Parliament of Malaysia Parlimen Malaysia 马来西亚国会 மலேசிய நாடாளுமன்றம்
12th Parliament
Type
Type	Bicameral
Leadership
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat	Pandikar Amin Mulia, Barisan Nasional - UMNO since 28 April 2008
President of the Dewan Negara	Abu Zahar Ujang, Barisan Nasional - UMNO since 26 April 2010
Structure
Members	286/292 222/222 Members of Parliaments 64/70 Senators
Dewan Rakyat Political groups	(As of 29 January 2011)   BN (137)   PR (75)   SAPP (2)   PSM (1)   Independents (7)
Dewan Negara Political groups	(As of 21 April 2011)   BN (56)   PR (8)   Vacant (6)
Elections
Dewan Rakyat Last election	March 8, 2008
Meeting place
Malaysian Houses of Parliament, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website
www.parlimen.gov.my

Malaysia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Malaysia

Constitution Social contract Monarchy Abdul Halim Conference of Rulers Government Prime Minister Najib Razak List of members Civil Service Parliament Dewan Negara President Dewan Rakyat Speaker Opposition Judiciary Federal Court Court of Appeal High Courts Elections Election Commission Political parties 2008 election Foreign Relations Diplomatic missions in Malaysia Diplomatic missions of Malaysia North Borneo dispute Spratly Islands dispute Subdivisions State legislatures Federal Territories

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The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament.

The Parliament assembles in the Malaysian Houses of Parliament, located in the national capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The current meeting of Parliament, the 12th, first convened in the Houses of Parliament on April 28, 2008.

History[link]

Historically, none of the states forming the Federation of Malaysia had parliaments before independence. Although the British colonial government had permitted the forming of legislative councils for Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak, these were not the supreme makers of law, and remained subordinate to the British High Commissioner. The Reid Commission, which drafted the Constitution of Malaya — Malaya gained independence in 1957, ahead of the other states that would later form Malaysia — modelled the Malayan system of government after that of Britain's, with a bicameral parliament, one house being directly elected, and the other being appointed by the King — just like the British House of Commons and House of Lords. Originally Parliament met at the former headquarters building of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force on a hill near Jalan Tun Ismail (Maxwell Road). The Senate of Dewan Negara met in a hall on the ground floor and the Dewan rakyat met in the hall on the first floor^[1] With the completion of Parliament House in 1962, comprising a three-storey main building for the two houses of Parliament to meet, and an 18-storey tower for the offices of Ministers and members of Parliament, both houses moved there.

In 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore merged to form Malaysia, the Malayan Parliament was adopted for use as the Parliament of Malaysia. Under the 1957 Constitution of Malaya, most Senators were elected by the state assemblies in order to provide representation of state interests; the 1963 Constitution of Malaysia saw each state receiving two members, with the rest (including members for federal territories) being appointed by the King on the advice of the Cabinet.^[2] When Singapore seceded from Malaysia in 1965, its Legislative Assembly became Parliament, and it ceased to be represented in the Parliament of Malaysia.

Parliament has been suspended only once in the history of Malaysia, in the aftermath of the May 13 racial riots in 1969. From 1969 to 1971 — when Parliament reconvened — the nation was run by the National Operations Council (NOC).

Debates in Parliament are broadcast on radio and television occasionally, such as during the tabling of a budget. Proposals from the opposition to broadcast all debates live have been repeatedly rejected by the government; in one instance, a Minister said that the government was concerned over the poor conduct of the opposition as being inappropriate for broadcasting. The prohibitive cost (RM100,000 per sitting) was also cited as a reason.^[3] In 2006, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin cited the controversy over speeches made at the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) — the leading party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition — annual general assembly as a reason to avoid telecasting Parliamentary debates. Zainuddin said that "our society has not attained a mental maturity where it is insensitive to racial issues", citing the controversy over a delegate who said Malays would fight "to the last drop of blood" to defend the special provisions granted to them as bumiputra under the Constitution.^[4]

Composition and powers[link]

Breakdown of the Malaysian Parliament.

As the ultimate legislative body in Malaysia, the Parliament is responsible for passing, amending and repealing acts of law. It is subordinate to the Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, under Article 39 of the Constitution.^[5]

The Dewan Rakyat consists of 222 members of Parliament (MPs) elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on population in a general election using the first-past-the-post system. A general election is held every five years or when Parliament is dissolved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. Suffrage is given to registered voters 21 years and above, however voting is not compulsory. The age requirement to stand for election is 21 years and above. When a member of Parliament dies, resigns or become disqualified to hold a seat, a by-election is held in his constituency unless the tenure for the current Parliament is less than two years, where the seat is simply left vacant until the next general election.

The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members (Senators); 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies (2 senators per state), 4 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to represent the 3 federal territories (2 for Kuala Lumpur, 1 each for Putrajaya and Labuan). The rest 40 members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators must be 30 years or above, and are appointed to a three-year term for a maximum of two terms. The dissolution of the Parliament does not affect the Dewan Negara.

Members of Parliament are permitted to speak on any subject without fear of censure outside Parliament; the only body that can censure an MP is the House Committee of Privileges. Parliamentary immunity takes effect from the moment a member of Parliament is sworn in, and only applies when that member has the floor; it does not apply to statements made outside the House. An exception to this rule are portions of the constitution related to the social contract, such as the Articles governing citizenship, Bumiputra (Malays and indigenous people) priorities, the Malay language, etc. — all public questioning of these provisions is illegal under the 1971 amendments to the Sedition Act, which Parliament passed in the wake of the 1969 May 13 racial riots.^[6] Members of Parliament are also forbidden from criticising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and judges.^[7] Parliamentary immunity and other such privileges are set out by Article 63 of the Constitution; as such, the specific exceptions to such immunity had to be included in the Constitution by amendment after the May 13 incident.

The executive government, comprising the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, is drawn from the members of Parliament and is responsible to the Parliament. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government but constitutionally subordinant to His Royal Highness, from the Dewan Rakyat. In practice, the Prime Minister shall be the one who commands the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat. The Prime Minister then submits a list containing the names of members of his Cabinet, who will then be appointed as Ministers by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Members of the Cabinet must also be members of Parliament, usually from the Dewan Rakyat. The Cabinet formulates government policy and drafts bills, meeting in private. The members must accept "collective responsibility" for the decisions the Cabinet makes, even if some members disagree with it; if they do not wish to be held responsible for Cabinet decisions, they must resign. Although the Constitution makes no provision for it, there is also a Deputy Prime Minister, who is the de facto successor of the Prime Minister should he dies, resigns or be otherwise incapacitated.^[5] If the Prime Minister loses the confidence of the Dewan Rakyat, whether by losing a no-confidence vote or by failing to pass a budget, he must either submit his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or ask the His Royal Highness to dissolve the Parliament. If His Royal Highness refuses to dissolve the Parliament (one of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong discretionary powers), the Cabinet must resign and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint a new Prime Minister.

Although the judiciary is constitutionally an independent branch of the government, after the 1988 constitutional crisis, the judiciary was made subject to Parliament; judicial powers are held by Parliament, and vested by it in the courts, instead of being directly held by the judiciary as before. The Attorney-General was also conferred the power to instruct the courts on what cases to hear, where they would be heard, and whether to discontinue a particular case.^[8]

After the general elections in 2008, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, leader of the People's Justice Party and wife of former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim became the leader of the opposition. She is the first female in Malaysian history to have held this position.^[9] Wan Azizah is described as the "brains" behind coalition of her own party, the leftist Democratic Action Party and the religion based Pan Malaysian Islamic Party.^[10]

Procedure[link]

Parliament meets from Monday to Thursday when it is in session, as Friday is part of the weekend in the states of Kelantan, Kedah, and Perlis.^[11]

A proposed act of law begins its life when a particular government minister or ministry prepares a first draft with the assistance of the Attorney-General's Department. The draft, known as a bill, is then discussed by the Cabinet. If it is agreed to be submitted to Parliament, the bill is distributed to all MPs. It then goes through three readings before the Dewan Rakyat. The first reading is where the minister or his deputy submits it to Parliament. At the second reading, the bill is discussed and debated by MPs. Until the mid-1970s, both English and Malay (the national language) were used for debates, but henceforth, only Malay was permitted, unless permission was obtained from the Speaker of the House. At the third reading, the minister or his deputy formally submit it to a vote for approval. A 2/3 majority is usually required to pass the bill, but in certain cases, a simple majority suffices. Should the bill pass, it is sent to the Dewan Negara, where the three readings are carried out again. The Dewan Negara may choose not to pass the bill, but this only delays its passage by a month, or in some cases, a year; once this period expires, the bill is considered to have been passed by the house.^[11][12]

If the bill passes, it is presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who has 30 days to consider the bill. Should he disagree with it, he returns it to Parliament with a list of suggested amendments. Parliament must then reconsider the bill and its proposed amendments and return it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong within 30 days if they pass it again. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong then has another 30 days to give the royal assent; otherwise, it passes into law. The law does not take effect until it is published in the Government Gazette.^[13]

The government attempts to maintain top secrecy regarding bills debated; MPs generally receive copies of bills only a few days before they are debated, and newspapers are rarely provided with copies of the bills before they are debated. In some cases, such as a 1968 amendment to the Constitution, an MP may be presented with a bill to be debated on the same day it is tabled, and all three readings may be carried out that day itself.^[14] In rare circumstances, the government may release a White paper containing particular proposals that will eventually be incorporated into a bill; this has been done for legislation such as the Universities and University Colleges Act.^[15]

Although the process above assumes only the government can propose bills, there also exists a process for Private Member's Bills. However, as in most other legislatures following the Westminster System, few members of Parliament actually introduce bills.^[16] To present a Private Member's Bill, the member in question must seek the leave of the House in question to debate the bill before it is moved. Originally, it was allowed to debate the bill in the process of seeking leave, but this process was discontinued by an amendment to the Standing Orders of Parliament.^[17] It is also possible for members of the Dewan Negara (Senate) to initiate bills; however, only cabinet ministers are permitted to move finance-related bills, which must be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.^[18]

It is often alleged that legislation proposed by the opposition parties, which must naturally be in the form of a Private Member's Bill, is not seriously considered by Parliament. Some have gone as far as to claim that the rights of members of Parliament to debate proposed bills have been severely curtailed by incidents such as an amendment of the Standing Orders that permitted the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to amend written copies of MPs' speeches before they were made. Nevertheless, some of these critics also suggest that "Government officials often face sharp questioning in Parliament, although this is not always reported in detail in the press."^[8]

Most motions are typically approved or rejected by a voice vote; divisions are generally rare. In 2008, the 12th Parliament saw the first division on the question of a supply bill.^[19]

In June 2008, two MPs announced they would be supporting a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister, another first in the history of Parliament. The procedure surrounding a vote of no confidence is not entirely clear; as of June 18, 2008 it appeared there was no provision in the Standing Orders for whether a simple majority or a 2/3 supermajority would be necessary to pass a vote of no confidence^[20]

Relationship with the government[link]

In theory, based on the Constitution of Malaysia, the government is accountable to Parliament. However, there has been substantial controversy over the independence of the Malaysian Parliament, with many viewing it simply as a rubber stamp, approving the executive branch's decisions. Constitutional scholar Shad Saleem Faruqi has calculated that 80% of all bills the government introduced from 1991 to 1995 were passed without a single amendment. According to him, another 15% were withdrawn due to pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other countries, while only 5% were amended or otherwise altered by Parliament. Shad concludes that "the legislative process is basically an executive process, not a parliamentary process."^[21]

Checks and balances[link]

Theoretically, the executive branch of the government is held in check by the legislative and judiciary branches. Parliament largely exerts control on the government through question time, where MPs question members of the cabinet on government policy, and through Select Committees that are formed to look into a particular issue.

Formally, Parliament exercises control over legislation and financial affairs. However, the legislature has been condemned as having a "tendency to confer wide powers on ministers to enact delegated legislation", and a substantial portion of the government's revenue is not under Parliament's purview; government-linked companies, such as Petronas, are generally not accountable to Parliament.^[22] In his 1970 book The Malay Dilemma, future Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad stated: "In the main, Parliamentary sittings were regarded as a pleasant formality which afforded members opportunities to be heard and quoted, but which would have absolutely no effect on the course of the Government. ... The sittings were a concession to a superfluous democratic practice. Its main value lay in the opportunity to flaunt Government strength."^[23] Critics have regarded Parliament as a "safe outlet for the grievances of backbenchers or opposition members," and meant largely to "endorse government or ruling party proposals" rather than act as a check on them.^[24]

Party loyalty is strictly enforced by the Barisan Nasional coalition government, which has controlled Parliament since independence. Those who have voted against the frontbench position, such as Shahrir Abdul Samad, have generally been severely reprimanded. Although there is no precedent of an MP being removed from the house for crossing the floor, two Penang State Legislative Assemblymen who abstained from voting on an opposition-tabled motion in the State Legislative Assembly were suspended, and a stern warning was issued by then-Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad stating that representatives from BN would likely be dismissed if they crossed the floor.^[25] This was later affirmed by Mahathir's successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who issued an official directive prohibiting BN MPs from voting for opposition-tabled motions in Parliament.^[26]

At one time, there was an attempt led by government backbenchers to gain Abdullah's support for a policy change which would permit some discretion in voting, but Abdullah insisted that MPs have "no leeway or freedom to do as they like". A similar policy is in place in the non-partisan Dewan Negara — when in 2005, several Senators refused to support the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2005, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz said that although the government would take note of the complaints, "the cabinet did not allow senators to exercise conscience voting on this issue".^[27]

There have been only six Select Committees formed since 1970, when Parliament reconvened after the May 13 Incident. Of these, three were formed between 2002 and 2005. Although question time exists for Parliament to check the power of the executive, it has been argued that the question time allotted for MPs to question the government on its policies is insufficient or ineffective. Shad has calculated that as each question time session lasts only an hour, at the most, twelve questions can be asked. Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) calculated that over the space of three days (from October 10 to October 13, 2005), only 32 questions were answered orally. Of these 32 questions, only nine or 28% percent were answered by the Ministers concerned. The rest were answered either by Deputy Ministers (41%) or Parliamentary Secretaries (31%).^[21][28] After the 2008 general election, Abdullah reshuffled his Cabinet, eliminating Parliamentary Secretaries, which The Sun greeted as a move "forcing ministers and deputy ministers to answer questions in Parliament".^[29]

Time is allocated for discussion of the annual budget after it is tabled by the government's representative (usually the Prime Minister); however, most MPs spend much of the time questioning the government on other issues. Shad contends that although about 20 days are given for discussion of the budget, "the budget debate is used to hit the government on the head about everything else other than the budget. From potholes to education policy to illegal immigrants."^[21] If Parliament votes to reject the budget, it is taken as a vote of no-confidence, forcing the government out of office. The government will then either have to reform itself with a new cabinet and possibly new Prime Minister, or call for a general election. As a result, Shad states that "MPs may criticise, they may have their say but the government will have its way" when it comes to the budget.^[21]

With the judiciary, it is possible for the courts to declare a particular act of Parliament unconstitutional. However, this has never occurred. Parliament is not involved in the process of judicial appointments.^[30]

Department of Parliament controversy[link]

In early October 2005, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of parliamentary affairs, Nazri Aziz, announced the formation of a Department of Parliament to oversee its day-to-day running. The leader of the Opposition, Lim Kit Siang, immediately announced a "Save Parliament" campaign to "ensure that Parliament does not become a victim in the second most serious assault on the doctrine of separation of powers in the 48-year history of the nation".^[31]

Nazri soon backed down, saying he had meant an office (although he stated jabatan, which means department; pejabat is the Malay word for office) and not Department (Jabatan) of Parliament. The New Straits Times, a newspaper owned by the United Malays National Organisation (a key member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition) wrote in an editorial that "ministerial authority was established over Parliament the building" and not Parliament the institution and that "[i]f the new 'department' and its management and staff do their jobs well, the rakyat (people) would have even more of a right to expect their MPs to do theirs by turning up for Dewan sessions, preserving that quaint tradition of the quorum, on behalf of their constituencies."^[32]

Lim was dissatisfied with such a response and went ahead with a "Save Parliament" roundtable attended by several MPs (including Nazri) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Although Lim thanked Nazri (the only Barisan Nasional MP in attendance), he stated that the proposed department remained a threat to Parliament's independence, and had to be "seen in the context of the relentless erosion and diminution of parliamentary powers and functions by the Executive". In a statement, the roundtable found that "Nazri’s explanations were not convincing" and urged "Nazri to halt all implementation of the Cabinet decision to establish a Department or Office of Parliament until MPs and the civil society could approve and support the proposal".^[33]

On October 13 in the Dewan Rakyat, Ahmad Shabery Cheek (BN MP for Kemaman) tabled a motion to reinstate the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 (which would provide for a parliamentary service independent of the Public Service Department currently handling parliamentary affairs) that had been repealed (upon the unilateral suggestion of then Speaker of the House, Zahir Ismail) in 1992. Ahmad Shabery demanded to know if the government would make the status of parliament as an independent institution clear, and stated that "Aside from nice flooring, chairs and walls, we don’t even have a library that can make us proud, no in-house outlet selling copies of different Acts that are passed in Parliament itself and no proper information centre."^[34]

Nazri responded that the motion would have to be referred to the House Committee for review. Shahrir Abdul Samad, chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club, then insisted that the Act be immediately restored without being referred to the Committee, and called on all MPs who supported the motion to stand. Several immediately stood, with some Opposition MPs shouting "bangun, bangun" (stand up, stand up). Following Shahrir's lead, a majority of the BN MPs also stood, including some frontbenchers. However, several ministers, including Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar (who had supported repealing the Act in 1992) remained seated. Nazri then stated that the matter would remain with the Committee, as he did not want it dealt with in a slipshod manner.^[34]

The following day, Lim called on Kamaruddin Mohd Baria, who would have taken the post of Parliament Head of Administration, not to report for duty in his new post. Meanwhile, the Dewan Negara House Committee held a specially-convened meeting, which called on the government to revive the Act and to call off all moves to change the administrative structure of Parliament. The President of the Dewan Negara, Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, also stated that he had not been informed "at all" by the government regarding the new department or office of Parliament. Later the same day, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad stated that the government had agreed to revive the Act.^[35]

However, on October 17, Nazri refused to budge on the issue of the new post of "Parliament Head of Administration" (which would make the current Parliamentary Secretary, who is accountable to Parliament and not the executive, redundant). He also stated that the Parliamentary Service Act would have to go through the Dewan Rakyat House Committee and endorsed by the Dewan Rakyat before being sent to the cabinet for approval. In his blog, Lim slammed Nazri for overlooking "the fact that when the Parliamentary Privilege Act was repealed in 1992, it was not at the recommendation of the Dewan Rakyat House Committee but merely at the unilateral request of the Speaker."^[36]

Current composition[link]

e • d Summary of the 8 March 2008 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results

	Votes	% of vote	Seats	% of seats	+/–
National Front (Barisan Nasional):	4,082,411	50.27	140	63.1	58
United Malays National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu, UMNO)	2,381,725	29.33	79	35.6	30
Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan Cina Malaysia, MCA)	840,489	10.35	15	6.8	16
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Se-Malaysia, MIC)	179,422	2.21	3	1.4	6
Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, Gerakan)	184,548	2.27	2	0.9	8
United Traditional Bumiputera Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, PBB)	131,243	1.62	14	6.3	3
Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak, SUPP)	119,264	1.47	6	2.7
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak, SPDP)	52,645	0.65	4	1.8
Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak, PRS)	33,410	0.41	6	2.7	6
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Bersatu, UPKO)	58,856	0.72	4	1.8
United Sabah Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah, PBS)	44,885	0.55	3	1.4	1
Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Maju Sabah, SAPP)	30,827	0.38	2	1.4	2
United Sabah People's Party* (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, PBRS)			1	0.5
Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik, LDP)	8,297	0.10	1	0.5	1
People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia, PPP)	16,800	0.21	0	0	1
People's Front (Now known as Pakatan Rakyat (or People's Pact)):	3,796,464	46.75	82	36.9	62
People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR)	1,509,080	18.58	31	14.0	30
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam SeMalaysia, PAS)	1,140,676	14.05	23	10.4	16
Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik, DAP)	1,118,025	13.77	28	12.6	16
Non-partisans (and others)	65,399	0.81	0	0	1
Overall total	7,944,274	100	222	100	3
*PBRS won its only seat uncontested on nomination day Source: Sin Chew Jit Poh[37], Malaysia

Current seat holding in Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat as of 29 January 2011

See also[link]

• Politics of Malaysia
• Breakdown of Members of Parliament elected 2008

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

• Official Parliament website (Malay) (link is broken)

Malaysia
Coat of arms of Malaysia Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu" "Unity Is Strength"[1]
Anthem:  Negaraku "My Country"
Capital (and largest city)		Kuala Lumpur[a] Putrajaya (administrative centre) 3°08′N 101°42′E / 3.133°N 101.7°E / 3.133; 101.7
Official language(s)		Malaysian[b]
Official script		Latin alphabet[c]
Used for some purposes		English[d]
Ethnic groups		50.4% Malay 23.7% Chinese 11.0% Indigenous  7.1% Indian  7.8% Other[2]
Demonym		Malaysian[3]
Government		Federal constitutional elective monarchy and Federal parliamentary democracy
-	King	Abdul Halim
-	Prime Minister	Najib Tun Razak (BN)
-	Deputy Prime Minister	Muhyiddin Yassin (BN)
Legislature		Parliament
-	Upper house	Dewan Negara
-	Lower house	Dewan Rakyat
Independence		From the United Kingdom
-	Malaya	31 August 1957[4]
-	Sarawak	22 July 1963[5]
-	North Borneo[e]	31 August 1963[6]
-	Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore[f]	16 September 1963
Area
-	Total	329,847 km2 (67th) 127,355 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0.3
Population
-	2010 census	28,334,135[7] (42th)
-	Density	86/km2 (114th) 216.45/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$447.279 billion[8]
-	Per capita	$15,568[8]
GDP (nominal)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$278.680 billion[8]
-	Per capita	$9,699[8]
Gini (2002)		46.1[2] (36th)
HDI (2011)		0.761[9] (high) (61st)
Currency		Ringgit (RM) (MYR)
Time zone		MST (UTC+8)
-	Summer (DST)	Not observed (UTC+8)
Date formats		dd-mm-yyyy
Drives on the		Left
ISO 3166 code		MY
Internet TLD		.my
Calling code		+60
^ a. Kuala Lumpur is the capital city and is home to the legislative branch of the Federal government. Putrajaya is the primary seat of the federal government where the executive and judicial branches are located. ^ b. The terminology as per government policy is Bahasa Malaysia (literally Malaysian language)[10] but legislation continues to refer to the official language as Bahasa Melayu (literally Malay language).[11] ^ c. Under the National Language Act 1967: "The script of the national language shall be the Rumi [Latin] script: provided that this shall not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi script, of the national language."[12] ^ d. English may be used for some purposes under the National Language Act 1967. ^ e. Before the accession, Sabah was referred to as North Borneo. ^ f. Singapore became an independent country on 9 August 1965.[13]

Malaysia (ⁱ/məˈleɪʒə/ mə-LAY-zhə or ⁱ/məˈleɪsiə/ mə-LAY-see-ə) is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. In 2010 the population exceeded 27.5 million, with over 20 million living on the Peninsula.

Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with si being added to give the new country the name Malaysia. However, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in politics. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedom of religion. The head of state is the King, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

Malaysia contains the southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai. Located in the tropics, it is a megadiverse country, with large numbers of endemic flora and fauna. It is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Etymology[link]

"Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas

The word Melayu is thought to derive from the Sanskrit term Malaiur or Malayadvipa, which can be translated as "land of mountains", the word used by ancient Indian traders when referring to the Malay Peninsula.^{[14][15][16][17][18]} Other theories propose it originates from the Tamil word Malai, meaning "mountain".^[19] The term was later used as the name of the Melayu Kingdom, which existed between the 7th and 13th centuries on Sumatra.^[20]

Following his 1826 expedition in Oceania, French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urville invented the terms Malaysia, Micronesia and Melanesia, distinguishing these Pacific cultures and island groups from the existing term Polynesia. In 1831, he proposed these terms to the Société de Géographie. Dumont d'Urville described Malaysia as "an area commonly known as the East Indies".^[21] In 1850, the English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor Earl, writing in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, proposed naming the islands of Southeast Asia as Melayunesia or Indunesia, favouring the former.^[22]

In 1957, the Federation of Malaya was declared as an independent federation of the Malay states on the Malay Peninsula.^[23] The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new federation, with "si" being added to Malaya in honour of the three joining states.^[24] Prior to that, the name itself had been used to refer to the whole Malay Archipelago.^[25] Politicians in the Philippines contemplated renaming their state "Malaysia" before the modern country took the name.^[26] At the time of federation, other names were considered: among them was Langkasuka, after the historic kingdom located at the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the 1st millennium CE.^[27]

History[link]

Evidence of modern human habitation in Malaysia dates back 40,000 years.^[28] The first inhabitants are thought to be Negritos.^[29] Traders and settlers from India and China arrived as early as the 1st century AD, establishing trading ports and coastal towns in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Their presence resulted in strong Indian and Chinese influence on the local cultures, and the people of the Malay Peninsula adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Sanskrit inscriptions appear as early as the 4th or 5th century.^[30] The Kingdom of Langkasuka arose around the 2nd century in the northern area of the Malay Peninsula, lasting until about the 15th century.^[27] Between the 7th and 13th centuries, much of the southern Malay Peninsula was part of the maritime Srivijaya empire. After the fall of Srivijaya, the Majapahit empire had influence over most of Peninsular Malaysia and the Malay Archipelago.^[31] Islam began to spread among Malays in the 14th century.^[3] In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a prince of the former Srivijayan empire, founded the Malacca Sultanate, commonly considered the first independent state in the peninsula.^[32] Malacca was an important commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region. Parameswara became a Muslim, accelerating the spread of Islam.^[3]

A Famosa fortress in Malacca was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

In 1511 Malacca was conquered by Portugal,^[3] after which it was taken by the Dutch in 1641. In 1786 the British Empire established a presence in Malaya, when the Sultan of Kedah leased Penang to the British East India Company. The British obtained the town of Singapore in 1819,^[33] and in 1824 took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty. By 1826 the British directly controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements. By the 20th century, the states of Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay States, had British Residents appointed to advise the Malay rulers, to whom the rulers were bound to defer by treaty.^[34] The remaining five states in the peninsula, known as the Unfederated Malay States, while not directly under British rule, also accepted British advisers around the turn of the 20th century. Development on the Peninsula and Borneo were generally separate until the 19th century. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged.^[35] Sabah was governed as the crown colony of British North Borneo after it was leased from the Sultanate of Sulu in 1878.^[36] In 1842, Sarawak was ceded by the Sultan of Brunei to James Brooke, whose successors ruled as the White Rajahs over an independent kingdom until 1946, when it became a British colony.^[37]

In the Second World War the Japanese army invaded and subsequently occupied Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years. During this time, ethnic tensions were raised and nationalism grew.^[38] Popular support for independence increased after Malaya was reconquered by Allied Forces.^[39] Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the Malayan Union met with strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946 and consisting of all the British possessions in the Malay Peninsula with the exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection.^[40] During this time, mostly Chinese rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency lasted from 1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth troops in Malaya.^[41] After this a plan was put in place to federate Malaya with the British crown colonies of Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. The proposed date of federation was 31 August 1963, however, the date was delayed until 16 September 1963 due to opposition from Indonesia's Sukarno and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party.^[42]

Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, where Independence Day is celebrated on 31 August each year.

Federation brought heightened tensions including a conflict with Indonesia, Singapore's eventual exit in 1965,^[43][44] and racial strife. This strife culminated in the 13 May race riots in 1969.^[45] After the riots, the controversial New Economic Policy was launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, trying to increase the share of the economy held by the bumiputra.^[46] Under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad there was a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginning in the 1980s. The economy shifted from being agriculturally-based to one based on manufacturing and industry. Numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Petronas Towers, the North-South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.^[24] However, in the late 1990s the Asian financial crisis almost caused the collapse of the currency and the stock and property markets.^[47]

Governance[link]

The Malaysian Houses of Parliament is the building where the Malaysian Parliament assembles.

Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The system of government is closely modelled on that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule.^[48] The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the king. The King is elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection. By informal agreement the position is systematically rotated among the nine,^[48] and has been held by Abdul Halim of Kedah since December 2011.^[49] The King's role has been largely ceremonial since changes to the constitution in 1994, picking ministers and members of the upper house.^[50]

Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral federal parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate.^[51] The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the King upon the Prime Minister's recommendation.^[3] The parliament follows a multi-party system and the government is elected through a first-past-the-post system. Since independence Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known as the Barisan Nasional.^[3]

Each state has a unicameral State Legislative Assembly whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. State governments are led by Chief Ministers,^[3] who are state assembly members from the majority party in the assembly. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is required to be a Malay, appointed by the ruler upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.^[52] Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years, the most recent of which took place in March 2008.^[3] Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.^[53] Except for elections in Sarawak, all state elections are held concurrently with the federal election.^[50]

Najib Razak, Prime Minister since 2009.

Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The prime minister must be a member of the house of representatives, who in the opinion of the King, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.^[3] The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government.^[50] The incumbent, Najib Razak, appointed in 2009, is the sixth prime minister.^[54]

Malaysia's legal system is based on English Common Law.^[3] Although the judiciary is theoretically independent, its independence has been called into question and the appointment of judges lacks accountability and transparency.^[55] The highest court in the judicial system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal and two high courts, one for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East Malaysia. Malaysia also has a special court to hear cases brought by or against Royalty.^[56] Separate from the civil courts are the Syariah Courts, which apply Shariah law to cases which involve Malaysian Muslims^[57] and run parallel to the secular court system.^[58] The Internal Security Act allows detention without trial, and the death penalty is in use for crimes such as drug trafficking.^[59]

Race is a significant force in politics, and many political parties are ethnically based.^[3] Actions such as the New Economic Policy^[46] and the National Development Policy which superseded it, were implemented to advance the standing of the bumiputra, consisting of Malays and the indigenous tribes who are considered the original inhabitants of Malaysia, over non-bumiputra such as Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indians.^[60] These policies provide preferential treatment to bumiputra in employment, education, scholarships, business, and access to cheaper housing and assisted savings. However, it has generated greater interethnic resentment.^[61] There is ongoing debate over whether the laws and society of Malaysia should reflect secular or Islamic principles.^[62] Islamic laws passed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party in state legislative assemblies have been blocked by the federal government.^[63]

Foreign relations and military[link]

The RMAF MiG-29N/UB & Aermacchi MB-339

A founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)^[64] and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),^[65] the country participates in many international organisations such as the United Nations,^[66] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,^[67] the Developing 8 Countries,^[68] and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).^[69] It has chaired ASEAN, the OIC, and the NAM in the past.^[3] A former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.^[70] Kuala Lumpur was the site of the first East Asia Summit in 2005.^[71]

Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their political system.^[72] The government attaches a high priority to the security and stability of Southeast Asia,^[71] and seeks to further develop relations with other countries in the region. Historically the government has tried to portray Malaysia as a progressive Islamic nation^[72] while strengthening relations with other Islamic states.^[71] A strong tenet of Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control its domestic affairs.^[50]

The policy towards territorial disputes by the government is one of pragmatism, with the government solving disputes in a number of ways, such as bringing the case to the International Court of Justice.^[73] The Spratly Islands are disputed by many states in the area, although tensions have eased since the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Brunei and Malaysia in 2008 announced an end to claims of each other's land, and to resolve issues related to their maritime borders. The Philippines has a dormant claim to Sabah. Singapore's land reclamation has caused tensions, and maritime border disputes exist with Indonesia.^[74]

Royal Malaysian Navy's first Scorpène class submarine

Malaysia has never recognised Israel and has no diplomatic ties with it.^[75] It has remained a strong supporter of the State of Palestine,^[76] and has called for Israel to be taken to the International Criminal Court over the Gaza flotilla raid.^[77] Malaysian peacekeeping forces are present in Lebanon^[78] and have contributed to many other UN peacekeeping missions.^[3]

Malaysian defence requirements are assigned to the Malaysian Armed Forces. The armed forces has three branches, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Malaysian Army, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There is no conscription, and the required age for voluntary military service is 18. The military uses 1.9 per cent of the country's GDP, and employs 1.23 per cent of Malaysia's manpower.^[79]

The Five Power Defence Arrangements is a regional security initiative which has been in place for almost 40 years. It involves joint military exercises held among Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.^[80] Joint exercises and war games have been held with Indonesia for years.^[81] Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to host joint security force exercises in order to secure their maritime border and tackle issues such as illegal immigration.^[82] There are fears that unrest in the Muslim areas of the southern Philippines^[83] and southern Thailand^[84] could spill over into Malaysia.

Subdivisions[link]

Perlis Kedah Penang Kelantan Terengganu Perak Selangor Negeri Sembilan Malacca Johor Pahang Sarawak Sabah Labuan Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya West Malaysia East Malaysia Federal Territory South China Sea Strait of Malacca Gulf of Thailand Sulu Sea Celebes Sea Brunei Indonesia Indonesia Singapore Thailand

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. These are divided between two regions, with 11 states and two federal territories on Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one federal territory in East Malaysia. Governance of the states is divided between the federal and the state governments, and the Federal government has direct administration of the federal territories.^[85]

The 13 states are based on historical Malay Kingdoms, and 9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain their royal families. The King is elected by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year term.^[3] Each state has a unicameral legislature known as the State Legislative Assembly. The states of East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) have separate immigration policies and controls, and a unique residency status.^[86] For citizens of one of these states or Peninsular Malaysia, the other areas of Malaysia are considered foreign countries under immigration laws.^[87] Each state is further divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into divisions.^[88]

The federal parliament is permitted to legislate on issues of land, the Islamic religion and local government, in order to provide for a uniform law among all states. It may also intervene at the request of the state assembly concerned. Except for some land related laws, the in question must also be passed by the state assembly. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations.^[89]

Geography[link]

Malaysia is the 67th largest country by total land area, with a land area of 329,847 square kilometres (127,355 sq mi). It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia, and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia.^[2] It is linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway, and also has maritime boundaries with Vietnam^[90] and the Philippines.^[91] The land borders are defined in large part by geological features such as the Perlis River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention.^[2] Brunei forms what is almost an enclave in Malaysia,^[92] with the state of Sarawak dividing it into two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago.^[93] Tanjung Piai, located in the southern state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia.^[94] The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world's trade.^[95]

The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.^[2] Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area,^[93] extends 740 kilometres (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 kilometres (200 mi).^[96] It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains,^[97] part of a series of mountain ranges running down the centre of the peninsula.^[93] These mountains are heavily forested,^[98] and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape.^[93] The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's river systems.^[98] The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the peninsula's coastline is nearly 1,931 kilometres (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western side.^[96]

National Park, Pahang

East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 kilometres (1,620 mi).^[2] It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous interior.^[93] The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak,^[93] dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095.2 metres (13,436 ft) high Mount Kinabalu,^[99] the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is protected as the Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[100] The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world.^[93]

Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands, the largest of which is Banggi.^[101] The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.^[96] The temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans.^[93] Humidity is usually high, and the average annual rainfall is 250 centimetres (98 in).^[96] The climates of the Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfall, increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.^[93]

Biodiversity[link]

Proboscis monkey in Borneo

Malaysia is a megadiverse country with a high number of species and high levels of endemism.^[102] It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal species.^[103] High levels of endemism are found on the diverse forests of Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland forest.^[93] There are about 210 mammal species in the country.^[104] Over 620 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia,^[103] with many endemic to the mountains there. A high number of endemic bird species are also found in Malaysian Borneo.^[93] 250 reptile species have been recorded in the country, with about 150 species of snakes^[105] and 80 species of lizards.^[104] There are about 150 species of frogs,^[104] and thousands of insect species.^[104] Malaysia's exclusive economic zone is 1.5 times larger than its land area,^[106] and some of its waters are in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot.^[107] The waters around Sipadan island are the most biodiverse in the world.^[103] Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species.^[108]

About two thirds of Malaysia is covered in forest,^[96] with some forests believed to be 130 million years old.^[104] The forests are dominated by dipterocarps.^[109] Lowland forest occurs below 760 metres (2,493 ft),^[96] and formerly East Malaysia was covered in such rainforest,^[109] which is supported by its hot wet climate.^[93] There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.^[104] Besides rainforests, there are over 1,425 square kilometres (550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia,^[96] and a large amount of peat forest. At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace dipterocarps.^[93] There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East.^[110] The forests of East Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 different species of trees every hectare.^[93] These forests host many members of the Rafflesia genus, the largest flowers in the world,^[109] with a maximum diameter of 1 metre (3 ft).^[104]

Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 metre (3 ft) in diameter, making them the largest flowers in the world.

Logging, along with cultivation practices has devastated tree cover, causing severe environmental degradation in the country. Over 80 per cent of Sarawak's rainforest has been cleared.^[93] Floods in East Malaysia have been worsened by the loss of trees, and over 60 per cent of the Peninsular's forest have been cleared.^[104] With current rates of deforestation, the forests are predicted to be extinct by 2020.^[93] Deforestation is a major problem for fauna, as the forest is cut to make room for plantations.^[111] Most remaining forest is found inside national parks.^[104] Habitat destruction has proved a threat for marine life.^[108] Illegal fishing is another major threat,^[108] with fishing methods such as dynamite fishing and poisoning depleting marine ecosystems.^[112] Leatherback turtle numbers have dropped 98 per cent since the 1950s.^[105] Hunting has also been an issue for some animals,^[104] with overconsumption and the use of animal parts for profit endangering many animals, from marine life^[108] to tigers.^[111] Marine life is also detrimentally affected by uncontrolled tourism.^[113]

The Malaysian government aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection, but has been accused of favouring big business over the environment.^[104] Some state governments are now trying to counter the environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;^[109] and the federal government is trying to cut logging by 10 per cent each year. 28 national parks have been established; 23 in East Malaysia and five in the Peninsular.^[104] Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan island.^[113] Animal trafficking is a large issue, and the Malaysian government is holding talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise anti-trafficking laws.^[114]

Economy[link]

Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy.^[115][116] The state plays a significant but declining role in guiding economic activity through macroeconomic plans. Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5 per cent annually from 1957 to 2005.^[3] In 2010 the GDP (PPP) was $414,400 billion, the 3rd largest economy in ASEAN and 29th largest in the world.^[117]

An oil palm plantation, from which palm oil is extracted.

In the 1970s, the predominantly mining and agricultural-based economy began a transition towards a more multi-sector economy. Since the 1980s the industrial sector has led Malaysia's growth.^[118] High levels of investment played a significant role in this.^[3] The economy recovered from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis sooner than neighbouring countries, and has since recovered to the levels of the pre-crisis era with a GDP per capita of $14,800.^[119][120] Inequalities exist between different ethnic groups. The Chinese make up about one-third of the population but accounts for 70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation.^[121]

International trade, facilitated by the adjacent Strait of Malacca shipping route, and manufacturing are key sectors of the country's economy.^{[122][123][124]} Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, the most valuable exported resource being petroleum.^[3] At one time, it was the largest producer of tin,^[125] rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy,^[126] although Malaysia’s economic structure has been moving away from it.^[127] Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.^[128]

In an effort to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on exported goods, the government has pushed to increase tourism to Malaysia. As a result, tourism has become Malaysia’s third largest source of income from foreign exchange, although it is threatened by the negative effects of the growing industrial economy, with large amounts of air and water pollution along with deforestation affecting tourism.^[129] The country has developed into a centre of Islamic banking, and is the country with the highest numbers of female workers in that industry.^[130] Knowledge-based services are also expanding.^[127]

Science policies in Malaysia are regulated by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The country is one of the world's largest exporters of semiconductor devices, electrical goods, and information and communication technology products.^[3] Malaysia began developing its own space programme in 2002,^[131][132] and in 2006 Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the International Space Station as part of a multi-billion dollar purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.^[133] In an effort to create a self-reliant defensive ability and support national development, Malaysia privatised some of its military facilities in the 1970s. This has created a defence industry, which in 1999 was brought under the Malaysia Defence Industry Council. The government continues to try and promote this sector and its competitiveness, actively marketing the defence industry.^[134]

Demographics[link]

As of the 2010 census, the population of Malaysia was 28,334,135,^[7] making it the 43rd most populated country. The population of Malaysia consists of many ethnic groups. Malays make up 50.4 per cent of the population, while other bumiputra make up another 11 per cent.^[2] According to constitutional definition, Malays are Muslims who practice Malay customs and culture. They play a dominant role politically. Bumiputra status is also accorded to certain non-Malay indigenous peoples, including ethnic Thais, Khmers, Chams and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Non-Malay bumiputra make up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's population.^[2] There also exist aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsula, where they are collectively known as the Orang Asli.^[135] Laws over who gets bumiputra status vary between states.^[136]

Population density (person per Km²)

Other minorities who lack bumiputra status make up a large amount of the population. 23.7 per cent of the population are of Chinese descent, while those of Indian descent comprise 7.1 per cent of the population.^[2] The Chinese have historically been dominant in the business and commerce community, and form a plurality of the population of Penang. Indians began migrating to Malaysia in the early 19th century.^[137] The majority of the Indian community are Tamils.^[138]

Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia. Dual citizenship is not permitted.^[139] Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card known as MyKad at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times.^[140]

The education system features a non-compulsory kindergarten education followed by six years of compulsory primary education, and five years of optional secondary education.^[141] Schools in the primary education system are divided into two categories: national primary schools, which teach in Malay, and vernacular schools, which teach in Chinese or Tamil.^[142] Secondary education is conducted for five years. In the final year of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education examination.^[143] Since the introduction of the matriculation programme in 1999, students who completed the 12-month programme in matriculation colleges can enroll in local universities. However, in the matriculation system, only 10 per cent of places are open to non-bumiputra students.^[144]

The infant mortality rate in 2009 was 6 deaths per 1000 births, and life expectancy at birth in 2009 was 75 years.^[145] With the aim of developing Malaysia into a medical tourism destination, 5 per cent of the government social sector development budget is spent on health care.^[146] The population in concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia^[147] where 20 million of approximately 28 million Malaysians live.^[3] 70 per cent of the population is urban.^[2] Kuala Lumpur is the capital^[2] and the largest city in Malaysia,^[148] as well as its main commercial and financial centre.^[149] Putrajaya, a purpose-built city constructed from 1999, is the seat of government,^[150] as many executive and judicial branches of the federal government were moved there to ease growing congestion within Kuala Lumpur.^[151]

Due to the rise in labour intensive industries,^[152] the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent of the population.^[153] Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.^[154] Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 171,500. Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from Burma, 72,400 from the Philippines, and 17,700 from Indonesia. Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law.^[155]

v t e Largest cities or towns of Malaysia Malaysian Census 2010[156][157]
	Rank	City name	State	Pop.	Rank	City name	State	Pop.
Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru	1	Kuala Lumpur	Federal Territory	1 674 621	11	Malacca City	Malacca	503 127	Kajang Ipoh
	2	Johor Bahru	Johor	1 386 569	12	Kota Bharu	Kelantan	491 237
	3	Kajang	Selangor	795 522	13	Kota Kinabalu	Sabah	462 963
	4	Ipoh	Perak	767 794	14	Kuantan	Pahang	461 906
	5	Klang	Selangor	744 062	15	Sungai Petani	Kedah	456 605
	6	Subang Jaya	Selangor	708 296	16	Batu Pahat	Johor	417 458
	7	Kuching	Sarawak	617 887	17	Tawau	Sabah	412 375
	8	Petaling Jaya	Selangor	613 977	18	Sandakan	Sabah	409 056
	9	Seremban	Negeri Sembilan	555 935	19	Alor Setar	Kedah	366 787
	10	Georgetown	Penang	520 202	20	Kuala Terengganu	Terengganu	343 284

Religion[link]

Kampung Laut Mosque in Kota Bharu is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia, dating to early 18th century.

The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion while making Islam the state religion.^[158] According to the Population and Housing Census 2010 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly. Approximately 61.3% of the population practice Islam, 19.8% practice Buddhism, 9.2% Christianity, 6.3% Hinduism and 1.3% practice Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions.^[159] 0.7% declared no religion and the remaining 1.4% practised other religions or did not provide any information.^[159]

All ethnic Malays are considered Muslim by law of the Constitution.^[158] Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and Christianity (11.1%), along with small Hui-Muslim populations in areas like Penang. The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputra community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4% identifying as Muslims.^[159]

Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah courts in matters concerning their religion. The Islamic judges are expected to follow the Shafi`i legal school of Islam, which is the main madh'hab of Malaysia.^[160] The jurisdiction of Shariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and custody among others. No other criminal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Shariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts. Despite being the supreme courts of the land, the Civil Courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.^[161]

Language[link]

The official language of Malaysia is Bahasa Malaysia,^[2] a standardised form of the Malay language.^[162] Historically English was the de facto administrative language, with Malay becoming predominant after the 1969 race riots.^[163] English remains an active second language, and serves as the medium of instruction for maths and sciences in all public schools.^[164][165] Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government discourages the misuse of Malay and has instituted fines for public signs that mix Malay and English.^[166][167]

Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages.^[168] Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages.^[169] The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah.^[170] Chinese Malaysians predominately speak Chinese dialects from the southern provinces of China. The more common dialects in the country are Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Fuzhou. Tamil is used predominantly by Tamils, who form a majority of Malaysian Indians. Other south Asian languages are also widely spoken in Malaysia, as well as Thai^[2] A small number of Malaysians have Caucasian ancestry and speak creole languages, such as the Portuguese based Malaccan Creoles,^[171] and the Spanish based Chavacano language.^[172]

Culture[link]

A cook making murtabak, a type of pancake mixed with eggs, small pieces of meat and onions, in Kuala Lumpur.

Char Kuey Teow made by frying flat noodles with fish cakes, cockles and bean sprouts is a popular dish in Malaysia.

Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.^[173]

In 1971, the government created a "National Cultural Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must be based on the culture of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may incorporate suitable elements from other cultures, and that Islam must play a part in it.^[174] It also promoted the Malay language above others.^[175] This government intervention into culture has caused resentment among non-Malays who feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations have submitted memorandums to the government, accusing it of formulating an undemocratic culture policy.^[174]

Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring countries, notably Indonesia. The two countries have a similar cultural heritage, sharing many traditions and items. However, disputes have arisen over things ranging from culinary dishes to Malaysia's national anthem. Strong feelings exist in Indonesia about protecting their national heritage.^[176] The Malaysian government and the Indonesian government have met to defuse some of the tensions resulting from the overlaps in culture.^[177] Feelings are not as strong in Malaysia, where most recognise that many cultural values are shared.^[176]

Fine arts[link]

Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred around the areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing.^[178] Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden masks.^[93] Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India.^[179]

Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring.

Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments,^[179] the most important of which is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums.^[180] Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials.^[180] Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating life-cycle events, and occasions such as a harvest.^[179] It was once used as a form of long-distance communication.^[180] In East Malaysia, gong-based musical ensembles such as agung and kulintang are commonly used in ceremonies such as funerals and weddings.^[181] These ensembles are also common in neighbouring regions such as in the southern Philippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Brunei.^[181]

Malaysia has a strong oral tradition that has existed since before the arrival of writing, and continues today. Each of the Malay Sultanates created their own literary tradition, influenced by pre-existing oral stories and by the stories that came with Islam.^[182] The first Malay literature was in the Arabic script. The earliest known Malay writing is on the Terengganu stone, made in 1303.^[93] Chinese and Indian literature became common as the numbers of speakers increased in Malaysia, and locally produced works based in languages from those areas began to be produced in the 19th century.^[182] English has also become a common literary language.^[93] In 1971, the government took the step of defining the literature of different languages. Literature written in Malay was called "the national literature of Malaysia", literature in other bumiputra languages was called "regional literature", while literature in other languages was called "sectional literature".^[175] Malay poetry is highly developed, and uses many forms. The Hikayat form is popular, and the pantun has spread from Malay to other languages.^[182]

Cuisine[link]

Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population.^[183] Many cultures from within the country and from surrounding regions have greatly influenced the cuisine. Much of the influence comes from the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cultures,^[93] largely due to the country being part of the ancient spice route.^[184] The cuisine is very similar to that of Singapore and Brunei,^[104] and also bears resemblance to Filipino cuisine.^[93] The different states have varied dishes,^[104] and often the food in Malaysia is different from the original dishes.^[138]

Sometimes food not found in its original culture is assimilated into another; for example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often serve Malay dishes.^[185] Food from one culture is sometimes also cooked using styles taken from another culture,^[104] This means that although much of Malaysian food can be traced back to a certain culture, they have their own identity.^[184] Rice is popular in many dishes. Chili is commonly found in local cuisine, although this does not necessarily make them spicy.^[183]

Holidays and festivals[link]

Southeast Asia's largest temple — Kek Lok Si in Penang — illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year.

Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Some are federally gazetted public holidays and some are observed by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, and the main holiday of each major group has been declared a public holiday. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) on 31 August, commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957.^[93] Malaysia Day on 16 September commemorates federation in 1963.^[186] Other notable national holidays are Labour Day (1 May) and the King's birthday (first week of June).^[93]

Muslim holidays are prominent as Islam is the state religion; Hari Raya Puasa (also called Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Malay for Eid al-Fitr), Hari Raya Haji (also called Hari Raya Aidiladha, the translation of Eid ul-Adha), Maulidur Rasul (birthday of the Prophet), and others being observed.^[93] Malaysian Chinese celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year and others relating to traditional Chinese beliefs. Hindus in Malaysia celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights,^[158] while Thaipusam is a religious rite which sees pilgrims from all over the country converge at the Batu Caves.^[187] Malaysia's Christian community celebrates most of the holidays observed by Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas and Easter. East Malaysians also celebrate a harvest festival known as Gawai.^[188] Despite most festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group, celebrations are universal. In a custom known as "open house" Malaysians participate in the celebrations of others, often visiting the houses of those who identify with the festival.^[189]

Sports[link]

Malaysia Formula One track, the Sepang International Circuit.

Popular sports in Malaysia include soccer, badminton, field hockey, bowls, tennis, squash, martial arts, horse riding, sailing, and skate boarding.^[189] Badminton matches attract thousands of spectators, and since 1948 Malaysia has been one of three countries to hold the Thomas Cup.^[190] The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation was registered in 1997.^[191] Squash was brought to the country by members of the British army, with the first competition being held in 1939. The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia was created on 25 June 1972.^[192] Malaysia has proposed a Southeast Asian football league.^[193] The men's national field hockey team ranked 15th in the world as of August 2010.^[194] The 3rd Hockey World Cup was hosted at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the 10th cup.^[195] The country also has its own Formula One track–the Sepang International Circuit. It runs for 310.408 kilometres (192.88 mi), and held its first Grand Prix in 1999.^[196]

The Federation of Malaya Olympic Council was formed in 1953, and received recognition by the IOC in 1954. It first participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. The council was renamed the Olympic Council of Malaysia in 1964, and has participated in all but one Olympic games since its inception. The largest number of athletes ever sent to the Olympics was 57 to the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.^[197] Malaysian athletes have won a total of four Olympic medals, all of which are in badminton.^[198] The country has competed at the Commonwealth Games since 1950 as Malaya, and 1966 as Malaysia, and the games were hosted in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.^[199][200] For the martial arts, there's two types of styles are being practiced in Malaysia; the Silat and the Malaysian kickboxing called Tomoi.

Media[link]

Malaysia's main newspapers are owned by the government and political parties in the ruling coalition,^[201] although some major opposition parties also have their own.^[202] A divide exists between the media in the two halves of the country. Peninsular-based media gives low priority to news from the East, and often treats the eastern states as colonies of the Peninsula.^[203] The media has been blamed for increasing tension between Indonesia and Malaysia, and giving Malaysians a bad image of Indonesians.^[204] The country has Malay, English, Chinese, and Tamil dailies.^[203]

There is very little freedom of the press, leading to very little government accountability.^[205] The government has previously tried to crack down on opposition papers before elections.^[202] In 2007, a government agency issued a directive to all private television and radio stations to refrain from broadcasting speeches made by opposition leaders,^[206] a move condemned by politicians from the opposition Democratic Action Party.^[207] Sabah, where all tabloids but one are independent of government control, has the freest press in Malaysia.^[203] Laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act have also been cited as curtailing freedom of expression.^[208]

Infrastructure[link]

The North-South Expressway

The infrastructure of Malaysia is one of the most developed in Asia.^[209] Its telecommunications network is second only to Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers.^[210][211] The country has seven international ports, the major one being the Port Klang. There are 200 industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Technology Park Malaysia and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.^[189] Fresh water is available to over 95 per cent of the population. During the colonial period, development was mainly concentrated in economically powerful cities and in areas forming security concerns. Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag behind areas such as the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.^[212] The telecommunication network, although strong in urban areas, is less available to the rural population.^[210]

Malaysia's road network covers 98,721 kilometres (61,342 mi) and includes 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) of expressways.^[2] The longest highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres (497 mi) between the Thai border and Singapore. The road systems in East Malaysia are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of Peninsular Malaysia.^[213] Malaysia has 118 airports, of which 38 are paved. The country's official airline is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air service alongside two other carriers. The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi).^[2] Relatively inexpensive elevated Light Rail Transit systems are used in some cities, such as Kuala Lumpur.^[214] The Asean Rail Express is a railway service that connects Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, and is intended to eventually stretch from Singapore to China.^[209]

Traditionally, energy production in Malaysia has been based on oil and natural gas.^[215] The country has 13 GW of electrical generation capacity.^[216] However, the country only has 33 years of natural gas reserves, and 19 years of oil reserves, while the demand for energy is increasing. In response, the government is expanding into renewable energy sources.^[215] Sixteen per cent of electricity generation is hydroelectric, the remaining 84 per cent being thermal.^[216] The oil and gas industry is dominated by state owned Petronas,^[217] and the energy sector as a whole is regulated by the Energy Commission of Malaysia, a statutory commission that governs the energy in the peninsula and Sabah, under the terms of the Electricity Commission Act of 2001.^[218]

See also[link]

Malaysia portal

	Book: Malaysia
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• Outline of Malaysia
• Index of Malaysia-related articles
• Environment of Malaysia
• International rankings of Malaysia
• List of universities in Malaysia

References[link]