ABOUT MALAYSIA
Geography
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country which is located north of the Equator. It consists of 2 major regions: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. The states of Peninsular Malaysia are — Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca (Melaka), Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu and Federal Territories: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya. East Malaysia is formed by — Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan. Both regions are separated by the South China Sea.
The country covers approximately 330,803 square kilometers in both areas. Peninsular Malaysia has a land border with Thailand and Singapore. On the other side, East Malaysia has land bordered by Indonesia and Brunei.
History of Malaysia
Malaysia’s journey started in the 15th century through the Sultanate of Malacca. In 1511 the Portuguese conquered the Malacca. They ruled this region from 1511 to 1641 (about 130 years) before the Dutch took over.
In the 17th century, the Dutch took over the area from the Portuguese. They ruled this region (1641 to 1824) which was about 183 years.
In the 19th century, the British established their control over the Dutch people. And they (the British) ruled this region from 1824 to 1957 (about 133 years).
After the 2nd world War, on 31 August 1957, Malaysia achieved its independence from the rule of the British. Six years later, in 1963 Federation Malaysia was formed with the entry of Sabah, Sarwark, and Singapore.
On 9 August 1965, Singapore was separated from Malaysia and became an independent nation. Now Malaysia is an established country with 2 major regions: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.
Area And Population
The total area of Malaysia is approximately 330,803 square kilometers The country (127,724 square miles). It’s the 66th largest country in the world. And around 33 million people are living in Malaysia which is the 43 largest populated country in the world.
Climets of Malaysia
Malaysia is an amazing country because of its weather. The average temperature is 25.4°C over the year. This country has rainfall all year long.
Typically, Malaysia experiences 2 seasons. From April to September, it has a dry season. The average temperature ranges from 26°C to 30°C (79°F to 86°F) during this time.
From October to March, Malaysia has a monsoon season. The average temperature ranges is 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F) during the monsoon season, and during this period Malaysia has heavy rainfall.
Language And Culture
Malay is the official language of Malaysia. English is also widely used throughout the country. Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tamil are also popular in the Chinese and Indian communities.
The Malaysian people are very welcoming of multiculturalism. Around 69% of citizens are Malays and Orang Asli (indigenous peoples). Approximately 23% of Malaysians are Chinese, around 7% of citizens are Tamil, and around 1% of people are others.
As Malaysia is multicultural, it has many festivals throughout the year. Hari Raya (Aidilfitri) is one of the popular festivals in Malaysia. Some other popular festivals are Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas.
Malaysia is famous for its food. Nasi Lemak is the most popular and national dish of this country. Some other delicious foods like Char Kway Teow, Rendang, Satay, and Laksa are also very popular here.
Religion
The majority of Malaysians are Muslim, and Islam is the official religion. However, Malaysians are accepting and respectful of other religions. About 63.5% of the population practices Islam, while around 18.7% practice Buddhism, around 9.1% Christianity, and 6.1% Hinduism, with the rest following other faiths or no religion.