$Unique_ID{COW02336} $Pretitle{245} $Title{Malaysia Country and History} $Subtitle{} $Author{Embassy of Malaysia, Washington DC} $Affiliation{Embassy of Malaysia, Washington DC} $Subject{malaysia area borneo british capital malay sarawak km^2 population north} $Date{1990} $Log{Traditional Games*0233601.scf } Country: Malaysia Book: Malaysia in Brief Author: Embassy of Malaysia, Washington DC Affiliation: Embassy of Malaysia, Washington DC Date: 1990 Country and History [See Traditional Games: Courtesy Embassy of Indonesia, Washington DC.] Malaysia lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is a crescent-shaped country close to the equator between latitude 1 degree and 7 degrees North and longitude 100 degrees and 119 degrees East. It occupies two distinct regions - Peninsular Malaysia extending from the Kra Isthmus to the Straits of Johor, and Sabah and Sarawak on the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo. These regions are separated by about 750 km of the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia has a land frontier with Thailand in the north; south, it is linked to the Republic of Singapore by a causeway. To the west across the Straits of Melaka lies the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The Philippine Islands lie to the northeast of Sabah. The country covers an area of 330,434 square km. Peninsular Malaysia has an area of 131,587 square km while Sabah and Sarawak cover 74,398 and 124,449 square km respectively. LENGTH OF COASTLINE Malaysia's coastline extends for nearly 4,830 km from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. The west coast of the Peninsula is most accessible because the Straits of Melaka is sheltered. Access to the east coast during the northeast monsoon period (October - February) is difficult. The coastline of Sarawak and Sabah is about 2,100 km long. CLIMATE Malaysia is subjected to maritime influences and the interplay of wind systems which originate in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The year is commonly divided into the southwest and northeast monsoon seasons. The northeast monsoon prevails from October to February and brings rain to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the coastal region of Sabah and Sarawak. The Southwest monsoon is from mid-May to September. Average annual rainfall is between 2,032 to 2,540 mm. The average daily temperature throughout Malaysia varies from 21C to 32C. though in higher areas temperatures recorded are between 26 degrees and 2C. Relative humidity is generally high with readings of 80 per cent. FLORA The climate in this region is ideal for uninterrupted plant growth; thus about 70 per cent of Malaysia is covered with tropical rain forest. In these forests are immense trees, 35 to 45 metres high. The flora contains about 15,000 species of plant life of which 6,000 are trees. The most important is the Dipterocarpaceae which provides most valuable timber. The notable types of timber are Cengal, Balau, Merbau, Keruing, Kapur, Kempas, Meranti and Jelutong. The Hibiscus rosa sinensis, locally known as Bunga Raya, is one of Malaysia's commonest flowers as well as the National Flower. Lianes (large woody creepers), epiphytes such as orchids, ferns and aroids, and many other parasites are found in abundance. FAUNA The Malaysian jungle abounds with an enormous variety of wild life. The tiger takes pride of place, being the National Animal. Panthers and leopards are occasionally encountered. The elephant is the largest known indigenous animal found while another herbivore, the seladang (gaur), is the largest member of the wild ox family known in the world. The number of animals which are totally protected amount to thirty-five in all. Top in the lists are the tapir and two species of rhinoceros. Among the better-known animals are the orang utan and the pelanduk (mousedeer) which figures in Malay folklore. Besides these, there are other animals like the ungka (white-handed gibbon), wak-wak (agile gibbon), proboscis monkeys, slow loris, tarsiers, squirrels and deer. Malaysia is rich in its bird-life with more than 500 species, some migratory. Wild birds are also totally protected. The familiar ones found in populated areas are the sparrow, cuckoo, night-jar, magpie, robin and mynah. The merbok and the mynah are singing birds. The colourful ones are the peafowl, trogons, broadbills, pittas, argus pheasants, golden aurioles, kingfishers, the tukangs and sunbirds. STATES OF MALAYSIA Malaysia is a federation of 13 States comprising Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor Darul Ehsan and Terengganu. Each State has its individual appeal and characteristics. JOHOR Area: 18,985 square kilometres (km^2) Population: 1,963,600 Capital: Johor Bahru Linked with Singapore by a causeway. Interesting buildings include the Istana Besar, the Bukit Serene Palace and Abu Bakar Mosque. The Kota Tinggi Waterfalls and Mersing are popular recreational attractions. KEDAH Area: 9,425 km^2 Population: 1,325,700 Capital: Alor Setar Known as the "Rice Bowl" of Malaysia. The island of Langkawi, 40 km from Alor Setar is a picturesque holiday resort with modern amenities. KELANTAN Area: 14,930 km^2 Population: 1,116,400 Capital: Kota Bharu Famous as a seat of traditional Malay culture and for its songket, batik cloth and silverware. MELAKA Area: 1,650 km^2 Population: 548,800 Capital: Melaka Oldest town in Malaysia. Of historical interest it contains ruins and buildings dating back to Portuguese and Dutch eras. NEGERI SEMBILAN Area: 6,643 km^2 Population: 679,000 Capital: Seremban Points of interest include Museum, Lake Gardens and Pedas Hot Spring. Port Dickson, 29 km from Seremban, is one of Malaysia's most popular beach resorts. PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR Area: 35,956 km^2 Population: 978,100 Capital: Kuantan Royal town is Pekan, 39 from Kuantan. Largest State in Peninsular Malaysia. Places of interest are the Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill and Taman Negara, the National Park or game reserve. PULAU PINANG Area: 1,003 km^2 Population: 1,087,000 Capital: George Town Often called "The Pearl of the Orient", Holiday island of Malaysia. Renowned for its beaches and a funicular railway which goes up Pulau Pinang Hill. PERAK Area: 21,005 km^2 Population: 2,107,800 Capital: Ipoh Royal town is Kuala Kangsar, 50 km from Ipoh. Malaysia's tin state with the world's richest deposits in the Kinta Valley. Noted for its cave temples. Pangkor is a holiday island, about 77 km from Ipoh. PERLIS Area: 795 km^2 Population: 175,600 Capital: Kangar Border State with Thailand. Padang Besar is the northern-most town of Malaysia and is a popular bazaar. SABAH Area: 73,711 km^2 Population: 1,287,900 Capital: Kota Kinabalu Malaysia's highest mountain, Kinabalu (4,099 m high) is 93 km from the capital. SARAWAK Area: 124,449 km^2 Population: 1,550,000 Capital: Kuching The Sarawak Museum at Kuching has achieved world renown for its unique collection of Bornean folklore. SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN Area: 8,200 km^2 Population: 1,830,800 Capital: Shah Alam Royal town is Klang, 6 km from Shah Alam, Port Klang is the largest port in the country. It is famous for its seafood. The State includes Petaling Jaya, the largest satellite town in Malaysia. TERENGGANU Area: 12,955 km^2 Population: 683,900 Capital: Kuala Terengganu Famous for fishing villages and handicraft. FEDERAL TERRITORIES Kuala Lumpur Area: 244 km^2 Population: 1,158,200 Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. It was conferred the status of a city on 1st February, 1972. The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was established on 1st February, 1974. Labuan: Area: 91 km^2 Population: 35,000 The Federal Territory of Labuan was established on April 16, 1984. History There are many schools of thought on the early history of Malaysia. It is believed that the earliest organised political states first emerged in the north of the Malay Peninsular. By about 900 A.D. some of these states probably came under the influence of the Sri Vijayan Empire based in Palembang. At the close of the 13th century the Javanese Majapahit and the Thai Empires had supplanted Sri Vijayan dominance. From about the 14th century the picture gradually becomes clearer. It was the era of the Melaka Empire, which marked the golden age of Malay political power. To a large extent it coincided with the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia. Melaka itself was converted. Islam had a deep impact on the Peninsula and was undoubtedly one of the major external influences which have helped to shape the principal features of Malay society. In Borneo, the Brunei Empire held sway over much of the coastal areas of the Island. EUROPEAN INCURSIONS In 1511 Melaka was captured by the Portuguese, thus marking the beginning of European incursions into Melaka. In 1641 Melaka fell to the Dutch. Neither conquests contributed to any important social change in Malay society. Late in the 18th century British commercial interests from India extended to Pulau Pinang which Britain acquired from the Sultan of Kedah in 1786. In 1819, the British acquired Singapore from the Sultan of Johor. In 1824, Britain acquired Melaka from the Dutch in exchange for Bencoolen in Sumatra. Two years later Pulau Pinang, Melaka and Singapore became collectively known as the Straits Settlements. BRITISH ADMINISTRATION The development of a wealthy commercial class in the Straits Settlements led to growing investments in the Peninsula. Initially such investments were indirect. They were in the form of advances made to the Malay ruling class which monopolised economic activities in the Malay States. By the middle of the 19th century, the economic invasion of the Peninsula had begun. Capital began to pour in followed by large numbers of Chinese tin mining labourers. In 1867 the administration of the Straits Settlements was transferred from the India Office to the Colonial Office. The Pangkor Agreement of 1874 marked the beginning of radical, political and administrative change in the Malay States. The British took over duties which had once been the preserve of princes and aristocrats. The whole process of such change occupied many years. The Residential System was introduced whereby British officers called Residents were appointed to advise the Sultans on all matters except those touching on Malay religion and custom. In 1895 Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang were combined into a federation known as the Federated Malay States (FMS). In 1909, the Siamese transferred to the British their rights of suzerainty over Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu. A British Advisor was then appointed to each of these four States. Johor joined this grouping in 1914 to form the Unfederated Malay States. These five States never joined the federation for fear of losing their power to the British. Another important development was the introduction of the rubber industry around 1910. Its growth led to a second wave of immigration to the Peninsula, this time from India. BORNEO In 1840 a British adventurer, James Brooke, visited Kuching then part of Brunei's domain. During his stay he successfully intervened in a revolt against the rule of the Sultan of Brunei's Viceroy. As a reward, the Sultan in 1841 installed him as Rajah. Subsequently the Rajah's territory was enlarged to the extent of the present boundary of the State. In 1877 and 1878, British business interests succeeded in obtaining cessions of north and east Borneo from the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu respectively. When the British North Borneo Company was founded in 1882, it acquired all the ceded possessions. In 1888, Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo (now Sabah) became British protectorates. THE SECOND WORLD WAR After a two-month campaign in 1941-42 Malaya and the Borneo Territories were overrun by the Japanese who ruled until the surrender in September, 1945. STIRRINGS OF NATIONALISM Before the Second World War there were stirrings of Malay nationalism in the country channelled through various organisations. During the Japanese occupation nationalism and anti-colonialism struck deeper roots. In 1946 the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) was formed to articulate the demands of nationalists and spearhead the struggle for national independence. POST-WAR MALAYA The British Military Administration (BMA) was set up after the War. The Straits Settlements were disbanded and Singapore became a Crown Colony. The British created the Malayan Union in April, 1946, which included Melaka, Pulau Pinang and the nine Malay States. The Malayan Union was abandoned in 1948 following strong opposition from Malay nationalists. Dissatisfaction arose because of the transfer of powers from the Malay Rulers to the British Crown. In its place emerged the 1948 Federation of Malaya Agreement. This agreement provided for a High Commissioner and a Federal Legislative Council with considerable authority left to the State and Settlement Governments. POST-WAR NORTH BORNEO AND SARAWAK After a brief period of British Military Administration, the government of the territories was re-organised in 1946. North Borneo with Labuan became a Crown Colony administered by a Governor assisted by an advisory council. A new constitution in 1950 replaced the advisory council with executive and legislative councils. Sarawak became a Crown Colony in 1946, when the last Rajah handed over the territory to the Crown. The Colony was administered by a Governor assisted by an executive council (called the Supreme Council) and a legislature (Council Negri). THE EMERGENCY In 1948, Communist terrorists in Malaya launched a campaign of violence and murder to paralyse the economic recovery of the country. A state of Emergency was declared. Twelve years of unremitting struggle followed with the Communist terrorist bands gradually being destroyed. The Emergency was lifted in 1960. INDEPENDENCE A new constitution was introduced in 1955. This transferred the responsibility of government to the elected representatives of the people. For the first time the Federal Legislative Council had an elected majority. In the first federal general elections held in the same year, the Alliance Party - a coalition of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) - swept 51 of the 52 seats and led the drive for independence. CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRESS IN NORTH BORNEO AND SARAWAK In 1960 the unofficial membership of the executive and legislative councils in North Borneo was increased to form a majority. April 1963 marked the elections for the local authorities which in turn functioned as electoral colleges for the election of members to the state legislature. Thus by August 1963 prior to becoming a member state of Malaysia, North Borneo had a state cabinet with a chief minister and a state legislature with an elected majority. Sarawak received a new constitution in August 1956, whereby there was a majority of elected members. From 1959 there was a three-tier system under which members of district and divisional advisory councils chose from among themselves members of the Council Negri. These elections stimulated people towards greater awareness of self-government. In March 1963, the council Negri amended the constitution for greater local autonomy. Elections held in mid-August on the basis of the new provisions resulted in the pro-Malaysia Alliance Party winning by an overwhelming majority. REALISATION OF MALAYSIA In January 1962, an Anglo-Malayan Commission was set up to ascertain the views of the people of North Borneo and Sarawak on the formation of Malaysia proposed by the then Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Its findings showed a substantial majority of the people in favour of Malaysia. Subsequently, an inter-governmental committee consisting of Malaya, Britain, North Borneo and Sarawak was established to work out details including the special interests of the Borneo states. By September 1962, the legislatures of North Borneo and Sarawak agreed to the new federation. However, there was opposition to the formation of Malaysia from the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines, each for its own reasons. This resulted in a meeting between Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines at which it was agreed that recognition would be given if the wishes of the people of Borneo could be ascertained. The UN Secretary-General's report in September confirmed the people's wishes. Malaysia was thus founded on September 16,1963, as a federation of the State of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. The Philippines deferred recognition of Malaysia and subsequently broke off diplomatic relations. Indonesia's opposition took the form of a `konfrontasi' (confrontation): In the midst of confrontation, Singapore separated from the federation on August 9, 1965. By January 1966, Indonesia's confrontation acquired a lesser degree of intensity as leaders of Indonesia were involved in the formation of a new government. In June, a peace pact to end confrontation was agreed upon. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were resumed on 31st August, 1967. Malaysia and the Philippines normalised diplomatic relations on June 3, 1966. ASEAN In August 1967 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, was inaugurated in Bangkok with the aim of promoting and stimulating regional co-operation for social well-being and economic progress. GENERAL ELECTIONS Since independence in 1957, seven general elections have been held - in 1959, 1964, 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. In both the 1964 and 1969 elections the Alliance Party was returned to power at the federal level, maintaining an unbroken record as the governing party since 1955. Following the 1969 election, there was a brief outbreak of inter-racial violence subsequently characterised as the May 13 Incident which compelled the Government to declare a state of Emergency and establish a National Operations Council to administer the country. In 1970, Tun Abdul Razak bin Haji Hussein became the second Prime Minister of Malaysia when Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj stepped down in his favour. In 1971 Parliament was reconvened and constitutional amendments were passed to restrain public discussion of issues that would be inimical to racial harmony. At the same time measures were taken to ensure that the indigenous people were afforded opportunities to participate fully in the economic life of the country. In furtherance of this, the Alliance Party successfully initiated action to form a National Front, which included many of the opposition political parties. On August 24, 1974, Malaysia held her fourth general election and the National Front Party emerged with a landslide victory capturing 135 parliamentary seats out of 154. On January 15,1976 the second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, passed away. Tun Hussein Onn became the third Prime Minister of Malaysia. The fifth general election was held in 1978. On July 16,1981 Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad became Prime Minister of Malaysia on the retirement of Tun Hussein Onn. In the April 1982 General Election, the ruling National Front Party won with a landslide majority. The seventh general election was held in August 1986 and the National Front Party again emerged with a landslide victory.