|RConstitution:|N Constitutional monarchy. Federation of eleven states on the Malaysian Peninsula and the two states Sarawak and Sabah on the northern part of Borneo (Kalimantan).
|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, August 31.
|RNature and climate:|N The Malaysian Peninsula is very mountainous, with a highest peak, Gunung-Tahang, reaching 2190 m.a.s.l. Narrow coastal strips. Main vegetation are rainforests with many different animals, such as tigers, leopards, apes and bears and birds.
Between Sarawak and Indonesia mountains form a natural border, while the rest of the land are plains with rainforests.
Sabah is mountainous and Kinabalu the highest peak reaches 4102 m.a.s.l. the coast is swampy.
Average temperature throughout the year 27°C.
Percipitation 2000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 47% Malayans, 33% Chinese, 10% aboriginals mainly in the interior of Sarawak and Sabah, 9% Indians.
|REconomy:|N 30% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 11% in tourism and trade, 16% in manufacturing and 10% in public services.
Ethnic Malays dominate agriculture, ethnic Chinese and Indians dominate plantations, industry and trade. This has led to some ethnic tensions and the government tries to develop agriculture to ease these tensions.
Forestry is extensive and produce wood for export such as ebony, sandal wood and teak.
Fishing is also important.
Natural rubber, palm, copra, rice, pepper and cacao are the most important crops. The natural rubber from Malaysia accounts for about 35% of world output.
Malaysia also have many minerals such as tin, accounts for 35% of world output, iron, copper, bauxite and natural gas.
Most manufacturing is aimed at developing the natural resources rubber, timber, oil, palmoil and textiles, but there is also an extensive manufacturing of electronics.
|RHistory:|N In ancient times there were a number of small realms in the southern Malay Peninsula that maintained an extensive maritime trade throughout Southeast Asia.
By tradition Buddhism was the predominant religion but in the 15th century most people converted to Islam by influence from India. At this time the kingdom of Malacca was founded.
In 1509 the first Portuguese sailors arrived and they were succeeded by the Dutch that gained control over the whole peninsula in 1641.
The British seized Penang in 1786 and in 1819 they founded Singapore and from then on the whole area was controlled by the British.
In 1867 it became a Crown colony.
In February 1942 Japan conquered the whole area and after the war, in 1948, the Malayan Federation was founded by the many small states and protectorates.
In the early 1950:s a communist rebellion raged the country and when they were suppressed, elections for a home-rule government were held in 1955. In 1957 the Federation of Malaya became independent within the Commonwealth.
In 1963 Malasia was created incorporating the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and the former British colonies North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak.
Singapore declared independence in 1965.
In 1989 Malaysia's communist party finally signed a cease-fire after more than 40 years of conflict.
Politically the Malaysian government has tried to create a neutral area of the whole Southeastern Asia.
