Malaysia was formed in
1963 through a merging of the former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore , including the East Malaysian states of Sabah and
Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo. 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 in 1965.
The Malay peninsula
stretches from north to south for about 800 km and mountains form its
backbone and belly, with gentle valleys along its coastlines. The island of Borneo is of similar terrain. In
addition to the mountain ranges the Malay peninsula also has an abundance of
limestone outcrops, particularly in the areas of Kuala
Lumpur and in the KamparValley near Ipoh farther north.Cave ridden, these outcrops play host to
fauna and flora that generally, is different to that found in the nearby
lowlands.
The coastal areas of Malaysia
are popular destinations for most visitors to the country. Here the diving is
excellent and the offshore islands well worth visiting.
genericly the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia is not as spectacular
underwater as the east, but this is the more densely resort developed coast,
thus has more water related activities on offer.
Pulau Paya and the islands Kacha, Lembu and Segantan to the north of Penang and south of Langkawi are considered to have the
best coral reef in the country, lying just off their beaches. A marine park
has been established here and a floating observation platform off Pulau Paya
has been built with an underwater observation chamber for those not keen on
getting in the water.
A country, with many different cultures, religions and peoples, it is
rapidly developing into one of the more modern countries in the area. Good
roads and friendly people make travelling a pleasure and the accommodation is
generally of a high standard. All this adds up to a country well worth
visiting no matter how much time you have to spare.
Official
name:
Federation of Malaysia
Capital :
Kuala Lumpur
Administration:
13 states : Johor , Kedah , Kelantan, Melaka ,
Negri Sembilan, Pahang , Perak , Perlis , Pulau Pinang, Sabah , Sarawak ,
Selangor , Terengganu
2 federal territories : Labuan,
Wilayah Persekutan (with KL)
Location :
Southeastern Asia ,
peninsula and northern one-third of island
of Borneo (Indonesia) in The South
China sea. Sharing border-land with Thailand
to the North , with Singapore to the South.
Area :
329,750 sq km
Population
:
22,662,000
Climate :
Tropical ; annual southwest (April to October)
and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Ethnic
groups:
Malay and other indigenous 58% , Chinese 24% ,
Indian 8% , other 10%
Language
Bahasa Melayu (official) , English , Chinese ,
Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam
Religion
Muslim , Buddhist , Hindu
Local Time
GMT +8
Currency
Ringgit (MYR) , Coins include the 1 Ringgit, 5 Ringgit, 10 Ringgit, 20 Ringgit, 50
Ringgit pieces
Business Hours
Generally open from 10am to 3pm,
Mondays to Fridays and 11am to 4:30pm, Saturdays.In the states of Johor, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu
and Kelantan a traditional half-day holiday is observed on Thursday and
full-day holiday on Friday
Electricity supply
220-240 volts AC, 50
cycles
Public Holidays
Malaysia has so many cultures and religions that there are
an amazing number of occasions that are celebrated. Most have a fixed date
but many, especially the Hindu, Muslim and Chinese follow the lunar year,
so dates change each year. In addition to the national public holidays,
each state has its own holidays, often associated with the sultans birthday or a Muslim celebration. Hindu and
Chinese holidays may also vary from year to year but generally stay within
the same month. Due to the vast number of holidays and the fact that they
often change, we have listed only the most important ones in each area.
Malaysia celebrates 44 holidays a year, listed here are the
most important:
Chinese
New Year22nd - 23rd January
Eid Al-Adha1st February
Maal Hijrah22nd February
Labour Day1st May
Maulidur Rasul - (In Commemoration of the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad
S.A.W)2nd May
Wesak Day3rd May
Birthday Celebration of SPB Yang di Pertuan Agong5th June
National Day31st August
Deepavali11th November
Eid Al-Fitr14th - 15th November
Christmas25th December
Festivals & Events
Chinese
New Year (January/ February)
This is a joyous time when
friends and relatives give each other "angpows" - red packets with
a gift of cash as a token of prosperity and celebrate with feasts and lion
dances to ward off evil spirits and usher in the lunar new year. Family
reunion dinners are a must among Chinese on the eve of the new year.
Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (March, August and December)
Three wonderful
opportunities to satisfy your every indulgence in Malaysia's month-long
shopping carnivals in Kuala Lumpur and other urban centres in the country.
There's no better time to pick up that lovely gold bracelet, exquisite
designer dress or state-of-the-art camera; fantastic discounts and
unbelievable bargains are on offer at shopping centres, emporiums, retail
outlets as well as exclusive boutiques. This is also the time when the
various Malaysian States showcase their traditional arts and culture.
Food
& Fruit Fiesta(July)
Malaysia's favourite pastime has become a shared event
nationwide. The seemingly endless variety and abundance of cuisine
available in Malaysia,
from exotic eastern feasts to elegant western dishes will simply amaze
visitors. And the absolutely succulent range of fruits will dazzle and
delight newcomers to the world of tropical fruits.
National
Day(31 August)
The country celebrates
it's independence on 31 August with parades and shows. Towns and cities
throughout Malaysia
will be gaily decorated and adorned with lights for the grand occasion.
Malaysia Fest(September)
For two weeks, all the
major hotels and shopping complexes join forces to feature the culture,
cuisine and handicrafts of the various states in Malaysia.
Deepavali(October/ November)
The "Festival of
Lights" is a celebration which marks the triumph of good over evil.
During this festival, Hindu homes are emblazoned with lights to symbolize
this triumph.
Hari Raya
Eid al-Fitri(November)
is celebrated by Muslims after the month-long fasting
of Ramadan. Muslims usher in the new year with prayers in the mosques
followed by receiving well-wishers in their homes.
Christmas
(25 December)
Celebrated by Christians similar to any other
part of the world. Midnight services are held at churches on Christmas eve.
Shopping centres, hotels, old folks homes and children's homes echo with
beautiful carols. The revelry and yuletide spirit of Christmas is enjoyed
by Christians and non-Christians alike.
