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Malaysia:
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Other pages in this profile of Malaysia:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism. |
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Location |
Definition Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 2 30 N, 112 30 E |
Map references |
Definition Southeast Asia |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly larger than New Mexico |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km |
Coastline |
Definition 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km) |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea |
Climate |
Definition tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons |
Terrain |
Definition coastal plains rising to hills and mountains |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m |
Natural resources |
Definition tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 3,650 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 580 cu km (1999) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%) per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition flooding, landslides, forest fires |
Environment - current issues |
Definition air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands |
Geography - note |
Definition strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |