Malaysia

§1. Malaysia Introduction

Background:
  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 Indonesian efforts to control
  Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the
  Federation in 1965.

§2. Malaysia Geography

Location:
  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:
  2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references:
  Southeast_Asia

Area:
  total: 329,750 km²
  land: 328,550 km²
  water: 1,200 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,669 km
  border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline:
  4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims:
  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:
  tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to
  February) monsoons

Terrain:
  coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources:
  tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use:
  arable land: 5.46%
  permanent crops: 17.54%
  other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  3,650 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  flooding, landslides, forest fires

Environment - current issues:
  air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from
  raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment - international agreements:
  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:
  strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

§3. Malaysia People

Population:
  24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)
  15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)
  65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 24.1 years
  male: 23.6 years
  female: 24.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
  note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants
    from other countries in the region (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 72.5 years
  male: 69.8 years
  female: 75.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  52,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  2,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
    fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some
    locations (2005)

Nationality:
  noun: Malaysian(s)
  adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups:
  Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004
  est.)

Religions:
  Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in addition,
  Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages:
  Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien,
  Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
  note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely
    spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 88.7%
  male: 92%
  female: 85.4% (2002)

§4. Malaysia Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Malaysia
  former: Federation of Malaysia

Government type:
  constitutional monarchy
  note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
    consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all
    Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and
    Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in
    East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state
    governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of
    federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives
    (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25
    seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of
    Representatives

Capital:
  Kuala Lumpur
  note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
    Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions:
  13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan,
  Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah,
  Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah
  persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and
  Putrajaya

Independence:
  31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:
  Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution:
  31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963

Legal system:
  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the
  Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in
  matters of family law

Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku
    Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12 December 2001)
  head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31
    October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since
    7 January 2004)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of
    Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
  elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of
    nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12 December
    2001 (next to be held in 2006); prime minister designated from among the
    members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections,
    the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of
    Representatives becomes prime minister
  election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra
    Jamalullail elected paramount ruler

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70
  seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state
  legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (219 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next must be
    held by 2009)
  election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - BN
    91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199, DAP 12, PAS 6,
    PKR 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:
  Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the
  prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:
  ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN, consisting of the
    following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik];
    Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [CHONG
    Kah Kiat]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or
    MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or
    MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP];
    Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
    Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat
    Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif
    Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti
    Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays
    National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United
    Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun
    Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive
    Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP
  [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWANI];
    opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik)
    or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se
    Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti
    Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party
    or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]; opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan
    Alternatif) or BA - consists of PAS and PKR

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

International organization participation:
  APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC,
  ONUB, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,
  UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid
  chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
  FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
  embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
  mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50400 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy
    Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
  telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
  FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description:
  14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom);
  there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow
  crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are
  traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

§5. Malaysia Economy

Economy - overview:
  Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the
  late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector
  economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of
  electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic
  downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001
  and 2002. GDP in 2001 grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11%
  contraction in exports, but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to
  US $1.9 billion mitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy
  rebounded in 2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003,
  notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from Severe
  Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to caution in the
  business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5% in 2005. As an oil and
  gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices,
  although the cost of government subsidies for domestic gasoline and diesel
  fuel has risen and offset some of the benefit. Malaysia "unpegged" the
  ringgit from the US dollar in 2005, but so far there has been little
  movement in the exchange rate. Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low
  inflation, and a small external debt are all strengths that make it
  unlikely that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near
  term similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on continued
  growth in the US, China, and Japan - top export destinations and key
  sources of foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $248.7 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $121.2 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  5.2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $10,400 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 7.2%
  industry: 33.3%
  services: 59.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  10.67 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 14.5%, industry 36%, services 49.5% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  3.6% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.4%
  highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  49.2 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.9% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $30.57 billion
  expenditures: $34.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4
    billion (2005 est.)

Public debt:
  48.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence
  crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber

Industries:
  Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing,
  light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting,
  logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak
  - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate:
  4.8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  79.28 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  73.63 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  100 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  510,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  230,200 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
  3.1 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:
  53.5 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  28.53 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  22.41 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  2.124 trillion m³ (2005)

Current account balance:
  $15.35 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $147.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood
  products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:
  US 18.8%, Singapore 15%, Japan 10.1%, China 6.7%, Hong Kong 6%, Thailand
  4.8% (2004)

Imports:
  $118.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and
  steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:
  Japan 16.1%, US 14.6%, Singapore 11.2%, China 9.9%, Thailand 5.5%, Taiwan
  5.5%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5%, Indonesia 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $78.9 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $56.72 billion (30 June 2005 est.)

Currency (code):
  ringgit (MYR)

Exchange rates:
  ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003), 3.8 (2002),
  3.8 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Malaysia Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  4,446,300 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  14,611,900 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
  domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by
    microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network
    between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2
    earth stations
  international: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and
    Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1
    Pacific Ocean) (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:
  1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)

Internet country code:
  .my

Internet hosts:
  151,239 (2005)

Internet users:
  10.04 million (2005)

§7. Malaysia Transportation

Airports:
  117 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 37
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
  914 to 1,523 m: 8
  under 914 m: 7 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 80
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 72 (2005)

Heliports:
  1 (2005)

Pipelines:
  condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined products 114 km
  (2004)

Railways:
  total: 1,890 km (207 km electrified)
  standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 71,814 km
  paved: 55,943 km
  unpaved: 15,871 km (2001)

Waterways:
  7,200 km
  note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
  total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,360,403 GRT/7,353,105 DWT
  by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 105, chemical tanker 38, container 45,
    liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6,
    petroleum tanker 62, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 5
  foreign-owned: 74 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 1, Singapore 56)
  registered in other countries: 66 (The Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman Islands
    1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 3) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town (Penang), Port
  Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

§8. Malaysia Military

Military branches:
  Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army
    (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja
    Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja
    Malaysia, TUDM) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 5,584,231 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 4,574,854 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 244,418 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $1.69 billion (FY00 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  2.03% (FY00)

§9. Malaysia Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with
  China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002
  "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased
  tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of
  conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005
  joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
  and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands;
  disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's
  land reclamation, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and Pedra
  Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih - but parties agree to ICJ arbitration on
  island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands,
  also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime
  boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in
  hostile confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil
  block; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern
  provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to
  stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a now dormant claim to
  Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; in 2003, Brunei and Malaysia
  ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater
  seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of
  international adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around
  Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 15,181 (Indonesia) 9,601 (Burma) (2005)

Illicit drugs:
  regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted
  vigorously and carries severe penalties


<Factbook 2006>
