 6.5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third-largest in Southeast Asia and 33rd-largest in the world.[10] It is a founding member of ASEAN, EAS, OIC and a member of APEC, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
3 Government and politics
3.1 Administrative divisions
3.2 Foreign relations and military
3.3 Human rights
4 Geography
4.1 Biodiversity and conservation
5 Economy
5.1 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
6.1 Religion
6.2 Languages
6.3 Health
6.4 Education
7 Culture
7.1 Fine arts
7.2 Cuisine
7.3 Media
7.4 Holidays and festivals
7.5 Sports
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 External links
Etymology
Main article: Malay people
English Map of Southeast Asia, "MALAYSIA" typeset horizontally so that the letters run across the northernmost corner of Borneo and pass just south of the Philippines.
"Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas
The name "Malaysia" is a combination of the word "Malays" and the Latin-Greek suffix "-ia"/"-ία"[11] which can be translated as "land of the Malays".[12] The origin of the word 'Melayu' is subject to various theories. It may derive from the Sanskrit "Himalaya", referring to areas high in the mountains, or "Malaiyur-pura", meaning mountain town.[13] Another similar theory claims its origin lies in the Tamil words "malai" and "ur" meaning "mountain" and "city, land", respectively.[14][15][16] Another suggestion is that it derives from the Pamalayu campaign. A final suggestion is that it comes from a Javanese word meaning "to run", from which a river, the Sungai Melayu ('Melayu river'), was named due to its strong current.[13] Similar-sounding variants have also appeared in accounts older than the 11th century, as toponyms for areas in Sumatra or referring to a larger region around the Strait of Malacca.[17] The Sanskrit text Vayu Purana, thought to have been in existence since the first millennium CE, mentioned a land named 'Malayadvipa' which was identified by certain scholars as the modern Malay peninsula.[18][19][20][21][22] Other notable accounts are by the 2nd century Ptolemy's Geographia that used the name Malayu Kulon for the west coast of Golden Chersonese, and the 7th century Yijing's account of Malayu.[17]
At some point, the Melayu Kingdom took its name from the Sungai Melayu.[13][23] 'Melayu' then became associated with Srivijaya,[17] and remained associated with various parts of Sumatra, especially Palembang, where the founder of the Malacca Sultanate is thought to have come from.[24] It is only thought to have developed into an ethnonym as Malacca became a regional power in the 15th century. Islamisation established an ethnoreligious identity in Malacca, with the term 'Melayu' beginning to appear as interchangeable with 'Melakans'. It may have specifically referred to local Malays speakers thought loyal to the Malaccan Sultan. The initial Portuguese use of Malayos reflected this, referring only to the ruling people of Malacca. The prominence of traders from Malacca led 'Melayu' to be associated with Muslim traders, and from there became associated with the wider cultural and linguistic group.[17] Malacca and later Johor claimed they were the centre of Malay culture, a position supported by the British which led to the term 'Malay' becoming more usually linked to the Malay peninsula rather than Sumatra.[24]
Before the onset of European colonisation, the Malay Peninsula was known natively as "Tanah Melayu" ("Malay Land").[25][26] Under a racial classification created by a German scholar Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, the natives of maritime Southeast Asia were grouped into a single category, the Malay race.[27][28] Following the expedition of French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urville to Oceania in 1826, he later proposed the terms of "Malaysia", "Micronesia" and "Melanesia" to the Société de Géographie in 1831, distinguishing these Pacific cultures and island groups from the existing term "Polynesia". Dumont d'Urville described Malaysia as "an area commonly known as the East Indies".[29] In 1850, the English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor Earl, writing in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, proposed naming the islands of Southeast Asia as "Melayunesia" or "Indunesia", favouring the former.[30] The name Malaysia gained some use to label what is now the Malay Archipelago.[31] In modern terminology, "Malay" remains the name of an ethnoreligious group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula and portions of the adjacent islands of Southeast Asia, including the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and smaller islands that lie between these areas.[32]
The state that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 took the name the "Federation of Malaya", chosen in preference to other potential names such as "Langkasuka", after the historic kingdom located at the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the first millennium CE.[33][34] The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new federation.[35][d] One theory posits the name was chosen so that "si" represented the inclusion of Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak to Malaya in 1963.[35] Politicians in the Philippines contemplated renaming their state "Malaysia" before the modern country took the name.[37]
History
Main article: History of Malaysia
Map showing the extent of the Malacca Sultanate, covering much of the Malay Peninsula and some of Sumatra
The Malacca Sultanate played a major role in spreading Islam throughout the Malay Archipelago.
Evidence of modern human habitation in Malaysia dates back 40,000 years.[38] In the Malay Peninsula, the first inhabitants are thought to be Negritos.[39] Traders and settlers from India and China arrived as early as the first century AD, establishing trading ports and coastal towns in the second and third centuries. Their presence resulted in strong Indian and Chinese influences on the local cultures, and the people of the Malay Peninsula adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Sanskrit inscriptions appear as early as the fourth or fifth century.[40] The Kingdom of Langkasuka arose around the second century in the northern area of the Malay Peninsula, lasting until about the 15th century.[33] Between the 7th and 13th centuries, much of the southern Malay Peninsula was part of the maritime Srivijayan empire. By the 13th and the 14th century, the Majapahit empire had successfully wrested control over most of the peninsula and the Malay Archipelago from Srivijaya.[41] In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a runaway king of the former Kingdom of Singapura linked to the old Srivijayan court, founded the Malacca Sultanate.[42] The spread of Islam increased following Parameswara's conversion to that religion. Malacca was an important commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region.[43]
Dutch fleet vs Portuguese armada
The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of Malacca
In 1511, Malacca was conquered by Portugal,[43] after which it was taken by the Dutch in 1641. In 1786, the British Empire established a presence in Malaya, when the Sultan of Kedah leased Penang Island to the British East India Company. The British obtained the town of Singapore in 1819,[44] and in 1824 took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty. By 1826, the British directly controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements. By the 20th century, the states of Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay States, had British residents appointed to advise the Malay rulers, to whom the rulers were bound to defer by treaty.[45] The remaining five states in the peninsula, known as the Unfederated Malay States, while not directly under British rule, also accepted British advisers around the turn of the 20th century. Development on the peninsula and Borneo were generally separate until the 19th century. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged.[46] The area that is now Sabah came under British control as North Borneo when both the Sultan of Brunei and the Sultan of Sulu transferred their respective territorial rights of ownership, between 1877 and 1878.[47] In 1842, Sarawak was ceded by the Sultan of Brunei to James Brooke, whose successors ruled as the White Rajahs over an independent kingdom until 1946, when it became a crown colony.[48]
In the Second World War, the Japanese Army invaded and occupied Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years. During this time, ethnic tensions were raised and nationalism grew.[49] Popular support for independence increased after Malaya was reconquered by Allied forces.[50] Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the "Malayan Union" met with strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946, and consisting of all the British possessions in the Malay Peninsula with the exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved and replaced on 1 February 1948 by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection.[51]
Statue of Francis Light in the Fort of Cornwallis
Statue of Francis Light in the Fort Cornwallis of Penang, the first British colony in what was to become Malaysia
During this time, the mostly ethnically Chinese rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth troops in Malaya.[52] On 31 August 1957, Malaya became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[53] After this a plan was put in place to federate Malaya with the crown colonies of North Borneo (which joined as Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore. The date of federation was planned to be 31 August 1963 so as to coincide with the anniversary of Malayan independence; however, federation was delayed until 16 September 1963 in order for a United Nations survey of support for federation in Sabah and Sarawak, called for by parties opposed to federation including Indonesia's Sukarno and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party, to be completed.[54][55]
Federation brought heightened tensions including a conflict with Indonesia as well continuous conflicts against the Communists in Borneo and the Malayan Peninsula which escalates to the Sarawak Communist Insurgency and Second Malayan Emergency together with several other issues such as the cross border attacks into North Borneo by Moro pirates from the southern islands of the Philippines, Singapore being expelled from the Federation in 1965,[56][57] and racial strife. This strife culminated in the 13 May race riots in 1969.[58] After the riots, the controversial New Economic Policy was launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, trying to increase the share of the economy held by the bumiputera.[59] Under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad there was a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginning in the 1980s. The economy shifted from being agriculturally based to one based on manufacturing and industry. Numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Petronas Towers, the North–South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.[35] However, in the late 1990s the Asian financial crisis almost caused the collapse of the currency and the stock and property markets, although they later recovered.[60] The 1MDB scandal was a major global corruption scandal that implicated then-Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2015.[61] The scandal contributed to the first change in ruling political party since independence in the 2018 general election.[62] In the 2020s, the country was gripped by political crisis that coincided with health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[63]
Government and politics
Main articles: Politics of Malaysia and Government of Malaysia
A photo showing the Malaysian Parliament building along with 2 white arches in diagonal position front of the building.
The Parliament of Malaysia, the building that houses the members of the Dewan Rakyat
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy; the only federal country in Southeast Asia.[64] The system of government is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British rule.[65] The head of state is the King, whose official title is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The King is elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states. The other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection. By informal agreement the position is rotated among the nine,[65] and has been held by Abdullah of Pahang since 31 January 2019.[66] The King's role has been largely ceremonial since changes to the constitution in 1994, picking ministers and members of the upper house.[67]
Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral federal parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate.[68] The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the King upon the Prime Minister's recommendation.[43] The parliament follows a multi-party system and the government is elected through a first-past-the-post system.[43][69] Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years,[43] the most recent of which took place in May 2018.[62] Before 2018, registered voters aged 21 and above could vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.[70] In July 2019, a bill to lower the voting age to 18 years old was officially passed.[71]
Large building with a series of flags in front of it
The Perdana Putra houses the office of the Prime Minister.
Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The prime minister must be a member of the House of Representatives, who in the opinion of His Majesty the King, commands the support of a majority of members. The Cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.[43] The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government.[67] As a result of the 2018 general election Malaysia was governed by the Pakatan Harapan political alliance,[62] although Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned amid a political crisis in 2020. In March 2020, the Perikatan Nasional coalition formed under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin,[72] before Muhyiddin lost majority support and was replaced by deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a veteran politician from UMNO, in August 2021.[73][74]
Malaysia's legal system is based on English Common Law.[43] Although the judiciary is theoretically independent, its independence has been called into question and the appointment of judges lacks accountability and transparency.[75] The highest court in the judicial system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal and two high courts, one for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East Malaysia. Malaysia also has a special court to hear cases brought by or against royalty.[76]
Race is a significant force in politics.[43] Affirmative actions such as the New Economic Policy[59] and the National Development Policy which superseded it, were implemented to advance the standing of the bumiputera, consisting of Malays and the indigenous tribes who are considered the original inhabitants of Malaysia, over non-bumiputera such as Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indians.[77] These policies provide preferential treatment to bumiputera in employment, education, scholarships, business, and access to cheaper housing and assisted savings. However, it has generated greater interethnic resentment.[78] There is ongoing debate over whether the laws and society of Malaysia should reflect Islamism or secularism.[79] Islamic criminal laws passed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party with the support of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) state assemblymen in the state legislative assembly of Kelantan have been blocked by the federal government on the basis that criminal laws are the responsibility of the federal government.[80][81][82]
After the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) lost power at the 2018 Malaysian general election, Malaysia's ranking increased by 9 places in the 2019 Democracy Index to 43th compared to the previous year, and is classified as a 'flawed democracy'.[83] Malaysia's ranking in the 2020 Press Freedom Index increased by 22 places to 101st compared to the previous year, making it one of two countries in Southeast Asia without a 'Difficult situation' or 'Very Serious situation' with regards to press freedom.[84] However, it fell 18 places the following year due to the policies of the Perikatan Nasional government.[85]
Malaysia is marked at 48 and 62nd place according to the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating above average levels of corruption. Freedom House noted Malaysia as "partly free" in its 2018 survey.[86] A lawsuit filed by Department of Justice (DOJ), alleged that at least $3.5 billion involving former prime minister Najib Razak had been stolen from Malaysia's 1MDB state-owned fund, known as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.[61][87][88]
Administrative divisions
Main articles: States and federal territories of Malaysia, Divisions of Malaysia, and Districts of Malaysia
PerlisKedahPenangKelantanTerengganuPerakSelangorNegeri SembilanMalaccaJohorPahangSarawakSabahLabuanKuala LumpurPutrajayaWest MalaysiaEast Malaysia(Blue) States(Red) Federal TerritoriesSouth China SeaStrait
of
MalaccaGulf of ThailandSulu SeaCelebes SeaBruneiIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailand
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.[89] These are divided between two regions, with 11 states and two federal territories on Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one federal territory in East Malaysia. Each state is divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into divisions.[90]
Governance of the states is divided between the federal and the state governments, with different powers reserved for each, and the Federal government has direct administration of the federal territories.[91] Each state has a unicameral State Legislative Assembly whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. State governments are led by Chief Ministers,[43] who are state assembly members from the majority party in the assembly. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is normally required to be a Malay, appointed by the ruler upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.[92] Except for state elections in Sarawak, by convention state elections are held concurrently with the federal election.[67]
Lower-level administration is carried out by local authorities, which include city councils, district councils, and municipal councils, although autonomous statutory bodies can be created by the federal and state governments to deal with certain tasks.[93] The federal constitution puts local authorities outside of the federal territories under the exclusive jurisdictions of the state government,[94] although in practice the federal government has intervened in the affairs of state local governments.[95] There are 154 local authorities, consisting of 14 city councils, 38 municipal councils and 97 district councils.
The 13 states are based on historical Malay kingdoms, and 9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain their royal families. The King is elected by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year term.[43] This King appoints governors serving a four-year term for the states without monarchies, after consultations with the chief minister of that state. Each state has its own written constitution.[96] Sabah and Sarawak have considerably more autonomy than the other states, most notably having separate immigration policies and controls, and a unique residency status.[97][98][99] Federal intervention in state affairs, lack of development, and disputes over oil royalties have occasionally led to statements about secession from leaders in several states such as Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak, although these have not been followed up and no serious independence movements exist.[100][101][102][103]
States
A list of thirteen states and each state capital (in brackets):
Johor Johor (Johor Bahru)
Kedah Kedah (Alor Setar)
Kelantan Kelantan (Kota Bharu)
Malacca Malacca (Malacca City)
Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (Seremban)
Pahang Pahang (Kuantan)
Penang Penang (George Town)
Perak Perak (Ipoh)
Perlis Perlis (Kangar)
Selangor Selangor (Shah Alam)
Sabah Sabah (Kota Kinabalu)
Sarawak Sarawak (Kuching)
Terengganu Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu)
Federal Territories
Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Labuan Federal Territory of Labuan
Putrajaya Federal Territory of Putrajaya
Foreign relations and military
Main articles: Foreign relations of Malaysia and Malaysian Armed Forces
With Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, 2018
A founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)[104] and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),[105] the country participates in many international organisations such as the United Nations,[106] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,[107] the Developing 8 Countries,[108] and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).[109] It has chaired ASEAN, the OIC, and the NAM in the past.[43] A former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[110] Kuala Lumpur was the site of the first East Asia Summit in 2005.[111]
Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their political system.[112] The government attaches a high priority to the security and stability of Southeast Asia,[111] and seeks to further develop relations with other countries in the region. Historically the government has tried to portray Malaysia as a progressive Islamic nation[112] while strengthening relations with other Islamic states.[111] A strong tenet of Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control its domestic affairs.[67] Malaysia signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[113][114]
The Spratly Islands are disputed by many states in the area, and a large portion of the South China Sea is claimed by China. Unlike its neighbours of Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia historically avoided conflicts with China.[115] However, after the encroachment of Chinese ships in Malaysian territorial waters,[116] Malaysia has become active in condemning China.[117][118] Brunei and Malaysia in 2009 announced an end to claims of each other's land, and committed to resolve issues related to their maritime borders.[119] The Philippines has a dormant claim to the eastern part of Sabah.[120] Singapore's land reclamation has caused tensions,[121] and minor maritime and land border disputes exist with Indonesia.[120][122]
Malaysian Armed Forces assets
Examples of the Malaysian Armed Forces weaponry assets. Clockwise from top right: Scorpène-class submarine, PT-91M MBT tank, Malaysian Army paratrooper with M4, and Su-30MKM fighter aircraft.
The Malaysian Armed Forces have three branches: the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There is no conscription, and the required age for voluntary military service is 18. The military uses 1.5% of the country's GDP, and employs 1.23% of Malaysia's manpower.[123] Malaysian peacekeeping forces have contributed to many UN peacekeeping missions, such as in Congo, Iran–Iraq, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Kosovo, East Timor and Lebanon.[43][124]
The Five Power Defence Arrangements is a regional security initiative which has been in place for almost 40 years. It involves joint military exercises held among Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[125] Joint exercises and war games have also been held with Brunei,[126] China,[127] India,[128] Indonesia,[129] Japan,[130] and the United States.[131] Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have agreed to host joint security force exercises to secure their maritime border and tackle issues such as illegal immigration, piracy, and smuggling.[132][133][134] Previously there were fears that extremist militants activities in the Muslim areas of the southern Philippines[135] and southern Thailand[136] would spill over into Malaysia. Because of this, Malaysia began to increase its border security.[135]
Human rights
See also: Human rights in Malaysia and LGBT rights in Malaysia
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia,[137][138] and the authorities has imposed punishments such as caning and imprisonment.[139][140] Human trafficking and sex trafficking in Malaysia are significant problems.[141][142] There has also been cases of vigilante executions and beatings against LGBT individuals in Malaysia.[143][144] The illegality of homosexuality in Malaysia has also been the forefront of Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trials, which Anwar has responded to it being politically motivated, a response supported by the United Nations' (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention along with Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch.[145][146][147]
The death penalty is in use for serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, and kidnapping,[148][149] but in June 2022, Malaysian law minister Wan Junaidi pledged to abolish the capital punishment and replace it with other punishments at the discretion of the court.[150]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Malaysia
Relief map of Malaysia
Topographic map of Malaysia; Mount Kinabalu is the highest summit in the country.
Malaysia is the 66th largest country by total land area, with a land area of 329,613 km2 (127,264 sq mi). It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia, and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia.[151] It is linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway and a bridge. The country also has maritime boundaries with Vietnam[152] and the Philippines.[153] The land borders are defined in large part by geological features such as the Perlis River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention.[151] Brunei forms what is almost an enclave in Malaysia,[154] with the state of Sarawak dividing it into two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago.[155] The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world's trade.[156]
The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.[151] Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area,[155] extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km (200 mi).[157] It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains,[158] rising to a peak elevation of 2,183 metres (7,162 ft) at Mount Korbu,[159] part of a series of mountain ranges running down the centre of the peninsula.[155] These mountains are heavily forested,[160] and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape.[155] The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's river systems.[160] The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the peninsula's coastline is nearly 1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western side.[157]
Köppen climate classification of Malaysia. The country is within the equatorial region, where a tropical rainforest climate is apparent all year round.
East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi).[151] It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous interior.[155] The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak,[155] dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095 m (13,435 ft) high Mount Kinabalu,[161][162] the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is located in the Kinabalu National Park, which is protected as one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia.[163] The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world, in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is also a World Heritage Site.[155] The largest river in Malaysia is the Rajang.
Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands, the largest of which is Banggi.[164] The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.[157] The temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans.[155] Humidity is usually high, and the average annual rainfall is 250 cm (98 in).[157] The climates of the Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfall, increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.[155]
Biodiversity and conservation
Main articles: Wildlife of Malaysia, Environmental issues in Malaysia, and List of national parks in Malaysia
Wildlife of Malaysia
Native species in Malaysia, clockwise from top-right: oriental pied hornbills, hawksbill sea turtle, proboscis monkey, Malayan tiger.
Malaysia signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 12 June 1993, and became a party to the convention on 24 June 1994.[165] It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 16 April 1998.[166] The country is megadiverse with a high number of species and high levels of endemism.[167] It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal species.[168] High levels of endemism are found on the diverse forests of Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland forest.[155] There are about 210 mammal species in the country.[161] Over 620 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia,[168] with many endemic to the mountains there. A high number of endemic bird species are also found in Malaysian Borneo.[155] 250 reptile species have been recorded in the country, with about 150 species of snakes[169] and 80 species of lizards.[161] There are about 150 species of frogs,[161] and thousands of insect species.[161] The Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia is 334,671 km2 (129,217 sq mi) and 1.5 times larger than its land area. It is mainly in the South China Sea.[170][171] Some of its waters are in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot.[172] The waters around Sipadan island are the most biodiverse in the world.[168] Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species.[173] The unique biodiversity of Malaysian Caves always attracts lovers of ecotourism from all over the world.[174]
Nearly 4,000 species of fungi, including lichen-forming species have been recorded from Malaysia. Of the two fungal groups with the largest number of species in Malaysia, the Ascomycota and their asexual states have been surveyed in some habitats (decaying wood, marine and freshwater ecosystems, as parasites of some plants, and as agents of biodegradation), but have not been or have been only poorly surveyed in other habitats (as endobionts, in soils, on dung, as human and animal pathogens); the Basidiomycota are only partly surveyed: bracket fungi, and mushrooms and toadstools have been studied, but Malaysian rust and smut fungi remain very poorly known. Without doubt, many more fungal species in Malaysia have not yet been recorded, and it is likely that many of those, when found, will be new to science.[175]
Red flower made of 5 petals surrounding a depressed centre, on the forest floor surrounded by dead leaves and small green plants
Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter, making them the largest flowers in the world.
About two thirds of Malaysia was covered in forest as of 2007,[157] with some forests believed to be 130 million years old.[161] The forests are dominated by dipterocarps.[176] Lowland forest covers areas below 760 m (2,490 ft),[157] and formerly East Malaysia was covered in such rainforest,[176] which is supported by its hot wet climate.[155] There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.[161] Besides rainforests, there are over 1,425 km2 (550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia,[157] and a large amount of peat forest. At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace dipterocarps.[155] There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East.[177] The forests of East Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 different species of trees every hectare.[155] These forests host many members of the Rafflesia genus, the largest flowers in the world,[176] with a maximum diameter of 1 m (3 ft 3 in).[178]
Logging, along with cultivation practices has devastated tree cover, causing severe environmental degradation in the country. Over 80 per cent of Sarawak's rainforest has been logged.[155] Floods in East Malaysia have been worsened by the loss of trees, and over 60 per cent of the Peninsula's forest have been cleared.[178] With current rates of deforestation, mainly for the palm oil industry, the forests are predicted to be extinct by 2020.[155][179] Deforestation is a major problem for animals, fungi and plants, having caused species such as Begonia eiromischa to go extinct.[180] Most remaining forest is found inside reserves and national parks.[178] Habitat destruction has proved a threat for marine life.[173] Illegal fishing is another major threat,[173] with fishing methods such as dynamite fishing and poisoning depleting marine ecosystems.[181] Leatherback turtle numbers have dropped 98 per cent since the 1950s.[169] Hunting has also been an issue for some animals,[178] with overconsumption and the use of animal parts for profit endangering many animals, from marine life[173] to tigers.[180] Marine life is also detrimentally affected by uncontrolled tourism.[182]
The Malaysian government aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection, but has been accused of favouring big business over the environment.[178] Some state governments are now trying to counter the environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;[176] and the federal government is trying to cut logging by 10 per cent each year. A total of 28 national parks have been established, 23 in East Malaysia and five in the Peninsula.[178] Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan island.[182] Wildlife trafficking is a large issue, and the Malaysian government has held talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise anti-trafficking laws.[183]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, the financial centre of Malaysia
Development of real GDP per capita, 1820 to 2018
Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy.[184] It has the world's 34th-largest economy by nominal GDP and the 31th-largest by PPP. In 2017, the large service sector contributed to 53.6% of total GDP, the industrial sector 37.6%, and the small agricultural sector roughly 8.8%.[185] Malaysia has a low official unemployment rate of 3.9%.[186] Its foreign exchange reserves are the world's 24th-largest.[187] It has a labour force of about 15 million, which is the world's 34th-largest.[188] Malaysia's large automotive industry ranks as the world's 22nd-largest by production.[189]
Malaysia is the world's 23th-largest exporter and 25th-largest importer.[190][191] However, economic inequalities exist between different ethnic groups.[192] The Chinese make up about one-quarter of the population, but accounts for 70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation.[193] Chinese businesses in Malaysia are part of the larger bamboo network, a network of overseas Chinese businesses in the Southeast Asian market sharing common family and cultural ties.[194]
International trade, facilitated by the shipping route in adjacent Strait of Malacca, and manufacturing are the key sectors.[195][196][197] Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, and petroleum is a major export.[43] Malaysia has once been the largest producer of tin,[198] rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy,[199] although Malaysia's economic structure has been moving away from it.[200] Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.[201]
Tourism is the third-largest contributor to Malaysia’s GDP, after the manufacturing and commodities sectors.[202] In 2019, the sector contributed about 15.9 per cent to the total GDP. According to the World Tourism Organization, Malaysia was the fourteenth-most visited country in the world, and the fourth-most visited country in Asia in 2019, with over 26.1 million visits.[203] Malaysia was ranked 38th in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019.[204] Its international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $19.8 billion.[203]
The country has developed into a centre of Islamic banking, and has the highest numbers of female workers in that industry.[205] Knowledge-based services are also expanding.[200] In 2020, Malaysian exported high-tech products worth $92.1 billion, the second-highest in the ASEAN, after Singapore.[206] Malaysia was ranked 36th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, and 32nd in the Global Competitiveness Report in 2022.[207][208]
Infrastructure
See also: Transport in Malaysia
Railway transport in Malaysia is state-run, and spans some 2,783 kilometres (1,729 mi).[209] As of 2016, Malaysia has the world's 26th-largest road network, with some 238,823 kilometres (148,398 mi) of roads. Malaysia's inland waterways are the world's 22nd-longest, and total 7,200 km (4,474 mi).[210] Among Malaysia's 114 airports,[211] among which the busiest is Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, which is also the twelfth-busiest airport in Asia. Among the 7 federal ports, the major one is Port Klang,[212] which is the thirteenth-busiest container port.[213] Malaysia's flag carrier is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air services.[214]
Transportation in Malaysia. Clockwise from top: North–South Expressway, KTM ETS Class 91 (left) and KTM Komuter Class 92 (right) and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysia's telecommunications network is second only to Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers.[215][216] There are 200 industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Technology Park Malaysia and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.[217] Fresh water is available to over 95% of the population, with ground water accounting for 90% of the freshwater resources.[218][219] Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag behind areas such as the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.[220] The telecommunication network, although strong in urban areas, is less available to the rural population.[215]
Malaysia's energy infrastructure sector is largely dominated by Tenaga Nasional, the largest electric utility company in Southeast Asia. Customers are connected to electricity through the National Grid.[221] The other two electric utility companies in the country are Sarawak Energy and Sabah Electricity.[222] In 2013, Malaysia's total power generation capacity was over 29,728 megawatts. Total electricity generation was 140,985.01 GWh and total electricity consumption was 116,087.51 GWh.[223] Energy production in Malaysia is largely based on oil and natural gas, owing to Malaysia's oil reserves and natural gas reserves, which is the fourth largest in Asia-Pacific region.[224]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Malaysia
Percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic group, 2010
The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic group based on 2010 census
According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the country's population was 32,447,385 in 2020,[225] making it the 42nd most populated country. According to a 2012 estimate, the population is increasing by 1.54 percent per year. Malaysia has an average population density of 96 people per km2, ranking it 116th in the world for population density. People within the 15–64 age group constitute 69.5 percent of the total population; the 0–14 age group corresponds to 24.5 percent; while senior citizens aged 65 years or older make up 6.0 percent. In 1960, when the first official census was recorded in Malaysia, the population was 8.11 million. 91.8 per cent of the population are Malaysian citizens.[226]
Malaysian citizens are divided along local ethnic lines, with 69.7 per cent considered bumiputera.[227] The largest group of bumiputera are Malays, who are defined in the constitution as Muslims who practise Malay customs and culture. They play a dominant role politically.[228] Bumiputera status is also accorded to the non-Malay indigenous groups of Sabah and Sarawak: which includes Dayaks (Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu), Kadazan-Dusun, Melanau, Bajau and others. Non-Malay bumiputeras make up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's population.[229][230] There are also indigenous or aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsular, where they are collectively known as the Orang Asli.[231] Laws over who gets bumiputera status vary between states.[232]
There are also two other non-Bumiputera local ethnic groups. 22.5 per cent of the population are Malaysian Chinese, while 6.8 per cent are Malaysian Indian.[227] The local Chinese have historically been more dominant in the business community. Local Indian are majority of Tamil descent.[233][234] Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia. Dual citizenship is not permitted.[235] Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card known as MyKad at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times.[236]
A map of Malaysia depicting the expected 2010 estimated population density.
Population density (person per km2) in 2010
The population is concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia,[237] where 20 million out of approximately 28 million Malaysians live.[43] 70 per cent of the population is urban.[151] Due to the rise in labour-intensive industries,[238] the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent of the population.[239] Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.[240] Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 171,500. Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from Burma, 72,400 from the Philippines, and 17,700 from Indonesia. Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law.[241]
vte
Largest cities and municipalities in Malaysia
Department of Statistics, Malaysia (2020)
Rank Name State Pop. Rank Name State Pop.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Seberang Perai
Seberang Perai 1 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territories 1,588,750 11 Shah Alam Selangor 541,306 Kajang
Kajang
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
2 Seberang Perai Penang 818,197 12 Iskandar Puteri Johor 529,074
3 Kajang Selangor 795,522 13 Johor Bahru Johor 497,067
4 Petaling Jaya Selangor 744,062 14 Malacca City Malacca 484,855
5 Subang Jaya Selangor 708,296 15 Ampang Jaya Selangor 468,961
6 George Town Penang 708,127 16 Kota Kinabalu Sabah 452,058
7 Ipoh Perak 657,892 17 Sungai Petani Kedah 443,488
8 Klang Selangor 613,977 18 Kuantan Pahang 427,515
9 Kuching Sarawak 570,407 19 Alor Setar Kedah 405,523
10 Selayang Selangor 542,409 20 Tawau Sabah 397,673
Religion
Main article: Religion in Malaysia
A Map of Malaysia showing religious statistics by state
Dominant religious confessions in Malaysia according to 2020 census.[242]
Dark green: Muslim majority > 50%
Light green: Muslim plurality < 50%
Blue: Christian majority > 50%
The constitution grants freedom of religion and makes Malaysia an officially secular state, while establishing Islam as the "religion of the Federation".[243] According to the Population and Housing Census 2020 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly. Approximately 63.5% of the population practise Islam, 18.7% practise Buddhism, 9.1% Christianity, 6.1% Hinduism and 1.3% practise Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions. 2.7% declared no religion or practised other religions or did not provide any information.[225] The states of Sarawak, Penang and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur have non-Muslim majorities.[244][245]
Sunni Islam of Shafi'i school of jurisprudence is the dominant branch of Islam in Malaysia,[246][247] while 18% are nondenominational Muslims.[248] The Malaysian constitution strictly defines what makes a "Malay", considering Malays those who are Muslim, speak Malay regularly, practise Malay customs, and lived in or have ancestors from Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.[155] Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and Christianity (11.1%), along with small Muslim populations in areas like Penang. The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputera community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4% identifying as Muslims.[225]
Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah Courts (i.e. Shariah courts) in matters concerning their religion. The Islamic judges are expected to follow the Shafi'i legal school of Islam, which is the main madh'hab of Malaysia.[246] The jurisdiction of Syariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and custody among others. No other criminal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts. The Civil Courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.[249]
Languages
Main article: Languages of Malaysia
The distribution of language families of Malaysia shown by colours:
(click image to enlarge)
Malayic
Bornean
Aslian
Land Dayak
Sama–Bajaw
Philippine
Chinese
Areas with multiple languages
The official and national language of Malaysia is Malaysian Malay,[151] a standardised form of the Malay language.[250] The terminology as per government policy is Bahasa Malaysia ("Malaysian language")[251][252][253] but legislation continues to refer to the official language as Bahasa Melayu (lit. 'Malay language')[254] and both terms remain in use.[255][256] The National Language Act 1967 specifies the Latin (Rumi) script as the official script of the national language, but does not prohibit the use of the traditional Jawi script.[257]
English remains an active second language, with its use allowed for some official purposes under the National Language Act of 1967.[257] In Sarawak, English is an official state language alongside Malaysian.[258][259][260] Historically, English was the de facto administrative language; Malay became predominant after the 1969 race riots (13 May incident).[261] Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government discourages the use of non-standard Malay but has no power to issue compounds or fines to those who use what is perceived as improper Malay on their advertisements.[262][263]
Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages.[264] Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages.[265] The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic and Kadazan languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah.[266] Chinese Malaysians predominantly speak Chinese dialects from the southern part of China. The more common Chinese varieties in the country are Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and so on.[267] The Tamil language is used predominantly by the majority of Malaysian Indians.[268] A small number of Malaysians have European ancestry and speak creole languages, such as the Portuguese-based Malaccan Creoles,[269] and the Spanish-based Chavacano language.[270]
Health
Main article: Health in Malaysia
Malaysia operates an efficient and widespread two-tier healthcare system, consisting of a universal healthcare system and a co-existing private healthcare system; provided by highly subsidized healthcare through its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.[271] The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the main provider of healthcare services to the country's population.[272] Malaysia's healthcare system is considered to be among the most developed in Asia, which contributes to its thriving medical tourism industry.[273]
Malaysia spent 3.83% of its GDP on healthcare in 2019.[274] In 2020, the overall life expectancy in Malaysia at birth was 76 years (74 years for males and 78 years for females),[275] and it had an infant mortality rate of 7 deaths per 1000 births.[276] Malaysia had a total fertility rate of 2.0 in 2020, which is just below the replacement level of 2.1.[277] In 2020, the country's crude birth rate was 16 per 1000 people, and the crude death rate was 5 per 1000 people.[278][279]
In 2021, the principal cause of death among Malaysian adults was coronary artery disease, representing 17% of the medically certified deaths in 2020—being followed by pneumonia; which accounted for 11% of the deaths.[280] Transport accidents are considered a major health hazard, as Malaysia, relative to its population, has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world.[281] Smoking is also considered a major health issue across the country.[282]
Education
Main article: Education in Malaysia
Ministry of Education, Putrajaya
The education system of Malaysia features a non-compulsory kindergarten education followed by six years of compulsory primary education, and five years of optional secondary education.[283] Schools in the primary education system are divided into two categories: national primary schools, which teach in Malay, and vernacular schools, which teach in Chinese or Tamil.[284] Secondary education is conducted for five years. In the final year of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education examination.[285] Since the introduction of the matriculation programme in 1999, students who completed the 12-month programme in matriculation colleges can enroll in local universities. However, in the matriculation system, only 10 per cent of places are open to non-bumiputera students.[286]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Malaysia
The wooden frame of a house under construction, with the floor raised off the ground
A traditional house being built in Sabah
Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.[287] Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring countries, notably Indonesia.[288]
In 1971, the government created a "National Cultural Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must be based on the culture of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may incorporate suitable elements from other cultures, and that Islam must play a part in it.[289] It also promoted the Malay language above others.[290] This government intervention into culture has caused resentment among non-Malays who feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations have submitted memorandums to the government, accusing it of formulating an undemocratic culture policy.[289]
Fine arts
Main article: Malaysian art
See also: Music of Malaysia and Malaysian literature
Making Malaysian batik
A craftsman making batik. Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring.
Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred on the areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing.[291] Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden masks.[155] Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India.[292]
Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments,[292] the most important of which is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums.[293] Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials.[293] Music is traditionally used for storytelli
==========================================================================
말레이시아는 동남아시아에 있는 연방제 입헌 군주국이다. 말레이시아는 13개의 주와 3개의 연방 직할구로 구성되어 있고, 남중국해로 나뉜 말레이반도 지역과 보르네오섬 지역으로 구성되어 있다. 태국, 인도네시아, 브루나이와 국경을 맞대고 있고, 해상 국경은 싱가포르와 베트남, 필리핀과 맞대고 있다. 말레이시아의 역사는 18세기부터 대영 제국의 식민지가 된 말레이 왕국으로 거슬러 올라간다. 처음 영국의 식민지가 된 곳은 해협식민지로 불리었고, 다른 곳들은 보호령이 되었다. 1946년 말레이반도의 주들이 연합하여 말라야 연합을 세웠고, 1948년 연합을 재편성하여 말라야 연방이 설립되었다. 1957년 8월 31일 영국으로부터 완전히 독립을 하게 되었으며, 1963년 9월 16일 말라야 연방은 사바, 사라왁, 싱가포르와 연합하면서 Malaya란 이름에 si를 추가해 Mala
===========================================
말레이시아
문서
토론
읽기
편집
역사 보기
위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전.
말레이시아
Malaysia
Flag of Malaysia.svg
국기 Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg
국장
표어 Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu
표어 설명 (단결은 힘)
국가 나의 땅(Negaraku)
1:25
Malaysia on the globe (Southeast Asia centered).svg
수도 쿠알라룸푸르 (공식)
푸트라자야 (행정) 북위 3° 08′ 09″ 동경 101° 41′ 17″
북위 2° 55′ 00″ 동경 101° 40′ 00″
쿠알라룸푸르는 말레이시아의 공식적인 수도이자 최대 도시이고 푸트라자야는 말레이시아의 행정 수도이다푸트라자야 (파랑)푸트라자야 (파랑)쿠알라룸푸르 (빨강)쿠알라룸푸르 (빨강)
말레이시아 (말레이시아)
정치
정치체제 군주제, 입헌제, 연방제, 양원제, 내각제
양 디페르투안 아공 압둘라 이브니 아흐맛샤
총리 안와르 이브라힘
역사
독립 영국으로부터 독립
• 독립 1957년 8월 31일
• 확장 1963년 9월 16일
지리
면적 329,847 km2 (67 위)
내수면 비율 0.3%
시간대 MST (UTCUTC+8)
DST UTC+8
인문
공용어 말레이시아어
인구
년 어림 (42위)
인구 밀도 72명/km2 (97위)
경제
GDP(PPP) 2018년 어림값
• 전체 999.397억$ (26위)
• 일인당 30,860$ (46위)
GDP(명목) 2018년 어림값
HDI 0.802 (57위, 2018년 조사)
통화 링깃 (MYR)
종교
국교 이슬람교
종교 이슬람교 63.5%
불교 18.7%
기독교 9.1%
힌두교 6.1%
기타 0.9%
불명 1.8%[1][2]
기타
ISO 3166-1 458, MY, MYS
도메인 .my
국제 전화 +60¹
¹ 020은 싱가포르에서 전화를 걸 때 사용된다.
말레이시아(말레이어: Malaysia)는 동남아시아에 있는 연방제 입헌 군주국이다. 말레이시아는 13개의 주와 3개의 연방 직할구로 구성되어 있고, 남중국해로 나뉜 말레이반도 지역과 보르네오섬 지역으로 구성되어 있다. 태국, 인도네시아, 브루나이와 국경을 맞대고 있고, 해상 국경은 싱가포르와 베트남, 필리핀과 맞대고 있다. 수도는 쿠알라룸푸르이지만, 연방정부는 푸트라자야에 있다.그리고 다리를통해 싱가포르와 연결된다
말레이시아의 역사는 18세기부터 대영 제국의 식민지가
===================================================
Malaysia
Country in Asia
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It's known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers. ― Google
Capital: Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Dialing code: +60
Currency: Malaysian ringgit
Population: 32.37 million (2020) World Bank
Official language: Malay
-------------------------------------------
Malaysia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Not to be confused with Malesia.
Malaysia
A blue rectangle with a gold star and crescent in the canton, with 14 horizontal red and white stripes on the rest of the flag
Flag
Shield showing the symbols of the Malaysian states with a star and crescent above and a motto below, supported by two tigers
Coat of arms
Motto: Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu[1]
"Unity is Strength"
Anthem: Negaraku
"My Country"
1:25
Malaysia (orthographic projection).svg
Show globe
Show map of Southeast Asia
Show all
Location of Malaysia (dark green)
– in Asia (dark gray & white)
– in ASEAN (dark gray)
Capital
Putrajaya (administrative)
2°56′N 101°42′E
Kuala Lumpur (ceremonial, legislative and judicial)
3°8′N 101°41′E
Largest city Kuala Lumpur
Official language
Malay[a][b][c]
Recognised language English[c]
Ethnic groups See below
Religion See below
Demonym(s) Malaysian
Government Federal parliamentary constitutional elective monarchy
• Monarch
Abdullah
• Prime Minister
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Legislature Parliament
• Upper house
Dewan Negara (Senate)
• Lower house
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)
Independence from the United Kingdom
• Federation of Malaya
31 August 1957[2]
• Sarawak self-governance
22 July 1963
• North Borneo self-governance
31 August 1963[3]
• Proclamation of Malaysia
16 September 1963
Area
• Total
330,803 km2 (127,724 sq mi) (67th)
• Water (%)
0.3
Population
• Q1 2020 estimate
Neutral increase 32,730,000[4] (43rd)
• 2020 census
32,447,385[5]
• Density
98/km2 (253.8/sq mi) (116th)
GDP (PPP) 2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $1.089 trillion [6] (31th)
• Per capita
Increase $32,901[6] (54th)
GDP (nominal) 2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $439.373 billion[6] (34th)
• Per capita
Increase $13,268[6] (66th)
Gini (2015) Positive decrease 41[7]
medium
HDI (2021) Decrease 0.803[8]
very high · 62nd
Currency Ringgit (RM) (MYR)
Time zone UTC+8 (MST)
Date format dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side left
Calling code +60
ISO 3166 code MY
Internet TLD .my
Malaysia (/məˈleɪziə, -ʒə/ (listen) mə-LAY-zee-ə, -zhə; Malay: [məlejsiə]) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, largest city and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. The nearby planned capital of Putrajaya is the administrative capital, which represents the seat of both the executive branch (Cabinet, federal ministries and agencies) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 32 million, Malaysia is the world's 45th-most populous country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia is in Tanjung Piai. In the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, home to numerous endemic species.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. Peninsular Malaysia was unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. The independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became a separate independent country.[9]
The country is multiethnic and multicultural, which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The country's official language is Malaysian Malay, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the country's established religion, the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen from among the nine state sultans every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
After independence, the Malaysian GDP grew at an average of 6.5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third-largest in Southeast Asia and 33rd-largest in the world.[10] It is a founding member of ASEAN, EAS, OIC and a member of APEC, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
3 Government and politics
3.1 Administrative divisions
3.2 Foreign relations and military
3.3 Human rights
4 Geography
4.1 Biodiversity and conservation
5 Economy
5.1 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
6.1 Religion
6.2 Languages
6.3 Health
6.4 Education
7 Culture
7.1 Fine arts
7.2 Cuisine
7.3 Media
7.4 Holidays and festivals
7.5 Sports
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 External links
Etymology
Main article: Malay people
English Map of Southeast Asia, "MALAYSIA" typeset horizontally so that the letters run across the northernmost corner of Borneo and pass just south of the Philippines.
"Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas
The name "Malaysia" is a combination of the word "Malays" and the Latin-Greek suffix "-ia"/"-ία"[11] which can be translated as "land of the Malays".[12] The origin of the word 'Melayu' is subject to various theories. It may derive from the Sanskrit "Himalaya", referring to areas high in the mountains, or "Malaiyur-pura", meaning mountain town.[13] Another similar theory claims its origin lies in the Tamil words "malai" and "ur" meaning "mountain" and "city, land", respectively.[14][15][16] Another suggestion is that it derives from the Pamalayu campaign. A final suggestion is that it comes from a Javanese word meaning "to run", from which a river, the Sungai Melayu ('Melayu river'), was named due to its strong current.[13] Similar-sounding variants have also appeared in accounts older than the 11th century, as toponyms for areas in Sumatra or referring to a larger region around the Strait of Malacca.[17] The Sanskrit text Vayu Purana, thought to have been in existence since the first millennium CE, mentioned a land named 'Malayadvipa' which was identified by certain scholars as the modern Malay peninsula.[18][19][20][21][22] Other notable accounts are by the 2nd century Ptolemy's Geographia that used the name Malayu Kulon for the west coast of Golden Chersonese, and the 7th century Yijing's account of Malayu.[17]
At some point, the Melayu Kingdom took its name from the Sungai Melayu.[13][23] 'Melayu' then became associated with Srivijaya,[17] and remained associated with various parts of Sumatra, especially Palembang, where the founder of the Malacca Sultanate is thought to have come from.[24] It is only thought to have developed into an ethnonym as Malacca became a regional power in the 15th century. Islamisation established an ethnoreligious identity in Malacca, with the term 'Melayu' beginning to appear as interchangeable with 'Melakans'. It may have specifically referred to local Malays speakers thought loyal to the Malaccan Sultan. The initial Portuguese use of Malayos reflected this, referring only to the ruling people of Malacca. The prominence of traders from Malacca led 'Melayu' to be associated with Muslim traders, and from there became associated with the wider cultural and linguistic group.[17] Malacca and later Johor claimed they were the centre of Malay culture, a position supported by the British which led to the term 'Malay' becoming more usually linked to the Malay peninsula rather than Sumatra.[24]
Before the onset of European colonisation, the Malay Peninsula was known natively as "Tanah Melayu" ("Malay Land").[25][26] Under a racial classification created by a German scholar Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, the natives of maritime Southeast Asia were grouped into a single category, the Malay race.[27][28] Following the expedition of French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urville to Oceania in 1826, he later proposed the terms of "Malaysia", "Micronesia" and "Melanesia" to the Société de Géographie in 1831, distinguishing these Pacific cultures and island groups from the existing term "Polynesia". Dumont d'Urville described Malaysia as "an area commonly known as the East Indies".[29] In 1850, the English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor Earl, writing in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, proposed naming the islands of Southeast Asia as "Melayunesia" or "Indunesia", favouring the former.[30] The name Malaysia gained some use to label what is now the Malay Archipelago.[31] In modern terminology, "Malay" remains the name of an ethnoreligious group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula and portions of the adjacent islands of Southeast Asia, including the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and smaller islands that lie between these areas.[32]
The state that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 took the name the "Federation of Malaya", chosen in preference to other potential names such as "Langkasuka", after the historic kingdom located at the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the first millennium CE.[33][34] The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new federation.[35][d] One theory posits the name was chosen so that "si" represented the inclusion of Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak to Malaya in 1963.[35] Politicians in the Philippines contemplated renaming their state "Malaysia" before the modern country took the name.[37]
History
Main article: History of Malaysia
Map showing the extent of the Malacca Sultanate, covering much of the Malay Peninsula and some of Sumatra
The Malacca Sultanate played a major role in spreading Islam throughout the Malay Archipelago.
Evidence of modern human habitation in Malaysia dates back 40,000 years.[38] In the Malay Peninsula, the first inhabitants are thought to be Negritos.[39] Traders and settlers from India and China arrived as early as the first century AD, establishing trading ports and coastal towns in the second and third centuries. Their presence resulted in strong Indian and Chinese influences on the local cultures, and the people of the Malay Peninsula adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Sanskrit inscriptions appear as early as the fourth or fifth century.[40] The Kingdom of Langkasuka arose around the second century in the northern area of the Malay Peninsula, lasting until about the 15th century.[33] Between the 7th and 13th centuries, much of the southern Malay Peninsula was part of the maritime Srivijayan empire. By the 13th and the 14th century, the Majapahit empire had successfully wrested control over most of the peninsula and the Malay Archipelago from Srivijaya.[41] In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a runaway king of the former Kingdom of Singapura linked to the old Srivijayan court, founded the Malacca Sultanate.[42] The spread of Islam increased following Parameswara's conversion to that religion. Malacca was an important commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region.[43]
Dutch fleet vs Portuguese armada
The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of Malacca
In 1511, Malacca was conquered by Portugal,[43] after which it was taken by the Dutch in 1641. In 1786, the British Empire established a presence in Malaya, when the Sultan of Kedah leased Penang Island to the British East India Company. The British obtained the town of Singapore in 1819,[44] and in 1824 took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty. By 1826, the British directly controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements. By the 20th century, the states of Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay States, had British residents appointed to advise the Malay rulers, to whom the rulers were bound to defer by treaty.[45] The remaining five states in the peninsula, known as the Unfederated Malay States, while not directly under British rule, also accepted British advisers around the turn of the 20th century. Development on the peninsula and Borneo were generally separate until the 19th century. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged.[46] The area that is now Sabah came under British control as North Borneo when both the Sultan of Brunei and the Sultan of Sulu transferred their respective territorial rights of ownership, between 1877 and 1878.[47] In 1842, Sarawak was ceded by the Sultan of Brunei to James Brooke, whose successors ruled as the White Rajahs over an independent kingdom until 1946, when it became a crown colony.[48]
In the Second World War, the Japanese Army invaded and occupied Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years. During this time, ethnic tensions were raised and nationalism grew.[49] Popular support for independence increased after Malaya was reconquered by Allied forces.[50] Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the "Malayan Union" met with strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946, and consisting of all the British possessions in the Malay Peninsula with the exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved and replaced on 1 February 1948 by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection.[51]
Statue of Francis Light in the Fort of Cornwallis
Statue of Francis Light in the Fort Cornwallis of Penang, the first British colony in what was to become Malaysia
During this time, the mostly ethnically Chinese rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth troops in Malaya.[52] On 31 August 1957, Malaya became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[53] After this a plan was put in place to federate Malaya with the crown colonies of North Borneo (which joined as Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore. The date of federation was planned to be 31 August 1963 so as to coincide with the anniversary of Malayan independence; however, federation was delayed until 16 September 1963 in order for a United Nations survey of support for federation in Sabah and Sarawak, called for by parties opposed to federation including Indonesia's Sukarno and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party, to be completed.[54][55]
Federation brought heightened tensions including a conflict with Indonesia as well continuous conflicts against the Communists in Borneo and the Malayan Peninsula which escalates to the Sarawak Communist Insurgency and Second Malayan Emergency together with several other issues such as the cross border attacks into North Borneo by Moro pirates from the southern islands of the Philippines, Singapore being expelled from the Federation in 1965,[56][57] and racial strife. This strife culminated in the 13 May race riots in 1969.[58] After the riots, the controversial New Economic Policy was launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, trying to increase the share of the economy held by the bumiputera.[59] Under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad there was a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginning in the 1980s. The economy shifted from being agriculturally based to one based on manufacturing and industry. Numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Petronas Towers, the North–South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.[35] However, in the late 1990s the Asian financial crisis almost caused the collapse of the currency and the stock and property markets, although they later recovered.[60] The 1MDB scandal was a major global corruption scandal that implicated then-Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2015.[61] The scandal contributed to the first change in ruling political party since independence in the 2018 general election.[62] In the 2020s, the country was gripped by political crisis that coincided with health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[63]
Government and politics
Main articles: Politics of Malaysia and Government of Malaysia
A photo showing the Malaysian Parliament building along with 2 white arches in diagonal position front of the building.
The Parliament of Malaysia, the building that houses the members of the Dewan Rakyat
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy; the only federal country in Southeast Asia.[64] The system of government is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British rule.[65] The head of state is the King, whose official title is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The King is elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states. The other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection. By informal agreement the position is rotated among the nine,[65] and has been held by Abdullah of Pahang since 31 January 2019.[66] The King's role has been largely ceremonial since changes to the constitution in 1994, picking ministers and members of the upper house.[67]
Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral federal parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate.[68] The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the King upon the Prime Minister's recommendation.[43] The parliament follows a multi-party system and the government is elected through a first-past-the-post system.[43][69] Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years,[43] the most recent of which took place in May 2018.[62] Before 2018, registered voters aged 21 and above could vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.[70] In July 2019, a bill to lower the voting age to 18 years old was officially passed.[71]
Large building with a series of flags in front of it
The Perdana Putra houses the office of the Prime Minister.
Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The prime minister must be a member of the House of Representatives, who in the opinion of His Majesty the King, commands the support of a majority of members. The Cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.[43] The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government.[67] As a result of the 2018 general election Malaysia was governed by the Pakatan Harapan political alliance,[62] although Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned amid a political crisis in 2020. In March 2020, the Perikatan Nasional coalition formed under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin,[72] before Muhyiddin lost majority support and was replaced by deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a veteran politician from UMNO, in August 2021.[73][74]
Malaysia's legal system is based on English Common Law.[43] Although the judiciary is theoretically independent, its independence has been called into question and the appointment of judges lacks accountability and transparency.[75] The highest court in the judicial system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal and two high courts, one for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East Malaysia. Malaysia also has a special court to hear cases brought by or against royalty.[76]
Race is a significant force in politics.[43] Affirmative actions such as the New Economic Policy[59] and the National Development Policy which superseded it, were implemented to advance the standing of the bumiputera, consisting of Malays and the indigenous tribes who are considered the original inhabitants of Malaysia, over non-bumiputera such as Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indians.[77] These policies provide preferential treatment to bumiputera in employment, education, scholarships, business, and access to cheaper housing and assisted savings. However, it has generated greater interethnic resentment.[78] There is ongoing debate over whether the laws and society of Malaysia should reflect Islamism or secularism.[79] Islamic criminal laws passed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party with the support of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) state assemblymen in the state legislative assembly of Kelantan have been blocked by the federal government on the basis that criminal laws are the responsibility of the federal government.[80][81][82]
After the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) lost power at the 2018 Malaysian general election, Malaysia's ranking increased by 9 places in the 2019 Democracy Index to 43th compared to the previous year, and is classified as a 'flawed democracy'.[83] Malaysia's ranking in the 2020 Press Freedom Index increased by 22 places to 101st compared to the previous year, making it one of two countries in Southeast Asia without a 'Difficult situation' or 'Very Serious situation' with regards to press freedom.[84] However, it fell 18 places the following year due to the policies of the Perikatan Nasional government.[85]
Malaysia is marked at 48 and 62nd place according to the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating above average levels of corruption. Freedom House noted Malaysia as "partly free" in its 2018 survey.[86] A lawsuit filed by Department of Justice (DOJ), alleged that at least $3.5 billion involving former prime minister Najib Razak had been stolen from Malaysia's 1MDB state-owned fund, known as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.[61][87][88]
Administrative divisions
Main articles: States and federal territories of Malaysia, Divisions of Malaysia, and Districts of Malaysia
PerlisKedahPenangKelantanTerengganuPerakSelangorNegeri SembilanMalaccaJohorPahangSarawakSabahLabuanKuala LumpurPutrajayaWest MalaysiaEast Malaysia(Blue) States(Red) Federal TerritoriesSouth China SeaStrait
of
MalaccaGulf of ThailandSulu SeaCelebes SeaBruneiIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailand
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.[89] These are divided between two regions, with 11 states and two federal territories on Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one federal territory in East Malaysia. Each state is divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into divisions.[90]
Governance of the states is divided between the federal and the state governments, with different powers reserved for each, and the Federal government has direct administration of the federal territories.[91] Each state has a unicameral State Legislative Assembly whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. State governments are led by Chief Ministers,[43] who are state assembly members from the majority party in the assembly. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is normally required to be a Malay, appointed by the ruler upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.[92] Except for state elections in Sarawak, by convention state elections are held concurrently with the federal election.[67]
Lower-level administration is carried out by local authorities, which include city councils, district councils, and municipal councils, although autonomous statutory bodies can be created by the federal and state governments to deal with certain tasks.[93] The federal constitution puts local authorities outside of the federal territories under the exclusive jurisdictions of the state government,[94] although in practice the federal government has intervened in the affairs of state local governments.[95] There are 154 local authorities, consisting of 14 city councils, 38 municipal councils and 97 district councils.
The 13 states are based on historical Malay kingdoms, and 9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain their royal families. The King is elected by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year term.[43] This King appoints governors serving a four-year term for the states without monarchies, after consultations with the chief minister of that state. Each state has its own written constitution.[96] Sabah and Sarawak have considerably more autonomy than the other states, most notably having separate immigration policies and controls, and a unique residency status.[97][98][99] Federal intervention in state affairs, lack of development, and disputes over oil royalties have occasionally led to statements about secession from leaders in several states such as Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak, although these have not been followed up and no serious independence movements exist.[100][101][102][103]
States
A list of thirteen states and each state capital (in brackets):
Johor Johor (Johor Bahru)
Kedah Kedah (Alor Setar)
Kelantan Kelantan (Kota Bharu)
Malacca Malacca (Malacca City)
Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (Seremban)
Pahang Pahang (Kuantan)
Penang Penang (George Town)
Perak Perak (Ipoh)
Perlis Perlis (Kangar)
Selangor Selangor (Shah Alam)
Sabah Sabah (Kota Kinabalu)
Sarawak Sarawak (Kuching)
Terengganu Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu)
Federal Territories
Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Labuan Federal Territory of Labuan
Putrajaya Federal Territory of Putrajaya
Foreign relations and military
Main articles: Foreign relations of Malaysia and Malaysian Armed Forces
With Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, 2018
A founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)[104] and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),[105] the country participates in many international organisations such as the United Nations,[106] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,[107] the Developing 8 Countries,[108] and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).[109] It has chaired ASEAN, the OIC, and the NAM in the past.[43] A former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[110] Kuala Lumpur was the site of the first East Asia Summit in 2005.[111]
Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their political system.[112] The government attaches a high priority to the security and stability of Southeast Asia,[111] and seeks to further develop relations with other countries in the region. Historically the government has tried to portray Malaysia as a progressive Islamic nation[112] while strengthening relations with other Islamic states.[111] A strong tenet of Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control its domestic affairs.[67] Malaysia signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[113][114]
The Spratly Islands are disputed by many states in the area, and a large portion of the South China Sea is claimed by China. Unlike its neighbours of Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia historically avoided conflicts with China.[115] However, after the encroachment of Chinese ships in Malaysian territorial waters,[116] Malaysia has become active in condemning China.[117][118] Brunei and Malaysia in 2009 announced an end to claims of each other's land, and committed to resolve issues related to their maritime borders.[119] The Philippines has a dormant claim to the eastern part of Sabah.[120] Singapore's land reclamation has caused tensions,[121] and minor maritime and land border disputes exist with Indonesia.[120][122]
Malaysian Armed Forces assets
Examples of the Malaysian Armed Forces weaponry assets. Clockwise from top right: Scorpène-class submarine, PT-91M MBT tank, Malaysian Army paratrooper with M4, and Su-30MKM fighter aircraft.
The Malaysian Armed Forces have three branches: the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There is no conscription, and the required age for voluntary military service is 18. The military uses 1.5% of the country's GDP, and employs 1.23% of Malaysia's manpower.[123] Malaysian peacekeeping forces have contributed to many UN peacekeeping missions, such as in Congo, Iran–Iraq, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Kosovo, East Timor and Lebanon.[43][124]
The Five Power Defence Arrangements is a regional security initiative which has been in place for almost 40 years. It involves joint military exercises held among Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[125] Joint exercises and war games have also been held with Brunei,[126] China,[127] India,[128] Indonesia,[129] Japan,[130] and the United States.[131] Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have agreed to host joint security force exercises to secure their maritime border and tackle issues such as illegal immigration, piracy, and smuggling.[132][133][134] Previously there were fears that extremist militants activities in the Muslim areas of the southern Philippines[135] and southern Thailand[136] would spill over into Malaysia. Because of this, Malaysia began to increase its border security.[135]
Human rights
See also: Human rights in Malaysia and LGBT rights in Malaysia
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia,[137][138] and the authorities has imposed punishments such as caning and imprisonment.[139][140] Human trafficking and sex trafficking in Malaysia are significant problems.[141][142] There has also been cases of vigilante executions and beatings against LGBT individuals in Malaysia.[143][144] The illegality of homosexuality in Malaysia has also been the forefront of Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trials, which Anwar has responded to it being politically motivated, a response supported by the United Nations' (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention along with Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch.[145][146][147]
The death penalty is in use for serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, and kidnapping,[148][149] but in June 2022, Malaysian law minister Wan Junaidi pledged to abolish the capital punishment and replace it with other punishments at the discretion of the court.[150]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Malaysia
Relief map of Malaysia
Topographic map of Malaysia; Mount Kinabalu is the highest summit in the country.
Malaysia is the 66th largest country by total land area, with a land area of 329,613 km2 (127,264 sq mi). It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia, and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia.[151] It is linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway and a bridge. The country also has maritime boundaries with Vietnam[152] and the Philippines.[153] The land borders are defined in large part by geological features such as the Perlis River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention.[151] Brunei forms what is almost an enclave in Malaysia,[154] with the state of Sarawak dividing it into two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago.[155] The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world's trade.[156]
The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.[151] Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area,[155] extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km (200 mi).[157] It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains,[158] rising to a peak elevation of 2,183 metres (7,162 ft) at Mount Korbu,[159] part of a series of mountain ranges running down the centre of the peninsula.[155] These mountains are heavily forested,[160] and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape.[155] The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's river systems.[160] The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the peninsula's coastline is nearly 1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western side.[157]
Köppen climate classification of Malaysia. The country is within the equatorial region, where a tropical rainforest climate is apparent all year round.
East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi).[151] It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous interior.[155] The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak,[155] dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095 m (13,435 ft) high Mount Kinabalu,[161][162] the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is located in the Kinabalu National Park, which is protected as one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia.[163] The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world, in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is also a World Heritage Site.[155] The largest river in Malaysia is the Rajang.
Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands, the largest of which is Banggi.[164] The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.[157] The temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans.[155] Humidity is usually high, and the average annual rainfall is 250 cm (98 in).[157] The climates of the Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfall, increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.[155]
Biodiversity and conservation
Main articles: Wildlife of Malaysia, Environmental issues in Malaysia, and List of national parks in Malaysia
Wildlife of Malaysia
Native species in Malaysia, clockwise from top-right: oriental pied hornbills, hawksbill sea turtle, proboscis monkey, Malayan tiger.
Malaysia signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 12 June 1993, and became a party to the convention on 24 June 1994.[165] It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 16 April 1998.[166] The country is megadiverse with a high number of species and high levels of endemism.[167] It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal species.[168] High levels of endemism are found on the diverse forests of Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland forest.[155] There are about 210 mammal species in the country.[161] Over 620 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia,[168] with many endemic to the mountains there. A high number of endemic bird species are also found in Malaysian Borneo.[155] 250 reptile species have been recorded in the country, with about 150 species of snakes[169] and 80 species of lizards.[161] There are about 150 species of frogs,[161] and thousands of insect species.[161] The Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia is 334,671 km2 (129,217 sq mi) and 1.5 times larger than its land area. It is mainly in the South China Sea.[170][171] Some of its waters are in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot.[172] The waters around Sipadan island are the most biodiverse in the world.[168] Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species.[173] The unique biodiversity of Malaysian Caves always attracts lovers of ecotourism from all over the world.[174]
Nearly 4,000 species of fungi, including lichen-forming species have been recorded from Malaysia. Of the two fungal groups with the largest number of species in Malaysia, the Ascomycota and their asexual states have been surveyed in some habitats (decaying wood, marine and freshwater ecosystems, as parasites of some plants, and as agents of biodegradation), but have not been or have been only poorly surveyed in other habitats (as endobionts, in soils, on dung, as human and animal pathogens); the Basidiomycota are only partly surveyed: bracket fungi, and mushrooms and toadstools have been studied, but Malaysian rust and smut fungi remain very poorly known. Without doubt, many more fungal species in Malaysia have not yet been recorded, and it is likely that many of those, when found, will be new to science.[175]
Red flower made of 5 petals surrounding a depressed centre, on the forest floor surrounded by dead leaves and small green plants
Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter, making them the largest flowers in the world.
About two thirds of Malaysia was covered in forest as of 2007,[157] with some forests believed to be 130 million years old.[161] The forests are dominated by dipterocarps.[176] Lowland forest covers areas below 760 m (2,490 ft),[157] and formerly East Malaysia was covered in such rainforest,[176] which is supported by its hot wet climate.[155] There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.[161] Besides rainforests, there are over 1,425 km2 (550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia,[157] and a large amount of peat forest. At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace dipterocarps.[155] There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East.[177] The forests of East Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 different species of trees every hectare.[155] These forests host many members of the Rafflesia genus, the largest flowers in the world,[176] with a maximum diameter of 1 m (3 ft 3 in).[178]
Logging, along with cultivation practices has devastated tree cover, causing severe environmental degradation in the country. Over 80 per cent of Sarawak's rainforest has been logged.[155] Floods in East Malaysia have been worsened by the loss of trees, and over 60 per cent of the Peninsula's forest have been cleared.[178] With current rates of deforestation, mainly for the palm oil industry, the forests are predicted to be extinct by 2020.[155][179] Deforestation is a major problem for animals, fungi and plants, having caused species such as Begonia eiromischa to go extinct.[180] Most remaining forest is found inside reserves and national parks.[178] Habitat destruction has proved a threat for marine life.[173] Illegal fishing is another major threat,[173] with fishing methods such as dynamite fishing and poisoning depleting marine ecosystems.[181] Leatherback turtle numbers have dropped 98 per cent since the 1950s.[169] Hunting has also been an issue for some animals,[178] with overconsumption and the use of animal parts for profit endangering many animals, from marine life[173] to tigers.[180] Marine life is also detrimentally affected by uncontrolled tourism.[182]
The Malaysian government aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection, but has been accused of favouring big business over the environment.[178] Some state governments are now trying to counter the environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;[176] and the federal government is trying to cut logging by 10 per cent each year. A total of 28 national parks have been established, 23 in East Malaysia and five in the Peninsula.[178] Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan island.[182] Wildlife trafficking is a large issue, and the Malaysian government has held talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise anti-trafficking laws.[183]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, the financial centre of Malaysia
Development of real GDP per capita, 1820 to 2018
Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy.[184] It has the world's 34th-largest economy by nominal GDP and the 31th-largest by PPP. In 2017, the large service sector contributed to 53.6% of total GDP, the industrial sector 37.6%, and the small agricultural sector roughly 8.8%.[185] Malaysia has a low official unemployment rate of 3.9%.[186] Its foreign exchange reserves are the world's 24th-largest.[187] It has a labour force of about 15 million, which is the world's 34th-largest.[188] Malaysia's large automotive industry ranks as the world's 22nd-largest by production.[189]
Malaysia is the world's 23th-largest exporter and 25th-largest importer.[190][191] However, economic inequalities exist between different ethnic groups.[192] The Chinese make up about one-quarter of the population, but accounts for 70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation.[193] Chinese businesses in Malaysia are part of the larger bamboo network, a network of overseas Chinese businesses in the Southeast Asian market sharing common family and cultural ties.[194]
International trade, facilitated by the shipping route in adjacent Strait of Malacca, and manufacturing are the key sectors.[195][196][197] Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, and petroleum is a major export.[43] Malaysia has once been the largest producer of tin,[198] rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy,[199] although Malaysia's economic structure has been moving away from it.[200] Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.[201]
Tourism is the third-largest contributor to Malaysia’s GDP, after the manufacturing and commodities sectors.[202] In 2019, the sector contributed about 15.9 per cent to the total GDP. According to the World Tourism Organization, Malaysia was the fourteenth-most visited country in the world, and the fourth-most visited country in Asia in 2019, with over 26.1 million visits.[203] Malaysia was ranked 38th in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019.[204] Its international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $19.8 billion.[203]
The country has developed into a centre of Islamic banking, and has the highest numbers of female workers in that industry.[205] Knowledge-based services are also expanding.[200] In 2020, Malaysian exported high-tech products worth $92.1 billion, the second-highest in the ASEAN, after Singapore.[206] Malaysia was ranked 36th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, and 32nd in the Global Competitiveness Report in 2022.[207][208]
Infrastructure
See also: Transport in Malaysia
Railway transport in Malaysia is state-run, and spans some 2,783 kilometres (1,729 mi).[209] As of 2016, Malaysia has the world's 26th-largest road network, with some 238,823 kilometres (148,398 mi) of roads. Malaysia's inland waterways are the world's 22nd-longest, and total 7,200 km (4,474 mi).[210] Among Malaysia's 114 airports,[211] among which the busiest is Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, which is also the twelfth-busiest airport in Asia. Among the 7 federal ports, the major one is Port Klang,[212] which is the thirteenth-busiest container port.[213] Malaysia's flag carrier is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air services.[214]
Transportation in Malaysia. Clockwise from top: North–South Expressway, KTM ETS Class 91 (left) and KTM Komuter Class 92 (right) and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysia's telecommunications network is second only to Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers.[215][216] There are 200 industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Technology Park Malaysia and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.[217] Fresh water is available to over 95% of the population, with ground water accounting for 90% of the freshwater resources.[218][219] Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag behind areas such as the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.[220] The telecommunication network, although strong in urban areas, is less available to the rural population.[215]
Malaysia's energy infrastructure sector is largely dominated by Tenaga Nasional, the largest electric utility company in Southeast Asia. Customers are connected to electricity through the National Grid.[221] The other two electric utility companies in the country are Sarawak Energy and Sabah Electricity.[222] In 2013, Malaysia's total power generation capacity was over 29,728 megawatts. Total electricity generation was 140,985.01 GWh and total electricity consumption was 116,087.51 GWh.[223] Energy production in Malaysia is largely based on oil and natural gas, owing to Malaysia's oil reserves and natural gas reserves, which is the fourth largest in Asia-Pacific region.[224]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Malaysia
Percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic group, 2010
The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic group based on 2010 census
According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the country's population was 32,447,385 in 2020,[225] making it the 42nd most populated country. According to a 2012 estimate, the population is increasing by 1.54 percent per year. Malaysia has an average population density of 96 people per km2, ranking it 116th in the world for population density. People within the 15–64 age group constitute 69.5 percent of the total population; the 0–14 age group corresponds to 24.5 percent; while senior citizens aged 65 years or older make up 6.0 percent. In 1960, when the first official census was recorded in Malaysia, the population was 8.11 million. 91.8 per cent of the population are Malaysian citizens.[226]
Malaysian citizens are divided along local ethnic lines, with 69.7 per cent considered bumiputera.[227] The largest group of bumiputera are Malays, who are defined in the constitution as Muslims who practise Malay customs and culture. They play a dominant role politically.[228] Bumiputera status is also accorded to the non-Malay indigenous groups of Sabah and Sarawak: which includes Dayaks (Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu), Kadazan-Dusun, Melanau, Bajau and others. Non-Malay bumiputeras make up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's population.[229][230] There are also indigenous or aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsular, where they are collectively known as the Orang Asli.[231] Laws over who gets bumiputera status vary between states.[232]
There are also two other non-Bumiputera local ethnic groups. 22.5 per cent of the population are Malaysian Chinese, while 6.8 per cent are Malaysian Indian.[227] The local Chinese have historically been more dominant in the business community. Local Indian are majority of Tamil descent.[233][234] Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia. Dual citizenship is not permitted.[235] Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card known as MyKad at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times.[236]
A map of Malaysia depicting the expected 2010 estimated population density.
Population density (person per km2) in 2010
The population is concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia,[237] where 20 million out of approximately 28 million Malaysians live.[43] 70 per cent of the population is urban.[151] Due to the rise in labour-intensive industries,[238] the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent of the population.[239] Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.[240] Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 171,500. Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from Burma, 72,400 from the Philippines, and 17,700 from Indonesia. Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law.[241]
vte
Largest cities and municipalities in Malaysia
Department of Statistics, Malaysia (2020)
Rank Name State Pop. Rank Name State Pop.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Seberang Perai
Seberang Perai 1 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territories 1,588,750 11 Shah Alam Selangor 541,306 Kajang
Kajang
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
2 Seberang Perai Penang 818,197 12 Iskandar Puteri Johor 529,074
3 Kajang Selangor 795,522 13 Johor Bahru Johor 497,067
4 Petaling Jaya Selangor 744,062 14 Malacca City Malacca 484,855
5 Subang Jaya Selangor 708,296 15 Ampang Jaya Selangor 468,961
6 George Town Penang 708,127 16 Kota Kinabalu Sabah 452,058
7 Ipoh Perak 657,892 17 Sungai Petani Kedah 443,488
8 Klang Selangor 613,977 18 Kuantan Pahang 427,515
9 Kuching Sarawak 570,407 19 Alor Setar Kedah 405,523
10 Selayang Selangor 542,409 20 Tawau Sabah 397,673
Religion
Main article: Religion in Malaysia
A Map of Malaysia showing religious statistics by state
Dominant religious confessions in Malaysia according to 2020 census.[242]
Dark green: Muslim majority > 50%
Light green: Muslim plurality < 50%
Blue: Christian majority > 50%
The constitution grants freedom of religion and makes Malaysia an officially secular state, while establishing Islam as the "religion of the Federation".[243] According to the Population and Housing Census 2020 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly. Approximately 63.5% of the population practise Islam, 18.7% practise Buddhism, 9.1% Christianity, 6.1% Hinduism and 1.3% practise Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions. 2.7% declared no religion or practised other religions or did not provide any information.[225] The states of Sarawak, Penang and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur have non-Muslim majorities.[244][245]
Sunni Islam of Shafi'i school of jurisprudence is the dominant branch of Islam in Malaysia,[246][247] while 18% are nondenominational Muslims.[248] The Malaysian constitution strictly defines what makes a "Malay", considering Malays those who are Muslim, speak Malay regularly, practise Malay customs, and lived in or have ancestors from Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.[155] Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and Christianity (11.1%), along with small Muslim populations in areas like Penang. The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputera community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4% identifying as Muslims.[225]
Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah Courts (i.e. Shariah courts) in matters concerning their religion. The Islamic judges are expected to follow the Shafi'i legal school of Islam, which is the main madh'hab of Malaysia.[246] The jurisdiction of Syariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and custody among others. No other criminal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts. The Civil Courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.[249]
Languages
Main article: Languages of Malaysia
The distribution of language families of Malaysia shown by colours:
(click image to enlarge)
Malayic
Bornean
Aslian
Land Dayak
Sama–Bajaw
Philippine
Chinese
Areas with multiple languages
The official and national language of Malaysia is Malaysian Malay,[151] a standardised form of the Malay language.[250] The terminology as per government policy is Bahasa Malaysia ("Malaysian language")[251][252][253] but legislation continues to refer to the official language as Bahasa Melayu (lit. 'Malay language')[254] and both terms remain in use.[255][256] The National Language Act 1967 specifies the Latin (Rumi) script as the official script of the national language, but does not prohibit the use of the traditional Jawi script.[257]
English remains an active second language, with its use allowed for some official purposes under the National Language Act of 1967.[257] In Sarawak, English is an official state language alongside Malaysian.[258][259][260] Historically, English was the de facto administrative language; Malay became predominant after the 1969 race riots (13 May incident).[261] Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government discourages the use of non-standard Malay but has no power to issue compounds or fines to those who use what is perceived as improper Malay on their advertisements.[262][263]
Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages.[264] Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages.[265] The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic and Kadazan languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah.[266] Chinese Malaysians predominantly speak Chinese dialects from the southern part of China. The more common Chinese varieties in the country are Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and so on.[267] The Tamil language is used predominantly by the majority of Malaysian Indians.[268] A small number of Malaysians have European ancestry and speak creole languages, such as the Portuguese-based Malaccan Creoles,[269] and the Spanish-based Chavacano language.[270]
Health
Main article: Health in Malaysia
Malaysia operates an efficient and widespread two-tier healthcare system, consisting of a universal healthcare system and a co-existing private healthcare system; provided by highly subsidized healthcare through its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.[271] The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the main provider of healthcare services to the country's population.[272] Malaysia's healthcare system is considered to be among the most developed in Asia, which contributes to its thriving medical tourism industry.[273]
Malaysia spent 3.83% of its GDP on healthcare in 2019.[274] In 2020, the overall life expectancy in Malaysia at birth was 76 years (74 years for males and 78 years for females),[275] and it had an infant mortality rate of 7 deaths per 1000 births.[276] Malaysia had a total fertility rate of 2.0 in 2020, which is just below the replacement level of 2.1.[277] In 2020, the country's crude birth rate was 16 per 1000 people, and the crude death rate was 5 per 1000 people.[278][279]
In 2021, the principal cause of death among Malaysian adults was coronary artery disease, representing 17% of the medically certified deaths in 2020—being followed by pneumonia; which accounted for 11% of the deaths.[280] Transport accidents are considered a major health hazard, as Malaysia, relative to its population, has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world.[281] Smoking is also considered a major health issue across the country.[282]
Education
Main article: Education in Malaysia
Ministry of Education, Putrajaya
The education system of Malaysia features a non-compulsory kindergarten education followed by six years of compulsory primary education, and five years of optional secondary education.[283] Schools in the primary education system are divided into two categories: national primary schools, which teach in Malay, and vernacular schools, which teach in Chinese or Tamil.[284] Secondary education is conducted for five years. In the final year of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education examination.[285] Since the introduction of the matriculation programme in 1999, students who completed the 12-month programme in matriculation colleges can enroll in local universities. However, in the matriculation system, only 10 per cent of places are open to non-bumiputera students.[286]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Malaysia
The wooden frame of a house under construction, with the floor raised off the ground
A traditional house being built in Sabah
Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.[287] Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring countries, notably Indonesia.[288]
In 1971, the government created a "National Cultural Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must be based on the culture of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may incorporate suitable elements from other cultures, and that Islam must play a part in it.[289] It also promoted the Malay language above others.[290] This government intervention into culture has caused resentment among non-Malays who feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations have submitted memorandums to the government, accusing it of formulating an undemocratic culture policy.[289]
Fine arts
Main article: Malaysian art
See also: Music of Malaysia and Malaysian literature
Making Malaysian batik
A craftsman making batik. Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring.
Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred on the areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing.[291] Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden masks.[155] Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India.[292]
Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments,[292] the most important of which is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums.[293] Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials.[293] Music is traditionally used for storytelli
- 이전글말레시아지도 Map of Malaysia 22.09.20
댓글목록
등록된 댓글이 없습니다.