Malaysia

Malaysia spans part of mainland Southeast Asia and northern Borneo. Peninsular Malaysia sits between the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea, with the Titiwangsa Mountains running down its center, while the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo contain rainforests, Mount Kinabalu, and long rivers like the Rajang. Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are major capitals linked by highways, while George Town, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu host ports, oil terminals, and cultural districts. The climate is equatorial, with afternoon showers, humid air, and occasional haze from regional forest fires.

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. Nine Malay sultans rotate the title of Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or king, every five years, while elected leaders run the government. The bicameral Parliament includes the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) and Dewan Negara (Senate), and a prime minister leads the cabinet. States and federal territories manage schools, mosques, temples, and health clinics, and the national government invests in mass transit, digital parks, and flood-control systems.

History includes Malacca's spice port, Borneo kingdoms, Portuguese and Dutch trading posts, and British colonial rule that brought rubber and tin plantations. Malaysian independence came in 1957 for the peninsula and in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak joined to form modern Malaysia. The nation later helped create ASEAN and promoted regional cooperation through initiatives such as the Langkawi International Dialogue and Islamic banking networks.

The economy relies on manufacturing, services, petroleum, and agriculture. Electronic component factories, automotive plants, and petrochemical complexes cluster in the Klang Valley and Johor. Palm oil estates and rubber plantations stretch across lowlands, while fishermen harvest seafood along both coasts. Tourism highlights UNESCO sites like George Town and Melaka, rainforest reserves such as Taman Negara, and island getaways like Langkawi, Tioman, and Sipadan. Renewable projects include solar farms on industrial rooftops and hydroelectric dams in Sarawak.

Culture reflects Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous traditions. Islam is the official religion, but the constitution protects freedom of worship, so mosques stand near churches, Hindu temples, and Taoist shrines. Festivals range from Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year to Deepavali, Christmas, and Gawai Dayak in Borneo. Malaysian cuisine pairs nasi lemak coconut rice, roti canai flatbread, satay, laksa, and tropical fruits like mangosteen and rambutan. Schools teach Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and emphasize bilingual learning in English and other mother tongues, while sports lovers follow badminton, sepak takraw, and football leagues.