World Country Guide

Area
329,847 sq km (127,355 sq miles).

Population
24,530,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
74.4 per sq km.

Capital
Kuala Lumpur. Population: 1,410,000, including suburbs (UN estimate 2002).

Geography
Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering on Thailand in the north, with Singapore and Indonesia to the south and The Philippines to the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650 to 950km (404 to 600 miles) across the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia is an area of forested mountain ranges running north–south, on either side of which are low-lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1900km (1200 miles). The west coast consists of mangrove swamps and mudflats which separate into bays and inlets. In the west, the plains have been cleared and cultivated, while the unsheltered east coast consists of tranquil beaches backed by dense jungle. Sarawak has alluvial and, in places, swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating the jungle-covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow coastal plain which gives way to mountains and jungle. Mount Kinabalu, at 4094m (13,432ft), is the highest peak in Malaysia. The major islands are Langkawi (a group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast; and Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast.

Government
Constitutional monarchy since 1963. Gained independence from the UK in 1957. Head of State: King Syed Sirrajuddin ibni al-Marhum Syed Putra Jamalullail since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since 2003.

Language
Bahasa Malaysia is the national and official language, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.

Religion
Muslim (53 per cent) and Buddhist (19 per cent) majorities. The remainder are Christian, Taoist, Confucianist, Hindu and animist.

Time
GMT + 8.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs and bayonet-type light fittings are generally used.

Communications

Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 60. Outgoing international code: 00. Public coin-operated phones can be found in many areas, such as supermarkets and post offices. Local calls cost 10 sen. Public cardphones can be found throughout the country. Cards can be purchased at airports, petrol stations and some shops for amounts ranging from RM3 to 50. There are currently two types – Kadfon and Unicard – and these can only be used in their appropriate phone booths.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover practically the whole country. Network operators include Celcom (website: www.celcom.com.my), DiGi (website: www.digi.com.my) and Maxis Mobile.

Fax
Centres for public use are located in the main post offices of all large towns. Most main hotels also have facilities.

Internet
ISPs include Jaring (website: www.jaring.net.my) and TMnet (website: www.tm.net.my). There are numerous Internet cafes. Hotels and hostels often have facilities.

Telegram
Telegrams can be sent from any telegraph office.

Post
There are post offices in the commercial centre of all towns, open Mon-Sat 0800-1700.

Press
The English-language dailies printed in Peninsular Malaysia are the Business Times, The Edge, Malay Mail, Malaysiakini, New Straits Times, The Star and The Sun. There are also several English-language Sunday newspapers and periodicals. English-language newspapers available in Sarawak include the Borneo Post and Sarawak Tribune. English-language dailies in Sabah include the Borneo Mail, Daily Express and Sabah Times.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.