Malayasia

Country facts

Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Area: 328,550 sq km
Population: 24.53 million
Language: Malay
Government: Federal constitutional monarchy
Currency: Ringgit
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (British plug)
Currency: Ringgit (RM)
Time zone: GMT+8

GDP: $143.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita: $6,146
Calling code: +60
Internet TLD: .my

Flag

History

Malaya was formed in the year 1957 and became independent from British Colonization. The Union Jack was lowered and the first Malaysian flag was raised in the Merdeka (independent) square on midnight 31st August, 1957. 6 years later, Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a merging of Malaya and Singapore, including the East Malaysian states of Sabah (known then as North Borneo) and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession in 1965.

Today's Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, nominally headed by the Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong), who is elected for a five-year term from among the nine sultans of the Malay states. The current king, from Terengganu, was sworn in on 13 Dec 2006. In practice, however, power is held by the Prime Minister, who is the leader of elected government. The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party and its National Alliance (Barisan National) coalition have ruled Malaysia uninterrupted since its independence, and while periodic elections are contested by feisty opposition parties, the balance has so far always been shifted in the government's favor by press control and use of restrictive security legislation dating from the colonial era.