About Malaysia

Malaysia is steeped in interesting cultural; traditions – the elaborate festivities, the sartorial splendors, unique art and crafts, dance forms, food and architect.

Country: The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Geographical Location: 11 Located between 2 and 7 degrees north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.

Area : 329,758 sq km.

Population: 22.7 million.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur.

People: Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.

Language: Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. The ethnic groups also speak various languages and dialects.

Religion: Islam is the official religion but all other religions are practised freely.

Government: Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.

Climate: Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures range from 21°C to 32°C. Annual rainfall varies from 2000mm to 2500mm.

History and Culture: There is a strong interlink between the country's multi-racial and multicultural make-up and its history. Besides the local Malays and the native groups, immigrants from China, India, Indonesia and other parts of the world have all contributed to the multiracial composition of its population. Its interesting cultural diversity can be largely attributed to the country's long and on-going interaction with the outside world and colonial rule b the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Consequently the evolution of the country into a cultural melting pot is evident in the unique blend of religions, socio cultural activities and traditions, dressing, language and food. The country achieved independence of August 31, 1957 as the Federation of Malaya an (subsequently with the entry of Sabah and Sarawak it 1963, Malaysia was formed.

Entry Requirements: Visitors to Malaysia must be it possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period. Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits. For further information, please check with the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission or Tourism Malaysia office.

Currency: The unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit indicated as RM. Foreign currencies can converted at banks and money changers. All travellers both residents and non-residents, are required complete the Traveller's Declaration Form (TDF). The revised TDF has two separate sections and columns for residents and non-residents to declare their currencies; the blue section for residents and the white section for non-residents;

Banking Hours: Most states: Mon-Fri: 9.30am - 4.00pm • Sat: 9.30am - 11.30am • Sun: closed • Kedah, Kelantan & Terengganu: Sat-Wed: 9.30am - 4.00pm • Thur: 9.30am - 11.30am • Fri: closed.

Time: Eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Weights and Measures: Malaysia follows the metric system in weights and measures.

Telephones: Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or pre-paid cards. International calls can be made from public phones with card phone facilities or at any Telekom offices.

Getting Around: Malaysia has excellent domestic air links and a well developed and effective public transportation system served by buses, taxis and trains.