Malaysia Map | HD Political Map of Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia and has a constitutional monarchy with a system of federalism. It is multinational and multicultural with a strong political impact it. The majority of the people are Malays and there are Chinese, Indians, and indigenous people constituting a minority population.

History:

Malaysian history begins with the Malay kingdom which was influenced by Indian, Chinese, and Arabic civilizations. The region was colonized by the British Empire in the course of the first half of the 18th century including protectorates and settlements. This led to an increase in the demand for self-ruling especially after the second world War. The Peninsular Malaysia was incorporated into the Federation of Malaya in 1946 which was re-constituted into the Federation of Malaya in 1948.

The union of Malaya with the most northern part of Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore the Federation of Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963. However, Singapore was expelled from the federal union in August 1965 and became an independent nation.

Culture:

Malaysian culture is therefore a blend of many civilizations such as indigenous communities, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Persians, and the British. This multicultural component exists in the celebration of festivals, food, arts, and even practices in communities across the country.

Like any other Asian country, Malaysia too has its distinct type of food mixed with other foods like nasi lemak, satay, laksa, and many others. Nasi lemak is widely regarded as Malaysia’s national dish: rice piled and cooked in coconut milk which complements well with a sambal chili paste and small fish, crunchy and salty roasted peanuts, a soft-boiled egg, and fresh cucumber slices. Satay for instance is meats on barbecued skewers eaten with peanut sauce is also one of the string dishes that many people of Indonesia enjoy as well as tourists. Laksa is generally defined as a spicy noodle soup dish though the type of ingredients used and the method of spicing and preparation that is used varies with the particular region from which the dish originated.

The Malaysians know the role that festivities and celebrations play in society. As Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the fasting of Ramadan the holiday involved feasting, prayers, and reunion of families. Another important is the Chinese New Year which involves the showcasing of the lion dance and firecrackers and this involves the giving of ang bao which is a red wallet containing money. Deepavali is the festival of light among Hindus, which involves hanging colored clothes, lighting lamps, and giving out Indian-made sweetmeats. The harvest festival is called Gawai Dayak in Sarawak and Kaamatan in Sabah which is celebrated to give thanks for the yield from the rice fields where traditional music, dances, and other ceremonies are performed.

Culturally, Malaysia is also diverse as it reflects this through architectural designs of new facades. Typically the Malay wooden houses, called ‘rumah kampung’ are raised on stilts and usually have carved wooden ornaments on their exteriors. Chinese temples which include buildings with complex roofs and bright colors are built in many parts of China. Temples of India particularly those with towering gopurams (or gateway towers) and the sculptures add to the architectural profile of Malaysia. Irrespective of the colour and ethnicity, some of the modern buildings like the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur were built with British architectural impressions.

Language:

Malaysian Malay or Bahasa Melayu is the national language as well as the official language of Malaysia. It is a formal version of the Malay language, to be more precise. ”Bahasa Malaysia” was somewhat used previously under government language policy, today’s government language policy uses “Bahasa Melayu” as the official language while “Bahasa Malaysia” is still used. English continues to be used actively in the country and as mentioned earlier, the National Language Act of 1967 allows the use of English in official business to some extent.

Geography:

Malaysia shares borders with Indonesia and Brunei in the east and Thailand in the west. The country shares a maritime boundary with Philippines and Vietnam. Its land boundaries are primarily established by natural features such as the Perlis River, Golok River, and Pagalayan Canal, while some of its maritime boundaries are disputed. Malaysia is divided into two parts, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, separated by the South China Sea. Both regions have coastal plains that turn into hills and mountains.

Malaysia’s continental land has an area of Peninsula Malaysia which has highlands tracts and lowlands plains while east Malaysia on the island of Borneo contains steep and dense forested upland. It has a tropical climate characterized by high relative humidity, high temperatures, and annual rainfall experienced in all four seasons.

Several parks and reserves in Malaysia also demonstrate the country’s natural landscape. The Taman Negara, one of the oldest rainforests in the world is also a rich habitat of flora and faunal residents like tigers, elephants, and very colorful bird species. Kinabalu Mount, the tallest mountain in South East Asia draw people from all over the globe for mountain climbing and tour-tripping. Some of the most beautiful areas for snorkeling and diving consist of the Perhentian Islands and Sipadan Island with marvelous sandy beaches and coral reefs.

Economy:

In Malaysia, there is globalization whereby both the government and the private sectors are involved in the economy. It is one of the biggest producers of palm oil, rubber, and timber in the entire globe. It is also industrialized with manufactured products from electronics, automobiles, and machinery to others. These include chiefly in tourism as well as in the financial aspects that greatly contributed to the economic enrichment of the area.

While pursuing development and growth policies in the nation, the government has put in place some economic policies including the New Economic Policy (NEP) and Vision 2020 plan. They are for poverty reduction, upgrade of infrastructure, and promotion of policies on foreign investment. Malaysia will remain place strategically and the country’s infrastructure is well developed; it plays a significant role both in the global and ASEAN markets.

Government and Politics:

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy in which there is a systematic separation of powers system of government. The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong is the King – the constitutional monarch and the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The King is selected afresh from among the nine monarchs of the Malay states every five years. The federal government is divided into three branches: three branches which are the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The political organization is ultra-conservative and the most influential party is the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which formed the ruling coalition from the time of Malaysia’s independence. However, the last few years have been marked by increased dynamism from the side of the political systems, where the role of the opposition seems to grow. It has been trying to balance some of the problems facing the country including corruption in various facets of endeavor, apparent and persistent economic imbalance as well as ethnic discord.

Education:

Malaysia gives education a very high priority and in the current tertiary education, there is a focus on sciences and technological aspects. The education system is categorized into the basic, secondary, and tertiary levels. The literacy level is high since education at the primary level is free and is a legal requirement. The government has tried to introduce several reforms and steps to enhance the quality of education and accessibility to higher studies.

There are many universities and colleges in Malaysia which provide various courses. The country is also a favorable study-abroad country for international students since its tuition fees are relatively cheap, and they get quality education. The government has considered education transformation as a key area to improve teaching and learning, research and innovation as well as bringing the education system to a competitive edge.

Healthcare:

The Malaysian healthcare services delivery system is composed of both the private and the public domain. Network of government facilities refers to probable social health facilities located in government-owned hospitals and clinics, thus cheap to the community, yet private health institutions provide a wider array of health care services but at very high costs. In as much as health has over the recent past recorded a boost in the number of health facilities; this has led to a boost in life expectancy.

Public health deals with challenges for example communicable diseases, maternal & child health, and chronic diseases. In addition, action has been taken by the government to enhance the health insurance programs and availability of drugs. However, further questions are still present when it comes to equal access to healthcare provision for each citizen, especially in rural regions.

Transportation:

Malaysia has an efficient network of transport available with a blend of modern and traditional systems of transport. Kuala Lumpur and Penang two are big cities in Malaysia which has well facilities for public transportation such as bus, train, and light rail transit-LRT. The development of this country also has an expanding network of highways, expressways, and improved network between the regions. Road transport is improving, experienced several airline companies; both international and domestic flying terminals. Malaysia has developed quite several ports and waterways that enhance trade and transportation activities with big ports like Port Klang and Penang among others. Others include the use of bicycles, motorbikes, and other small endstopped vehicles which are widely used by the population, particularly in the rural areas.

FAQs

Q.1. What is the capital of Malaysia?

Ans. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia.

Q.2. What is the official language of Malaysia?

Ans. Malaysian Malay is the national and official language of Malaysia.

Q.3. How many people live in Malaysia?

Ans. Approximately 34 million individuals.

Q.4. What is Malaysia’s main religion?

Ans. The prevalent religion is Islam a total population of around 60 percent, followed by Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism.

Q.5. What is the well-known dish of Malaysia?

Ans. Nasi Lemak: rice in coconut milk and the green ‘pandan’ leaves garnished with fried anchovies, peanuts, and a hot sambal sauce.