Malaysia – photos of Malaysia, attractions, cities, map, climate, tourist reviews. Inexpensive rooms and chalets. Regions and resorts of Malaysia

What is the name of the capital of Malaysia? Why is she interesting? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article.

The Federation of Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and covers an area of ​​more than 32 thousand km². Geographical feature is that this state consists of two parts: western (Malaya) and eastern (Sabah and Sarawak). Between these parts is the South China Sea.

This tropical country with an ancient culture, a high level of technical development and historical attractions that attract tourists from all over the world is described in this article.

History of the state

The territory of this state in the period 2500-1000 BC. settled by immigrants from southern China. Thus, based on historical documents, it can be argued that Malaysia dates back several millennia. At the beginning of our era, which washes the western part of the state, was a profitable trade route for merchants from China and India. Therefore, cities and states, large for that time, were formed on the shores of the body of water.

From the 7th century and for the next eight centuries, Srivijaya was a large country in this region.

After some time, the Muslim state of Malacca Sultanate was founded with its capital Malacca. Now this ancient city- administrative center 130 km from modern capital Malaysia Kuala Lampur.

In 1511, Portugal established a colonial regime in Malacca. Then the indigenous people were forced to found a new capital - the city of Johor (in our time this city is called Johor Bahru).

Thanks to the regular troops of Holland, 130 years later Malacca was liberated from the Portuguese conquerors. Then Malaysia became

At first XIX century the country came under the influence of England. Before World War II, rubber and tin were produced in this area for export.

In 1942, Japan occupied the entire territory of the Malayan state. Its occupation policy continued until its capitulation in September 1945.

In 1945, the British government re-established an occupation regime. Three years of occupation led to the formation of the people's organization "Federation of Malaya". Thanks to the actions of this organization, Malaysia became an independent state in 1957, and in 1963 it was officially recognized as an independent Federation.

Now this country is one of the main suppliers of oil and various natural resources to the world market.

Thanks to the development of electronics, the state ranks first in the world in the production of integrated circuits, and in 2002 the government approved a space program.

Since the end of the 20th century, the region began to develop international tourism. The tourist program “attractions of the capital of Malaysia” is very popular. We will talk about them in detail later. In the meantime, let's study the history of the modern capital.

History of the capital of Malaysia

The name of the capital of this independent Federation is Kuala Lumpur. The city is located on the banks of the junction of two rivers: Klang and Gombak. The area of ​​the capital of Malaysia, which is home to about two million indigenous people, is 93 km² (together with the suburbs - 245 km²).

In 1857, Great Britain sent an expedition to the Klang River region in search of iron ore deposits. Miners accidentally discovered large deposits of tin (now the city of Ampang is located in this area). By this time, Europe had found a way to store food - canning. Therefore, the demand for copper and tin increased in the world, and in 1859, in the area of ​​the future capital of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), a small plant for the production of this metal was built.

In the middle of the 19th century, the area around the plant was transformed into an urban settlement.

After some time, the British Plenipotentiary Frank Sweetenham moved the administrative center of the state of Selangor to Kuala Lumpur. The city subsequently received the status of the capital of the state, and thanks to architectural monuments it became a tourist center.

Overview walking tour tour of the capital of Malaysia begins with a visit to the Jamek Mosque. It was built in 1909 according to the design of the English architect Arthur Hubback.

The Muslim complex was erected on the site where the first settlement of the future capital was once located and consists of minarets, several towers and three domes.

All these buildings are made in the traditional Moorish style.

The peculiarity of this religious building is that it contains the remains of all the prominent figures of the capital of Malaysia and the entire country who played a prominent role in the history of the state.

When visiting the complex, tourists should note that they are not allowed to enter the mosque. Guests of the city can only inspect the territory and appearance of the building, observing clothing in accordance with Muslim laws.

We have already found out what the capital of Malaysia is. Now let's look at its attractions. On the north side of Merdeka Square (Independence Square) is the oldest English cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral.

The first, small-sized temple building was wooden, and construction began in 1887.

But with the increase in the number of Englishmen in the city, the need arose to build a new church. A competition was announced for the best design of the cathedral church.

As a result, the competition committee approved the project of the architect A. Norman. The church was reconsecrated in 1895. And in the same year, an altar was installed, occupying an area of ​​60 square meters. meters. Nine years later, an organ was installed in the temple. It was made by Englishman Henry Willis, the inventor of church organ instruments.

In the middle of the 20th century, during restoration work, halls for various receptions and living quarters for the cathedral monks were added to the temple.

Now tourists can examine the interior of the church and attend the liturgy, which takes place on Sundays, as well as on religious holidays.

Capital Golf Club

In 1893, an advertisement appeared in the capital's newspaper saying that everyone could take part in the first gaming sports tournament. During the process, teams compete by driving balls into special holes with a club (golf). The competition took place at Petaling Hill.

After the competition, the city leadership decided to create a golf course on this territory.

Now the Royal Selangor Club is considered one of the attractions of Kuala Lumpur, which is an area where there are three golf courses, shady courts, and swimming pools. There are also various gyms, cafes and restaurants serving national cuisine.

Interesting fact: considered Scotland, the game was invented in the 14th century by shepherds who used wooden sticks to push small stones into rabbit holes.

Independence Square

Main square Independence Square is considered. All national celebrations take place there. The square is the pride of the residents of the capital of Malaysia.

Around are government offices, modern offices of private companies and buildings built during the British Raj.

In the middle on the flagpole (the tallest in the world - 95 meters) is developing National flag. It was raised in 1957 as a symbol of an independent state.

In 1897, an amazingly beautiful building designed by the English architect A. Norman was built on this territory, in which the British administrative center was located. Then the leadership of the Supreme Arbitration Court of Malaysia was placed there.

After some time, the building was named the palace of Sultan Abdul Samad, who was at that time the ruler of the state of Selangor.

Tourists are given the opportunity to tour the complex. It currently houses the Ministry of Culture.

Nowadays, various state events and various national carnivals take place against the backdrop of the palace.

On Independence Square, in a building from the colonial period, there are exhibitions of products made from yarn on a loom - a textile museum.

Tourists can view the collection national clothes, which was worn by representatives of different communities.

Museum exhibitions are housed in several halls. There, guides talk about the history of the development of this type of national craft.

In addition, the museum has a collection of various jewelry from past centuries made from precious metals and stones.

In one of the halls there is a stand on which the entire set of tools is presented. They were used to make fabrics and apply various national patterns to textiles. The ornament applied to the material used to determine which class the owner of the clothing belonged to.

The main religious shrine among Hindus in Malaysia is the Sri Mahamariamman temple complex. It is considered the oldest temple in the capital of Malaysia (a photo of the shrine is presented below).

Construction began at the end of the 19th century with funds from workers from the southern part of India. The construction of the religious building was dedicated to the Great Mother Mariamman (mother goddess in Hinduism).

The complex was built of wood, but two years later it was rebuilt and now tourists can explore the stone structure, which was dismantled in 1885 and moved to Chinatown.

Tourists can visit this active religious building, which is open from six in the morning until late in the evening. Guests of the capital of Malaysia are amazed not only by the colorful appearance, but also by the rich interior decoration.

The main hall is decorated with frescoes and statues of heroes of Hindu deities. The main shrine of the temple among believers is a silver four-wheeled cart, decorated with bells (more than 200 pieces). The chariot is used during the most important Hindu festival - Thaipusam. During the festival, the god Murugan is celebrated. The statue is placed in a chariot and ceremonially taken from the temple to the Batu Caves temple complex.

Tourists can also attend another main holiday - the Diwali festival of light. On this holiday, believers light a large number of candles, dress up in new colorful clothes and thereby celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

Malaysia is considered an exotic country among tourists. It amazes the imagination with its natural attractions. A striking example are the Batu Caves, located thirteen kilometers from the capital of Malaysia (photos of them are presented in the article below).

Natural limestone caves were formed approximately 400 million years ago. According to archaeological excavations, representatives of an ancient tribe that lived in the forests of the peninsula (the Besisi tribe) found shelter here while hunting.

One version says that these caves were first discovered by the Hindu Tambusami in 1800. According to other information, the discoverer was the American Gornedey in 1878.

The natural depressions got their name from the Sungai Batu River, which flows through the cave area.

The grottoes consist of more than twenty limestone hills, each of which has internal niches. Part of these voids has become a place of religious worship among Hindus, who come here every year to perform worship. The main cave is called Temple Cave. There, in a huge limestone depression, there is the main sanctuary - a Tamil temple.

The next cave is called Dark Cave. Inside it are seven underground halls with a total length of more than two kilometers. It is famous for its calcareous stalactites and stalagmites, formed over many centuries.

Tourists are also attracted by visiting the Ramayana Cave. It is a repository of wall paintings that have survived to this day. The frescoes tell about the life and work of the hero of the ancient Indian epic Rama. Near the statue there is a sculpture of a monkey. The latter, according to legend, served Rama devotedly.

The famous two towers in the capital of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

Among modern facilities, located next to the temples of the colonial period, tourists pay great attention to visiting the twin high-rise buildings, which are called the Petronas Towers.

Skyscrapers over 450 meters high and occupying city ​​square 40 hectares, were built in 1998.

Tourists can walk along the glass walkway connecting the two towers and get a bird's eye view of the city.

The total area of ​​all premises of the Petronas Towers, where offices and state organizations, is 214 thousand square meters.

Excursions are organized for city guests on certain days, where guides talk about the technical features of the construction of this structure, which is considered the tallest in the world.

The towers got their name from the oil and gas company Prtronas, which was the customer for the construction of the future symbol of the modern state and capital of Malaysia.

Royal Palace

The main attraction of Kuala Lumpur is the Royal Palace. The building was built in 1928 for a Chinese millionaire. During the occupation of the country by Japanese troops, this building was a mess for officers, and then the residence of the Sultan of Selangor.

After the independence of Malaysia, in 1957, the building was purchased. Then it became state property.

Now the palace complex is the official residence of the King of the Federation of Malaysia.

Tourists are prohibited from entering the palace grounds. But guests of the capital of Malaysia can attend the changing of the guard near the main gate and take pictures in front of palace complex.

We have already figured out that Kuala Lumpur - the capital's sights have been looked through. Now let's consider Interesting Facts. In their reviews, tourists note that in this amazing country, unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, there is no sense of the Muslim spirit. The people are friendly, welcoming and all speak modern English fluently. Sightseeing tours The capital of Malaysia is striking in its attention to the history of the state.

Some interesting facts confirm this:

1. It is believed that Malaysia is the most multinational state of all 48 countries located in Asia. Of the 27 million residents, half are considered Malaysians. The rest of the population consists of Chinese, Indians and other nationalities.
2. The state leadership is tolerant of different religions. Although Islam is the official one (second in number after Christianity).
3. Rafflesia grows only in Malaysia. The peculiarity of this plant is that the flower is considered the largest in the world (more than one meter in diameter). It is popularly called the “corpse flower” because when it blooms it smells of rot.
4. The healthy and most controversial fruit - durian ("king of fruits") grows on durian trees in Malaysia and Thailand. This fruit has such a disgusting smell that many hotels prohibit it from being kept in their rooms. However, this soft and sweet fruit has beneficial properties for the body.
5. In Malaysia, myths and legends about sea monsters are passed down from generation to generation. That's why local citizens don't like to swim in the sea. Mostly, emigrants are hired to work as a lifeguard on the beach.
6. Indigenous people consider monkeys the most dangerous animals. Herds of primates often show aggression towards humans.
7. Swimming in large fresh water bodies in Malaysia is strictly prohibited, as many of them are inhabited by crocodiles.
8. In the jungles of Malaysia there is a plant that is popularly called the “walking tree”. Its roots grow from the middle of the trunk and move along the ground in search of moist soil. In a year, this unusual plant can cover a distance of several meters.
9. Not very far from the capital of Malaysia - Singapore. The plane ride is only forty minutes. You can get from one city to another by bus. You can also go by train. The journey from the capital of Malaysia to Singapore will take four to five hours.
10. Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, is home to the world's largest limestone cave. It has dimensions of 2000x150x80 meters. The natural grotto is called " Deer Cave" Its area can accommodate several Boeing 747 aircraft.
11. Synchronized speech competitions have been popular in schools across this country for many years. Participants in this unusual competition must simultaneously expressively pronounce aloud English speech and perform complex choreographic exercises.

Conclusion

Now you know the names of the current and former capital of Malaysia. We looked at different attractions, named them and described them. We hope that you found this information interesting and informative. Now you can easily tell what the capital of Malaysia is. The name of the capital is Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia is a small country located in Southeast Asia. It has its own traditions, culture and customs, which had a direct impact on the development of speech and languages ​​in Malaysia.
The main language on the territory of the Malaysian state is Malay. In addition to him, an important role is played by English language, which is recognized as the second language of Malaysia. It is very different from British (Royal) English, and performs an important function in the development of business in the country. In addition, many educational institutions use Malaysian English.
Since each country has an influence on the language, local English has also been greatly influenced by the state and the more familiar Malay language. The combination of these two languages ​​led to the formation of a third - Manglish. Apart from these two languages, it has a combination of Tamil and even Chinese.

The indigenous peoples of Malaysia speak their own languages, especially in the east of the country. These languages ​​are related to Malay, and the most popular among them is the Iban language, which is spoken by almost 700 thousand people.
Since the Chinese language is also widespread in the state, the Malays use its dialects: Cantonese, Hakka, Putonghua, Hainanese and so on. People from India speak Tamil. In some places you can even meet people communicating in the now almost extinct Penang and Selangor. These sign languages ​​are used by deaf and mute people.

Malay is the official language of Malaysia

It is part of the group of Austronesian languages ​​and belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch. In addition to Malaysia, it is distributed on the territory of some islands and other small states. From the middle of the 20th century it had the name “Malaysian” and only by the end of the century it returned to its original name – “Malay”.
It is recognized as an official language not only in Malaysia, but also in Brunei and This language in Malaysia is classified as an agglutinative or “gluing” language. This means that word formation occurs by adding affixes to the stem, adding words or reduplication (doubling a syllable or a whole word).

For example, various affixes and suffixes can be added to one stem, and the meaning of this word will change radically. In addition, the Malay language has infixes and circumfixes. Nouns in this language do not change by gender, number, and sometimes do not even have a gender division between men and women in speech. The only exceptions are borrowings from other languages.
Plurals can be formed by doubling a word. This creates certain difficulties when learning the Malay language, since a “double” word may not always have a plural meaning.
In our country, the Malay language can be studied only in some large universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is also taught as a second language to students studying Indonesian. Of course, there are now many language schools, where it is quite possible to find a teacher and learn the Malay language.

Manglish is a special language in Malaysia

This language is a mixture of English and Malay and is spoken throughout the Malay state. In addition to them, South Min, Mandarin, Chinese and Tamil languages ​​are involved in the formation of Manglish. This language appeared during the times of colonization, when the British communicated in their own language, but the indigenous population of Malaysia spoke in theirs. In the mid-20th century, Manglish became official language, but, nevertheless, everyday speech is full of borrowings from other languages.
However, Malaysian English and Manglish are different languages. The latter is a type of Creole language, its grammar and syntax are simpler. Malaysian English is simply a dialect of standard English.
Sometimes in communication, words or suffixes from the English language can be added to words from Manglish; in addition, archaisms of the English language and other words rarely used in literary English are preserved in speech.

In some states of Malaysia, the Iban language, which is part of the Malay-Dayak group, is spoken. It is also spoken in Indonesia. Total number There are already 700 thousand people using this language. Iban grammar is based on an analytical way of expression. The letter is written using the Latin alphabet.
Those who know English will find it quite difficult in Malaysia, since the local dialect is far from the language accepted in Britain or the USA. Very often people are forced to get used to local speech and only then take part in the conversation. Sometimes even residents of different states may not understand each other. Many people learn Malay in Malaysia so that they can easily communicate and understand each other.

MALAYSIA

(Malaysia)

General information

Official name - Malaysia (Malay Malaysia). Located in Southeast Asia. Area 336.7 thousand km 2, population 22.3 million people. (2001). The official language is Malay. The capital is Kuala Lumpur (over 1 million people, 2001). Public Holiday- National Day August 31 (since 1957). Currency unit- ringgit.

Member of the UN (since 1957), OIC (since 1969), ASEAN (since 1967), WTO, APEC, etc.

Geography

Located between 120° and 100° east longitude and 3° and 7° north latitude. It is washed by the waters of the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. The South China Sea divides the country into the western part, located on the Malacca Peninsula, and the eastern part, on the northern part of the island of Kalimantan (Borneo). The coast is mostly flat and sandy. In places it alternates with ledges of granite slabs. Many bays and islands. The largest island is Penang, located at north coast Western M. Others large islands- Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman.

It borders with Thailand, Singapore (across the Strait of Johor), Indonesia (on Kalimantan), and the Philippines (in the Sulu Sea area).

M. is a mountainous country. From north to south of western Malta runs the main ridge with a length of St. 450 km. Main mountain- Tanakh (2187 m). In eastern Mexico, Kinabalu dominates (4101 m), highest mountain South-East Asia. Plains and lowlands are located mainly along the sea coast.

Minerals are mainly carbon reserves. Tin reserves that were significant in the past are now largely depleted.

The soils are clayey and highly susceptible to erosion. However, in combination with high air temperatures and heavy tropical rainfall, they create ideal conditions for the growth of humid tropical vegetation.

The climate is humid tropical. Temperature fluctuations +22°-34°C, with the exception of mountainous areas. Annual precipitation ranges from 2000 to 3000 mm per year. There are practically no dry seasons. However, on west coast M. the dry season can last from September to November, and the rainy season - from November to February. In general, M. is considered a “land of eternal summer.”

Largest rivers : in western M. - Pahang (475 km), in eastern - Rejang (563 km). There are no large lakes. There are also no inland seas.

In the country, despite industrial logging, significant areas of tropical rain forests have been preserved. It is believed that the age of their origin is 130 million years, i.e. they are older than the forests of the Amazon and Equatorial Africa. On 1 hectare of tropical forest it is possible to find several hundred varieties of plants, flowers and trees. The shores of the eastern part are covered mainly by mangroves. The border with the Indonesian part of Kalimantan still has virgin tropical jungle. Forests occupy 193 thousand km 2.

Animal world extremely varied. A special attraction is the dwarf (mouse) deer - “kanchil”. The Malacca Peninsula is a transit point for mass migration of birds from the Far East to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Population

Dynamics of population growth in the 1990s. indicates an increase in the share of Chinese and Tamil populations due to their higher rates of natural increase.

Fertility approx. 3‰, mortality 11‰, infant mortality 8 people. per 1000 newborns. Life expectancy, 73 years, varies significantly depending on ethnic group.

The ratio between the groups of male and female population is approximately equal, with some excess towards the latter. The share of the urban population is 57%. Retirement age is 55-60 years. There is a nationwide savings fund for wage earners. Illiteracy of the population over 15 years of age does not exceed 26% in general (for women - 17%, for men - 9%).

In terms of ethnic composition, the country has been given the name “Asia in miniature”: 54% are indigenous Malays (Bumiputra) and related ethnic groups, 34% are Chinese (mainly descendants of immigrants from Southern China), 10% are immigrants from South India (Tamils) . OK. 30 thousand inhabitants of western Mexico are aborigines (Orang Asli), descendants of the ancient migration to the Malay Peninsula.

Languages : Malay (Malaysian), Chinese (Beijing dialect) is widely used, as well as Tamil. A significant part of the media operates in English.

The official religion is Islam (Sunni). Buddhism, Hinduism and various branches of Christianity are also practiced. Some Western Aboriginal and Dayak tribes in Sarawak and Sabah adhere to traditional beliefs.

Story

The ancestors of modern M. aborigines moved from the territories of the modern Indochina Peninsula and Eastern Sumatra. As a result, they belong to two linguistic and ethnic groups. The ancestors of modern Malays began to move to the Malay Peninsula from the east coast of Sumatra in the early Middle Ages. This migration was especially intense in the 7th-12th centuries. The indigenous inhabitants of the country, who inhabited it before the arrival of the Malays, were pushed into inaccessible areas of the peninsula. Somewhat later, some of the Malays from the Malay Peninsula rushed to Kalimantan.

The first written mention of the Malacca Peninsula is found in the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy under the name “Golden Chersonesos”. It was believed that these lands were rich in this noble metal.

In the initial period of history, in the northern part of the peninsula there were a number of small city-states located on the banks of rivers or on the sea coast. They all lived off trade and were vassals of the powerful Srivijaya Empire, centered in Palembang in Sumatra. With the fall of the latter, the territory of the peninsula became the scene of intense rivalry between Siam and the Javanese state of Majapahit.

In the beginning. 15th century The Sumatran prince Parameshwara founded the city of Malacca on the shores of the Strait of Malacca, which became one of the largest trading centers on the way from India to China. The rulers of Malacca gradually united the entire Malacca Peninsula, the Riau Archipelago and part of the eastern coast of Sumatra under their rule. Malacca became the center of the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia. The Malacca Sultanate lasted almost 100 years. This period is considered the “golden age” of the history of M.

In the beginning. 16th century The Portuguese appeared off the coast of the peninsula. In 1511, Portuguese expeditionary forces under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque captured Malacca. The rest of the sultanate's possessions fell apart into small principalities or were captured by Siam. The colonial period of history began.

In 1641 the Portuguese were driven out of Malacca by the Dutch. Subsequently, the British began to lay claim to dominance over the city. The dispute over Malacca between the Netherlands and Great Britain was finally resolved in 1824, when the powers signed an agreement on dividing spheres of influence in Southeast Asia. Previously, the British established themselves on the island of Penang and Singapore. These three strongholds were later combined into one colony, Straits Settlements. The rest of the peninsula remained under the nominal control of the Malay sultans. Four of them formed a federation of protectorates with the administrative center in Kuala Lumpur. The rest, also turned into protectorates, received the status of non-federal principalities. Both were subordinate to the British governor of the Straits Settlements. K con. 19th century Great Britain asserted its authority over the territories of North Kalimantan.

During the hostilities during the 2nd World War, British troops (including military personnel of the dominions - India and Australia) lost approx. 9 thousand people killed and approx. 80 thousand prisoners. Japanese losses were much smaller. During the initial period of occupation, the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army was formed, operating in contact with British intelligence officers left in the occupied territory. The army acted under the leadership of the Communist Party of Malaya and local cells of the Kuomintang Party.

In 1946, British colonial possessions on the Malacca Peninsula were united into the Malayan Union, renamed the Federation of Malaya in 1948, while Singapore was made a separate colony.

From the end In 1948, the Communist Party of Malaya, outlawed, launched a guerrilla struggle that lasted until the middle. 1980s A state of emergency was introduced, which officially lasted until mid. 1960.

In the beginning. In 1956, a London conference was held, which resulted in agreements on granting independence to Malaya. On August 31, 1957, independence was proclaimed. The Federation of Malaya became a sovereign state within the British Commonwealth of Nations.

In May 1961, the concept of creating Malaya, a state uniting the territories of Malaya and North Kalimantan, was announced and approved a year later. In September 1963, a new state was proclaimed. Its creation initially met with strong opposition from Indonesia and the Philippines, which eventually recognized it.

One of the main turning points in the modern history of Moldova was the tragic events of May 13, 1969, when several hundred people died as a result of interethnic clashes. The events became the starting point for serious changes in the country’s internal policy, the proclamation of the so-called. a new economic policy providing special rights to the indigenous Malaysian population.

Government and political system

M. is a constitutional monarchy. The supreme ruler (king) is elected for a term of 5 years from among the 9 hereditary rulers (sultans) of the states of Western Malaya. The Constitution of 1957 is in force (with amendments).

Administratively, Mexico is divided into 13 states: Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Trengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah. There are also three federal territories - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Largest cities - Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown, Seremban, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Port Klang, Kota Kinabalu.

Basic principles government controlled: respect for monarchical traditions, the provisions of the Constitution and the maintenance of interethnic and interfaith harmony. The last point is given paramount importance.

Supreme body of legislative power - bicameral parliament. The upper house, the Council of State, consists of 68 members, 26 senators are directly elected by state legislative assemblies (two from each state) and 42 are appointed by the supreme ruler on the recommendation of the prime minister. The term of office is 3 years, not interrupted by the dissolution of parliament. The lower house - the People's Council, has 192 deputies. They are directly elected from among the winning parties in the general elections. Operates for 5 years from the date of the 1st session. The speaker has broad powers: he presides over meetings and directs their progress, monitoring compliance with procedures, and has the right to close or postpone a meeting of the chamber.

Supreme body of executive power - cabinet of ministers. Has the power to make laws and regulations without parliamentary approval. To a large extent, the functions of the government are duplicated by the decisions of the prime minister's administration.

Head of State - Supreme Ruler, Sultan of Perlis State - Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalallail (since December 2001). The head of state, together with the Council of State Sultans, serves as the highest authority for interpreting acts of the legislative branch.

Chief Executive - Prime Minister, leader of the party that won the general election. Prime Minister - Abdullah Badawi (since October 2003).

Politicians : Onn Jafaar, founder of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO); Abdul Rahman - the country's first prime minister (1957-70); Abdul Razak - Prime Minister (1970-76); Onn Hussein (1976-81), Mahathir Mohamad (1981-2003).

The electoral system is based on the principles of direct secret expression of will. The country has a system of polling stations open to all political parties and organizations (except for those outlawed). Local executive power is exercised by state chief ministers, who form local governments based on a majority in regional legislative assemblies.

The National Front, consisting of 14 national and regional parties, occupies a dominant position in domestic political life. The leading role belongs to the largest, de facto ruling party - the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Its main coalition partners are the Chinese Association of M. (CAM) and the Indian Congress of M. (ICM).

The opposition is represented by the Pan-Islamic Party of M. (PAS), the National Justice Party (NAP), the People's Party and the Democratic Action Party. The first three are part of the opposition Alternative Front.

Leading business organizations: M. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Malayan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. There are also state Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

An important role belongs to non-governmental organizations, formed mainly along ethnic lines.

Domestic policy is determined by the “Vision 2020” concept, according to which the country should turn into a modern developed state by the specified date. At the same time, the law on a state of emergency remains in force, giving the authorities the right to detain persons suspected of subversive activities for an indefinite period; Press Control Law; law on control over the activities of trade unions. These laws have remained in force since the State of Emergency (1948-60).

The peculiarity of the internal political situation is the concentration of key positions in the state administrative apparatus in the hands of the Malay community while ethnic Chinese retain dominant positions in the economy. Mahathir Mohamad's government has generally managed to maintain a balance between these two major national groups.

At the turn of the 21st century. There was a noticeable escalation in the confrontation between the ruling National Front (NF) and the opposition Alternative Front (AF), led by the Pan-Islamic Party (PAS). In the 1999 general elections, the opposition won 27 seats in parliament, and PAS headed the governments of the states of Kelantan and Terengganu.

In foreign policy, M. is a principled supporter of multipolar architecture international relations, at the center of which would be a UN reformed in the interests of developing countries. To the best of its ability, M. opposed the establishment of the sole dominance of any power in the modern world.

Close attention is paid to international economic relations; M. advocates their radical revision, based on the premise that the main problems must be solved through coordinated actions between the leading industrialized powers and developing countries. In general, while positively assessing the ongoing multilateral negotiations within the WTO on the liberalization of trade and financial services, M. believed that these processes, being fundamentally objective and irreversible, should take into account the interests and actual economic situation of countries in the developing world. The country took a similar position in APEC.

M. is one of the countries that founded ASEAN. She actively promoted the admission of new members to the organization (the states of Indochina, as well as Myanmar).

Royal Armed Forces number 115 thousand people, incl. Ground forces - 90 thousand people, Navy - 12 thousand people, Air Force - 13 thousand people. Includes two main components - regular forces and their reserve, as well as various paramilitary units. The highest body developing policy in the field of security and military development is the Council national security, headed by the Prime Minister. The commander in chief is the head of state.

M. has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on April 3, 1967). M. declared recognition of the Russian Federation on December 31, 1991.

Economy

M. is an intensively developing industrial-agrarian country. GDP $78.7 billion, GDP per capita $3,515 (2002). Occupancy approx. 97%. Unemployment - St. 3%. Inflation 1.9% (2002).

GDP structure (%): service sector approx. 50, manufacturing 34, agriculture 8, mining 8.

The manufacturing industry is the most dynamically developing industry. The country is one of the main manufacturers of integrated circuits, radio and television equipment, and air conditioners. M. is the only ASEAN country that has its own automobile industry (Proton cars are produced with the participation of the Japanese corporation Mitsubishi). Industrial production is mainly concentrated in the Klang River Valley (Silicon Valley) region, as well as in the state of Penang.

The extractive industry is represented by the production of hydrocarbons on the continental shelf of the state of Trengganu and the state of Sarawak (North Kalimantan). In 2001, oil production was approx. 670 thousand barrels in a day. Operated by St. 230 wells. Trengganu accounted for approx. 60% of production. The state is considered the "Kuwait of Malaysia". Total oil reserves are estimated at 3.63 billion barrels, designed for 15-20 years of operation. Natural gas production - 1.6 trillion cubic meters. feet (40-50 years of operation). The extraction of natural raw materials is carried out by the state company Petronas. It is also active in the oil and gas industries outside the country: in Iran, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Sudan, and is showing interest in cooperation with Vietnam.

Owing to dwindling reserves and low world prices, tin production, once the leading branch of the mining industry, continued to decline. In 2001, 6.3 thousand tons were produced, the lion's share of which went for domestic consumption.

Agriculture is focused on the production of industrial crops. Over 50% of global palm oil production (11.8 million tons), 3rd place in the world in the production of natural rubber (580 thousand tons). Food crop production remains low and concentrated mainly in the northern states of peninsular Mexico.

The length of the railway network is approx. 1900 km. Its gradual electrification is envisaged. Length highways with hard surface - St. 25 thousand km. The main state is maintained at a high level federal road in western Mexico - from the border with Thailand in the north to the Strait of Johor in the south.

There is a wide network of airfields and ports. Leading international Airport- Kuala Lumpur, the largest in Southeast Asia, sea - Port Klang, the main terminal for foreign trade. There is a wide network of telephone, videotelephone and satellite communications. M. is connected by two bridges with Singapore across the Strait of Johor. Along one of them are laid Railway and water pipeline.

Domestic trade (wholesale and retail) is controlled mainly or partially by the Chinese and Indian business sectors. There is a widely developed network of supermarkets and mega malls.

The service sector and tourism play a significant role. The country is visited annually by 2-4 million tourists.

Modern socio-economic policies continue to be aimed at increasing the participation of indigenous people (Bumiputra) in economic life. Since the 1970s. During the implementation of the five-year plans, the government consistently pursued a policy (“new economic policy”) to increase the share of bumiputra participation in private equity capital to 30%. In con. In 1990, a program was adopted to bring Mexico to the level of an industrialized state. One of the main tasks is to increase the share of labor productivity in economic growth. According to the current 8th Five-Year Development Plan (2001-05), it should draw up St. 37%.

The creation of an economy based on the latest achievements of modern knowledge has been chosen as the main direction of national development. The first step on this path was the creation in mid. 1990s in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, a “multimedia super corridor” - a complex of design, research and production enterprises involved in the field of information and communication technologies. At the next stage, the emphasis was placed on improving the national electronic information network, training highly qualified specialists in the field of computer technology, a general increase in computer literacy of the population, and the development of applied sciences and technologies. Conditions have been created for the return of Malaysians - graduates of foreign universities - to their homeland. The issue of creating an “electronic government” is on the agenda.

Faced with the financial and economic crisis of 1997-98, the government embarked on an unprecedented strengthening of state control in the field of finance and currency circulation. In September 1998, a fixed exchange rate of the national currency was established (1 US dollar = 3.8 ring), which generally reflected its real value, and was also the result of a compromise between the interests of exporters and importers. The measure was aimed at stabilizing domestic prices and ensuring greater predictability of foreign trade transactions. While maintaining the internal convertibility of the ringgit, its circulation outside the country ceased. The decision, in particular, envisaged the return to M. of funds in national currency exported to Singapore due to the higher bank interest rate in force there. Strict restrictions were established on the import and export of national currency, as well as on transactions of non-residents with Malaysian government securities. At the same time, the base discount rate of the state bank was reduced, which was aimed at reviving business activity in the country.

The listed measures were contrary to the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank, accepted for implementation by others Asian countries(Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea). However, as further practice has shown, with minor adjustments they turned out to be effective in overcoming the consequences of the crisis.

The most difficult post-crisis period for the Moldovan economy was 2001, when GDP growth was only 0.4% (compared to 8% in 2000). Industrial production decreased by 3.3%. However, in 2002 the indicators went up: GDP growth was 4.2%, industry growth was 4%. To a large extent, this trend was determined by high world prices for energy and palm oil, revival of activity in the production of electronic components, and diversification of export markets (China, ASEAN countries).

Financial policy after the monetary and financial crisis of 1997-98 was aimed at maintaining a stable exchange rate of the national currency - the ringgit, a fairly low percentage of lending rates and expanded capitalization. At the initiative of the government, a program for restructuring the banking system came into effect, aimed at merging small banks and creating large competitive financial corporations.

A special feature of the credit and financial system is the presence of the Islamic banking sector, which provides interest-free loans and advances. Includes Bank Islam M., Bank Muamalat, as well as 35 other financial institutions with total assets of approx. 49 billion ring., or St. $12 billion.

Government Budget (2001/02) RM93.7 billion. (approx. US$23.4 billion). The revenue part was formed through indirect taxes (37.5%), borrowings from the assets of state investment and trust funds (27.6%), income tax on legal and individuals(27.6%), import duties (6.4%), export duties (1.0%). Expenditures consisted of two parts: development needs and operational allocations. For the first article, directly to the economy - 12%, to the social sphere - 12%, to defense and security - 4%, to administrative management - 1.6%. Under the item “operating expenses”: for paying salaries to civil servants - 21.5%, for servicing the public debt - 19.9%, for pensions and benefits - 6%, for transfers to states - 2.7%. The budget deficit in 2001 was 6.5% of GDP. IN in case of emergency(bankruptcy of companies with state participation etc.) the government resorted to borrowing from non-state funds: the Savings Fund for Salaried Persons, the Pilgrimage Fund, etc.

External debt approx. $42.6 billion.

The official salary level is 600 ring, or 150 US dollars. However, out of 14 million people employed in the public and private sectors, 2 million people did not receive it. In addition, approx. 800 thousand foreign workers, there were approx. 1 million illegal guest workers, mainly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and other countries in Southeast and South Asia.

There were significant disparities in the distribution of income among ethnic groups. The average monthly income of a Malay family in urban areas was approximately 1/3 of that of a Chinese family. In rural areas, where 80% of the indigenous Malays live, the difference was even more striking. Below the poverty line there were approx. 12% of the population. The income of the Dayak tribes of eastern Mexico is not accessible to statistical analysis.

M. is one of the leading trading powers in Southeast Asia (2nd place after Singapore). Foreign trade turnover (2001) approx. 637 billion ring, or 162 billion US dollars, which was more than 2 times the GDP. Export - approx. $85 billion, imports - $77 billion. Main export items: electronic components and electrical goods 60%, other manufactured products, including cars, 22%, chemical goods 5%, crude oil and liquefied natural gas 7%, palm oil 3%. Machinery and equipment are imported, vehicles industrial purposes, consumer goods and food.

Main foreign trade partners: USA (18.6%), Japan (16.7%), Singapore (15%), EU countries (13.4%), South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan (11.3 each), others ASEAN countries (except Singapore) (9%).

Up to 3/4 of foreign trade transportation is carried out through the Singapore port. Efforts to redirect them to Port Klang have had little success due to higher handling and clearance costs.

A targeted policy of foreign trade expansion is being implemented, primarily increasing the export of palm oil. To stimulate it, the government exempted 1 million tons of oil sold on foreign markets from export duties and expressed its readiness to provide loans to potential buyers.

Science and culture

Science and education are represented by the oldest universities - the University of Malaya (operating since the mid-1950s), the National University of M., and the International Islamic University. There is also an extensive network of private higher and secondary educational centers.

In accordance with the K-Economy concept, education is mainly aimed at mastering the exact sciences. There is also a wide network of Islamic theological secondary schools.

There is a semi-state Council for Language and Literature, dealing with issues of linguistics, propaganda national language and publication of literature on it in all branches of knowledge, as well as fiction. The Federation of National Writers' Associations (GAPENA) is headed by Ismail Hussain, one of the leading modern writers M.

There is a fully computerized National Library.

Under the patronage of the Petronas company, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best in Southeast Asia, has been created. Such outstanding conductors as E. Menuhin, M. Horvat and Y. Temirkanov, performers - M. Rostropovich, singers - D. Hvorostovsky, G. Gorchakova and others performed on its stage.

In Malaysia, five-star hotels are built next to ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, and small houses on stilts can be seen from skyscrapers. In other words, the past and present coexist successfully in Malaysia. Thanks to this, tourists can not only relax comfortably in Malaysia on beautiful beaches, but also spend time with interest exploring local attractions.

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, it is divided by the South China Sea into two parts - East and West Malaysia. Malaysia's land borders are with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei, and sea ​​border– with Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore. The total area of ​​this country is 329,758 square meters. km

West Malaysia occupies the territory in the south of the Malay Peninsula, and East Malaysia covers a number of islands, including the island of Kalimantan.

Through the entire territory of West Malaysia, i.e. on the mainland, stretch the Titiwangsa Mountains. The largest local peak is Mount Gunung Tahan, whose height reaches 2,187 meters.

The most long rivers Malaysia - Rajang (760 km), Kinabatangan (560 km) and Pahang (435 km).

The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, which is now home to more than 1.9 million people.

Kuala Lumpur was founded in 1857 on the site of a tin mine.

The official language in Malaysia is Malay, which belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

More than 60% of Malaysia's population is Muslim. About 20% of the inhabitants of this country consider themselves Buddhists, and more than 9% - Christians. In addition, more than 6% of Malaysians profess Hinduism.

According to the current Constitution, Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy. Its head is the King, elected for 5 years by the sultans of local states (provinces). The king and sultans have full power in the country - they approve the laws that are adopted by the local Parliament.

The parliament in Malaysia is bicameral - the People's Consultative Congress, consisting of the Senate (70 senators) and the House of Representatives (222 deputies).

The main political parties in Malaysia are the United Malaysian National Organization and the Pan-Islamic Party of Malaysia.

Malaysia has a tropical climate with hot days and cool nights. The average air temperature is +30C (in the mountains the air temperature is, of course, lower). On the east coast of Malaysia, rain falls mainly from November to February, and on the west coast - in August. The average annual air temperature is +27.5C. The highest average air temperature is observed in March-July (+33C), and the lowest in January, February, July, September and December (+22C). The average annual precipitation is 2,409 mm.

You can holiday in Malaysia all year round.

The South China Sea divides Malaysia into two parts - East and West Malaysia. The total coastline is 4,675 kilometers. The average water temperature is +27-28C, and in dry months it rises to +30-31C. There are about 50 species of corals and more than 250 species of fish off the coast of Malaysia.

The largest river in Malaysia is located on the island of Kalimantan - Rajang, its length reaches 760 km. Among the most big rivers This country also includes the Kinabatangan (560 km) and Pahang (435 km) rivers.

Settlers from India and China began arriving in Malaysia in the 1st century AD, but people of the Negroid race had already lived there before that. As a result, local population adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism.

In the 2nd century AD. The state of Langkasuka was formed, which existed until the 15th century. In the 7th-13th centuries, most of the Malay Peninsula was part of the Srivijaya state. In the 14th century, Islam began to spread among the inhabitants of Malaysia. At the beginning of the 15th century, the Malacca Sultanate was formed.

In 1511, Malaysia was captured by the Portuguese, and in 1641 by the Dutch. A few decades later, British ships landed on the shores of Malaysia...By 1826, the British established their control over Penang, Malacca, Singapore and a number of islands. At the beginning of the 20th century, the composition English possessions The Sultanate of Johor entered Malaysia.

During World War II, the entire territory of Malaysia was occupied by Japanese troops. The occupation lasted 3 years. After the end of World War II, Malaysia again came under British rule.

It was not until 1963 that Malaysia gained independence.

Malaysia is a multi-cultural society. The main ethnic groups are Malays, Chinese and Indians. Each ethnic group carefully preserves its ethnic customs, religion and way of life.

In this seemingly Muslim country, a variety of religious holidays are celebrated, including Christian, Buddhist and Hindu. Thus, in Malaysia they celebrate Ramadan, the European and Chinese New Year, the Hindu holiday of Thaipusam, the Buddhist holiday of Vesak, as well as the Chinese holidays of Flatbread and Lanterns.

Holidays and festivals in Malaysia are accompanied by dancing, various sports competitions, costume processions, performances by artists and fireworks.

Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic composition of its population. Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Javanese culinary traditions have had a great influence on the cuisine of Malaysia. Malaysian dishes are similar to those found in the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.

The staple food in Malaysia is rice, from which dozens of the most different dishes. Spices are widely available. In addition, it is impossible to imagine Malaysian cuisine without seafood, fish, noodles and meat.

If you don’t like spicy dishes, then in a restaurant tell the waiter in English “No spices.”

Traditional non-alcoholic drinks - coffee, tea. But alcoholic drinks are not common in Malaysia, because... this is a Muslim country.

In Malaysia curious tourists can find hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, Christian churches and palaces of local sultans.

There are a lot of such interesting sights in Malaysia. Therefore, in our opinion, the top ten best Malaysian attractions may include the following:

1. Masjid Janek in Kuala Lumpur
2. Hindu Temple of Sri Mahariamman in Kuala Lumpur
3. Afamosa Fortress in Malacca
4. Hindu temple in Batu Caves
5. Sri Mariyamman Temple
6. Cheng Church in Malacca
7. Ruins of Fort Cornwallis in Georgetown
8. Snake Temple on Penang Island
9. Butterfly Park on Penang Island
10. Mahsuri Mausoleum on Lankawi Island

The largest cities in Malaysia are Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Cameron Highlands, Georgetown and, of course, Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia has wonderful beach resorts. They are located on the Malay Peninsula itself, i.e. in Western Malaysia, and on the islands of Tioman, Borneo, Penang, and the Langkawi archipelago. Most hotels have their own beaches.

Most Popular resort area In Malaysia, the island of Penang is considered. There are the most best resorts and beaches are located in the east and northeast of the island.

However, Malaysia is famous not only for its beach resorts, but also for its mountain resorts. Of course, there are no ski slopes in these mountain resorts, but there is amazing air, tropical forest, strawberry farms, mountain rivers with waterfalls and tea plantations. Therefore, it is probably more correct to call the mountain resorts of Malaysia mountain climatic resorts. The most popular mountain resort in Malaysia is Cameron Highlands, which can be reached by bus from Kuala Lumpur in 5.5 hours. Another popular mountain resort is Genting Highlands.

Almost every hotel in Malaysia offers spa services to its visitors. But, of course, there are also hotels that specialize exclusively in spas.

People usually bring handicrafts, silverware, various figurines carved from wood, electronics, scarves, dresses, and batik shirts as souvenirs from Malaysia.

Malaysia – hospitable country Southeast Asia - annually receives many tourists from all over the world. This state, in addition to its natural resources, is also famous for its historical and archaeological monuments. Malaysia is quite safe. The temperature remains uniformly high all year round. But when planning a visit to this country, you should take into account the rainy season. The western part is best visited from late November to February, and the eastern part from May to September.

A bunch of historical monuments, temples and mosques can be seen in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Fans of water activities and beach holidays will find the Langkawi archipelago and the Malay part of the island of Borneo. The mountain resorts of Malaysia will delight both lovers of natural attractions and connoisseurs of modern entertainment in the form of casinos, attractions and night discos. In addition to traditional souvenirs - figurines and keychains - wooden, tin and copper products, silk and batik, seasonings, various equipment, as well as jewelry made of precious metals are brought from Malaysia.

The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see in Malaysia?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

The capital of Malaysia is famous for its many attractions. Architectural monuments, parks, Chinatown and a Malaysian village right in the city center. Kuala Lumpur has plenty to keep its guests entertained. The most popular of the capital's districts are the Central Historical Quarter and the shopping and entertainment Golden Triangle.

The building, which is rightly called the symbol of Malaysia - famous towers Petronas. Since completion in 1998, these towers have been considered the tallest “twin” buildings in the world. Petronas Towers is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. During the excursion, tourists will learn about the history of construction, will be able to visit the observation deck located on the 86th floor, and also walk along the bridge between the towers.

One of the main shopping and entertainment areas of the capital. Bukit Bintang is also called the Golden Triangle because it is located at the border of three busy city streets. A variety of local shops, cafes and restaurants, hotels and nightclubs guarantee the area the attention of guests of the capital.

The Menara TV Tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. This building, the construction of which was completed in 1996, is also called the “Garden of Light” for its original lighting, which can be admired at night. The observation deck of the Menara TV Tower offers beautiful views of the city.

In 1963, the largest state historical and cultural museum in the country was founded in the capital of Malaysia. Externally, the building resembles a traditional Malaysian house, and the exhibition includes a collection of coins, bladed weapons, hats and clothing, jewelry and musical instruments.

In 1910, when Malaysia was still a British colony, a Train Station, combining Indo-Saracenic and neo-Moorish styles of architecture. In the early 2000s, only commuter services remained on the schedule of the Old Station, and after another reconstruction, the Museum of Railway Transport was opened here.

A huge park complex, which includes many thematic natural formations, is located in the center of the capital. Here you can visit the butterfly park, which houses an entomological museum. The Orchid and Hibiscus Garden sells seedlings and flowering plant specimens on weekends. The local Bird Park hosts bird shows twice a day, and there is a Deer Park near the lake. The botanical garden's planetarium contains an entire floor where you can play with interactive exhibits.

The National Mosque Negara was built in 1965 and can accommodate up to eight thousand people. The idea of ​​building such a national building, symbolizing the country's independence, arose in 1957. And it was brought to life by architects from England and Malaysia. Near the mosque there is a mausoleum where famous Malaysian political figures are buried.

The oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, opened in 1909, is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Until 1965, Masjid Jameh was the main mosque of the city. This sophisticated Moorish-style structure is considered a popular landmark in Kuala Lumpur.

One of the most famous tourist sites in the capital is Royal Palace Istana Negara. This building was erected by a Chinese millionaire in 1928 and was then called the Big House. Since then, the palace has been both a magnificent Japanese residence and a modest officers' dining room. Currently, the Istana Negara palace is used for royal ceremonies.

A very original Snake Temple can be visited in Penang, Malaysia. The building was erected in 1850 and, as legend has it, since then snakes from all over the area have been crawling into the temple. Temple servants claim that the snakes are “neutralized” by the sacred smoke, but for additional safety, poison is collected from all reptiles in the building.

In 1897, the construction of the “Moorish” palace of Sultan Abdul-Samad was completed. In the center of the building there is a 43-meter clock tower, which makes the structure similar to the English Big Ben. The palace now houses the Ministry of Culture, and the area in front of the building is used for various events.

Near the town of Ipo at the beginning of the 20th century, local planter William Kelly Smith began building a mansion. But he was not destined to finish the work - after the First World War, most of the workers and Smith himself died of illness. There are legends that Kelly Castle has many secret rooms, underground tunnels and passages. But in fact, there is only one tunnel, and it connects the mansion with a nearby Hindu temple.

Kek Lok Si Temple is considered one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Malaysia. Its construction took place at the end of the 19th century. Most often, tourists visit here the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the statue of the Chinese goddess Guan Yin, who is responsible for mercy. Not far from the temple there are several cafes and souvenir shops.

One of the oldest Hindu temples in the capital is located on the outskirts of Chinatown. The façade of the building is designed in the style of southern Indian palaces. Its central door tower, Raja Gopuram, which appeared in 1968, invariably attracts the attention of tourists with its colorful sculptures. Inside Sri Mahamariamman is kept a silver chariot which is used during the Thaipusam celebrations.

small island in the South China Sea. Tourists consider it one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Transparent water attracts beach lovers, and the local undersea world attracts lovers of diving and snorkeling. The village of Tekek, the capital of the island, is equipped with all necessary tourism infrastructure. On the island of Tioman you can stay in a comfortable hotel or rent an individual chalet.

The Langkawi archipelago is located in the northwest of the country. Its white beaches are very beautiful and also very rich in magnesium, which makes them extremely useful in the treatment of bronchitis, osteochondrosis and rheumatism. In Langkawi you can visit snake and crocodile farms, relax on the black beach with volcanic sand, go to the aquarium or go diving.

One of the most popular attractions in Malaysia is the Batu Caves, located near Kuala Lumpur. The staircase leading to the caves is decorated with huge statue Murugan, and nearby there is a temple dedicated to this deity. Batu consists of 7 small and 3 large caves. There is an additional fee to enter the Art Gallery Cave, which features paintings and statues.

The mountain is the fourth highest in Southeast Asia. It is located in the national park of the same name in eastern Malaysia. On the last Saturday and Sunday of October, an original competition is held here - the world mountain race, the participants of which must climb to the 4095-meter peak as quickly as possible and also quickly descend.

Malaysia's famous Taman Negara National Park is located on the Malacca Peninsula. This park is home to leopards, tapirs, rhinoceroses, Malaysian bears, deer, wild boars, tigers, elephants and more than 300 species of birds. There is a hotel where you can stay for a couple of days, and within the park there are several temporary shelters for those who want to spend the night in the tropics.

Gunung Mulu National Park, located in the east of the country, is famous for its grandiose caves, rainforests and karst formations. The world's largest grotto, Sarawak, is worth a visit in the Gunung Mulu Caves. Also popular among tourists are “Deer Cave” and “Cave clean waters" You can get here by water or by helicopter.

In 1974, a national park was founded in the Malaysian part of Borneo, the main attraction of which is Niah Cave. Traces of Homo sapiens, who lived in the Stone Age, were discovered here. The age of the Niah cave is about 37-42 thousand years, its walls are decorated rock art. Before starting to explore the cave, tourists must register and pay the entrance fee.

One of the largest Malaysian mountain resorts. Best time to visit these places lasts from March to September, when trekkers can easily climb along equipped paths to the peaks of the Cameron Highlands. Tourists often visit the local tea plantation, where they observe the production and processing of tea. Cameron Highlands is also home to strawberry and bee farms, where you can purchase fresh produce at low prices.

The lake is located on one of the islands of the Langkawi archipelago. It is very popular among tourists and local residents. This is a very beautiful body of water, which is surrounded by rocks and lush jungle. According to legend, childless couples who visit the Lake of the Pregnant Virgin will receive hope for a speedy replenishment of the family.

One of best places for walks and picnics, a mountain in the very center of the island near Georgetown. At the end of the 19th century, a funicular was built to climb the mountain, and now you can reach the top of Penang Hill in just 12 minutes. At the top you can visit a botanical garden, an owl museum, a mosque and a restaurant overlooking the island.

In the mountains northeast of Kuala Lumpur lies the popular entertainment complex Genting Highlands. This amusement park is divided into outdoor and indoor areas, each of which consists of state-of-the-art attractions. And the closed area also includes a variety of entertainment using computer technology.

One of the most beautiful and unforgettable places in Langkawi. Seven rapids is enough powerful waterfall form seven clean lakes, in which you can swim if you wish. There is a fairly long staircase leading to the Seven Wells, the steps of which can be slippery in wet weather. The jungle surrounding the stairs is home to many monkeys, so you will have to watch your bags, backpacks and cameras very closely.

The two peaks of Mount Gunung are connected by the unusually beautiful Langkawi Sky Bridge, which seems to be floating in the air. To climb this 150-meter structure, you should use two cable cars, which takes about 20 minutes. The sky bridge offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, lush tropics and the distant sea.