What is the official language in Malaysia. Information for people of non-traditional orientation. Mobile phone use

Malaysia belongs to the region of Southeast Asia. The country is divided into two parts:

South and North Malaysia is not.

West Malaysia in the north it borders with, and in the south with Singapore, in the west it splashes in the waters of the Strait of Malacca, in the east it is washed by the South China Sea.

East Malaysia in the south and west it neighbors with Indonesia, in the north - with the Sultanate of Brunei (translated very beautifully - the abode of peace). In the north of East Malaysia is the South China Sea, in the south -.

Malaysia is home to one of the largest evergreen rainforests in the world. As you already understood - Malaysia has long sea coasts with rampant tropical flora and fauna. But Malaysia is unique not only in nature. As a state and economy, the country is developing at a very fast pace, firmly holding the first place in the world in the production of electronic circuits and household air conditioners, natural rubber and palm oil.

In the 90s of the last century, consumer electronics assembled in Malaysia were considered prestigious in our country as well. Now she has been killed by Chinese suppliers, i.e. now this technique is even more prestigious for us - because there is a shortage. In Malaysia neighbor different religions, and the inhabitants respect both "their own" and "foreign" gods.

Climate

The climate of Malaysia is equatorial, humid and hot. The average annual air temperature ranges from +25 to +28 degrees. IN coastal areas during the day it is +30 +36 degrees.
There are mountains, where the climate is more moderate, the temperatures are lower, the night temperature is noticeably lower than the daytime one.

The rains in Malaysia are strong, but short-lived, and go throughout the year. The most active rains in the eastern part of the country, in the states of Sabah and Sarawak, usually last from October to February. On the west coast (the islands of Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor) there are two rainy seasons: from April to May and from October to December. But showers are short-term, so the tourist season lasts all year round.

The best time to visit West Malaysia is the period from late November to early March, and Eastern - May-September.

During the summer months, the western coast of the Malay Peninsula is prone to severe hurricanes.

Flora and fauna

The plains of Malaysia are covered with tropical evergreen equatorial forests, which grow kapoor, chengal, balau, pandanus, various types of bamboo and palm trees. In the upper reaches of the mountain ranges, forests are replaced by meadows. On the coasts, mangrove forests are replaced by thickets of low palm nipa. In Malaysia, there are many types of orchids and ferns.

Elephants, two-horned rhinos, Himalayan bears, tigers, wild buffaloes, great apes such as orangutans and gibbons are found here.

Visa to Malaysia

Transition from general to tourist topics. Citizens of the Russian Federation who come to Malaysia for a period of not more than 30 days, a visa is issued right at the border crossing. But the passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry.

Customs

To Malaysia banned the import of all Israeli goods(wow!), weapons, pornography, radios (they have a lot of their own), plant seeds, mushrooms. You can not bring primates, any kind of meat, gold only up to 100g. With drugs in general, a "pipe" - in the sense of the death penalty. You can carry duty-free:

• 200 pieces of cigarettes,
• or 225 g of tobacco,
• 1 liter of any alcohol,
• cosmetics,
• perfumes and souvenirs worth up to 200 MYR.

If the imported foreign currency exceeds $10,000, it must be declared. It is forbidden to export certain types of plants and animals from Malaysia. And for the export of antiques, a special permit is required.

Time

5 hours ahead of Moscow.

State structure

There is a feature here. Malaysia - the only country in the world, which is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. It's something like mop law in Rus'. Malaysia is made up of 13 states and three federal territories. And there are nine monarchs (you won’t understand where such arithmetic comes from). Every five years, these nine monarchs elect a king and a viceroy from among themselves.
As a rule, those who are older and with more managerial experience are chosen. The king and the sultans perform mainly representative functions, but they sign all the amendments to the constitution, there is no way without kings! The main management functions are performed by the parliament and the prime minister - in the European manner.

Capital

The city of Kuala Lumpur is located in the southwest of the Malay Peninsula in a low-mountain valley at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.

Kuala Lumpur is literally overflowing with a wide variety of attractions:

• beautiful old Jamek mosque
• rich informative National Museum
• Masjid Negara Mosque
• majestic royal palace
• Houses of Parliament
• unique Hindu temple in the limestone caves of Batu Caves
• lake garden
• bird park
• Orchid garden and zoo
• Chinatown
• Saturday Night Market Pasar Malam
• museum and art gallery.

The buildings of the modern period also attract attention: the television tower (421 m), or the twin towers (452 ​​m, 88 floors). Near Kuala Lumpur is the Sepang Stadium, where the Formula 1 race track takes place.

Population of the country

More than 22 million people live in Malaysia and there are more than 60 different ethnic groups. The most numerous are Malays, Chinese and Indians. The official religion is Islam, along with it, Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism are freely practiced.

Money

IN money circulation- Malaysian ringgit, 1 ringgit is equal to 100 cents. In major banks, hotels, shops, major credit cards are accepted for payment.

How to get to Malaysia

There are no direct flights from Russia to Malaysia, however, on May and New Year holidays from Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg there are charters to Kuala Lumpur. On ordinary days, you can get to Malaysia through:

• Dubai (with Emirates Airlines),
• Doha ( Qatar flight Airways)
• Abu Dhabi (flight Etihad),
• Beijing (by Air China flight),
• Singapore (Singapore Airlines flight),
• Bangkok (Thai Airways flight),

Or fly through the capitals of European countries. Travel time with connections from 12.5 to 24 hours.

From Kazakhstan to Malaysia you can fly with a transfer in Amsterdam, Dubai, Tashkent, from Ukraine - through Dubai, Paris, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Amsterdam.

The island resorts of Langkawi and Borneo are the most convenient option flight with Singapore Airlines with one connection in Singapore, which allows you to combine two countries in one trip.

Language

Malaysian - Bahasa Malaysia. English is ubiquitous.

Cellular and Internet

It is advantageous to buy a SIM card from a local operator for your mobile phone. Otherwise (on roaming) it's expensive.

Transport

In Malaysia, there are various types of transport: train, plane, bus or car, in the end, go by ferry. In this generally small country, today it is open six international airports . The largest of them is located in Kuala Lumpur. Air communication with the capital has most of the 13 states of the country.

Railways stretch from neighboring Singapore to Malaysia, which cover all major cities and towns. Another reason to fly to Singapore and from there to Malaysia. Class 1 and 2 carriages are more comfortable, all of them are equipped with sleeping places and air conditioners.

From many settlements of the Malay Peninsula, you can get to Thailand and Singapore by train. Most of the islands have ferry connections between them. The largest seaports located in Klang, on the islands of Langkawi and Penang. In short, if there was money and time, it would be possible to ride around the entire region, in several neighboring countries, for sure.

Tourist centers

The state of Malaysia cherishes the best traditions of upscale recreation. There were no wars here for a long time, which certainly contributed to the achievement of this goal. Vacation in Malaysia has the following features:

The cleanest beaches, clear water and warm sea, the exotic nature of all states, an abundance of interesting places, historical monuments, combined with excellent well-established service, still keep the country in first place in the ranking of the most visited countries in the world by tourists.

The South China Sea seems to divide the country into two dissimilar parts. On the one hand, it is the wild nature of the famous island of Borneo untouched by civilizations, the uninhabited beaches of the state of Kelantan, the traditions of the ancient villages of Sarawak, on the other hand, the modern buildings and skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur.

You can get from one of these worlds to another in a matter of hours. In addition, Malaysia is one of the most peaceful and stable countries. At the main resorts of the country, beach holidays can be combined with active sports, surfing, diving. There is a rich excursion program. In short, you won't get bored.

The only disadvantage of Malaysia is a rather long flight with transfers.

The islands and Borneo have a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Penang Island is considered the historical capital of the country, the largest temples are located here: the Goddess of Mercy (Kek Lok Si) Thai, Burmese, Chinese and also the snake temple.

In Malaysia, services for divers are very well developed. The most visited islands are Mabul, Kapalai and Langkayan and Layang Layang off the southeast coast of Borneo.

Mountainous and forested areas

Highlands of Cameroon (3 hours drive from the capital) is the only place in Southeast Asia where strawberries are grown, tea plantations and hotels are also located there. colonial style where wealthy Malays rest who are tired of the heat.

Malaysia invites its guests to plunge into the wonderful world of art and architecture of the great civilizations of antiquity - Indian and Chinese cultures are intertwined here.

Nowhere in the world will you find such an amazing neighborhood as in Malaysia: once the most high building in the world, the Petronas Towers coexist perfectly with the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.

But Malaysia is not only thousands of ancient monuments and mysterious structures. Malaysia is also millions of square kilometers of impenetrable jungle. The most visited place in the Malaysian jungle is reserve, located in a mountainous area in the territory of three Malaysian states.
Taman Negara is the first place for those who want to visit the real jungle. The age of the Taman Negara jungle is estimated at 130 million years.

Within the park is Gua Teling cave. After making your way through a narrow passage, you can get into a large underground chamber, on the ceiling of which thousands of bats hang.

Attractions in cities

In Malaysia you can visit penang bridge, officially recognized as the third longest in the world, Mount Penang, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the island lying below, as well as the largest temple in Southeast Asia, Kek Lok Si.

On penang island off the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula are the most beautiful Chinese temples. The Temple of the Dragon Mountains in the very center of the old part of the city of Georgetown stands out with the richness and subtlety of the wooden carving. In Penang, there is the only Serpent Temple in Malaysia, where on the altars, among the bronze censers, dozens of poisonous snakes. They can be picked up - they will not bite, as they are full and intoxicated with incense.

famous Buddhist temples Penang. Temple Air Hitam ("black water"), otherwise - the temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas: this is how many images of the Buddha are kept in the high white pagoda and adjacent premises. The altars of the temple are guarded by giant figures of the gods and heroes of China. In the Siamese temple, the 12-meter stone Buddha lying in the room is guarded by 10-meter giants with the faces of monsters and dragons. Festivities are held near the temples. The most colorful of them is the festival of the Nine Gods of the Emperor.

IN Kuching, the capital of the island of Sarawak, has the palace of the White Rajas - the descendants of the Englishman Brooke, who ruled this pirate land in the last century.

In the northwest of Malaysia, in the warm waters of the Andaman Sea, there are Langkawi islands. Its southwest coast is a continuous strip of white sandy beaches.
Tropical rainforests have been preserved in the northwest of the island. Telaga Tudzhukh - this is the name of 7 lakes located one above the other on a gentle mountain slope. Cold water flows from one lake to another, and, according to local legend, it is here that fairies descend from the mountains to bathe and wash their long hair. Telaga Air Panas - hot lakes in the central part of the island. Not far from this place falls on the rocks Durian Perangin waterfall.

Dayang Bunting

This is an island located near the islands of Langkawi. Of interest is the Lake of a pregnant woman, separated from the sea by a narrow isthmus. Women suffering from infertility make a pilgrimage here, who drink water from the lake in the hope of being cured of their illness.

Caves are located about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. Batu Caves. These caves, formed about 400 million years ago in limestone rocks, were discovered by accident in 1878 by the American naturalist William Hornaday. Today, Buddhists annually celebrate the Thaipusam holiday here, arranged in honor of the god Murugan. On this day, believers, reading prayers, bring a statue of their deity into a special Temple cave, for which they have to overcome 272 steps. The procession, cheered by the incessant beat of drums and shouts, makes a strong impression.

IN Kedah, in the jungle along the banks of the Bujang River in the north-west of the peninsula, traces of ancient civilizations were found in the last century - the remains of the square foundations of temples, which sometimes served as tombs. This area was called the Valley of the Tombs. Here was the center of the Hindu civilization of the 1st millennium AD, which existed long before the Malacca Sultanate. Kedah Peak, visible from here, served as a landmark for Hindu navigators and was the place where their gods lived. The country's first national historical park is being created here.

Mangroves grow on the coast of Malaysia, and in the mountains - oak and coniferous forests, in the upper tier giving way to alpine meadows. The fauna of Malaysia is also extremely rich (elephants, two-horned rhinos, tigers, panthers, black-backed tapirs, crocodiles, huge pythons). There are many monkeys (including anthropoid orangutans and gibbons, as well as proboscis living only on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo), for the protection of which the Kinabalu and Sepilok National Parks were established (the latter is the largest orangutan habitat in the world).

Safety

Malaysia is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia for tourists. Unlike, tap water is drinking here, but it’s better to drink boiled water or bottled drinking water. Crime in the country is low, but in crowded places, tourists should look after their belongings.

There are no private beaches in Malaysia, so topless sunbathing is not worth it. Shorts, short T-shirts and skirts should not be worn when visiting mosques or Malay villages. You can’t take food with your left hand, but to pass something to a local resident with it means to offend him greatly. Like Thailand, Malaysia no one should be patted on the head, even small children.

Malaysia is a religious country. This obliges tourists going on an excursion to dress not very brightly and cover their shoulders.

What to bring from Malaysia

Traditional Malaysian souvenirs are pewter, batik, and kites. Batik (hand-painted silk and cotton fabrics) and its products (sarongs and shirts) are sold in many tourist centers. Tin products can also be found in souvenir shops.
In addition to various household utensils, caskets, kris are sold in stores - crooked Malay knives. When buying them, you should remember that at airports the police may require them to be deposited with pilots for the duration of the flight.

Figurines of local spirits and hunting pipes with arrows are sold in Borneo. Colorful kites are considered a traditional souvenir. Miniature snakes are sold in stores, however, you can buy a real big one.

No one writes about the famous Malay-made electronics (more precisely, assemblies), probably - it’s not very profitable to carry. For some, furniture from Malaysia will turn out to be a hot topic, it will not come cheap either - but if you want, you can bring it.

The Federation of Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, almost on the equator. The country consists of two parts: West Malaysia and East Malaysia. West Malaysia is located in the south of the Malay Peninsula and borders Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south. East Malaysia is located in the north of the island of Borneo, or Kalimantan, as the Indonesians prefer to call it. A third of Borneo belongs to East Malaysia, which shares it with Brunei to the north and Indonesia to the south and east. East Malaysia, in turn, is divided into two historical regions - Sabah and Sarawak. The eastern and western parts of the country are separated by almost 600 kilometers South China Sea. total area The country is almost 330 thousand square kilometers, moreover, 63 percent of the territory is occupied by the jungle. Malaysia owns 1007 islands, 38 of which have been declared marine reserves. The largest islands are Langkawi, Penang, Tioman.

Malaysia consists of 13 states and 2 federal territories - the capital Kuala Lumpur and the island of Labuan. Sultans rule in nine states, each of which becomes the king of Malaysia for five years. The capital of the country is the city of Kuala Lumpur with a population of 1300 thousand people. Other major cities: Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Georgetown.

Archaeological excavations have proven that as early as 300 BC, an Indo-Buddhist civilization existed on the territory of modern Malaysia. From the 7th to the 11th centuries, the most powerful state in the Strait of Malacca was the state of Srivijaya, which was located in the southeastern part of the island of Sumatra. Chinese and Indian sources of the time note the wealth of Srivijaya and its fame as a center of Buddhism. In 1402, the Malacca Sultanate was founded on the Malay Peninsula. The 15th century was the period of its heyday, at that time the sultanate was the main transit point in all of Southeast Asia. In 1511, the Portuguese came to Malaysia, eager to take control of the world's spice trade, and remained there for the next 154 years until they were forced out by the British.

In 1896, the most economically developed regions of the peninsula united into a federation, over which Great Britain owned suzerain rights. The prosperity of British Malaya at that time was based on income from tin mining and rubber production. But soon, in the 1930s, the first calls for independence began to emerge. The contradictions became especially evident after the outbreak of hostilities in the Pacific in 1941-1945. In 1942, Japanese troops occupied the entire Malay Peninsula, including Singapore. After the unconditional surrender of Japan, the British returned to Malaya and proposed a plan for the creation of the Malayan Union. This union turned out to be unviable, and on February 1, 1948, it was replaced by the Federation of Malaya. On August 31, 1957, the Federation of Malaya was proclaimed an independent state.

Population

The special charm of Malaysia is given by the motley mixture of the nations inhabiting it, which also led to a rich cultural heritage preserved for many centuries. The Malays are very friendly and reluctant to get involved in conflicts. The total population is about 20 million people. The balance between the main nations is distributed as follows - 59% Malays, 32% Chinese, 9% - Indians.

Religion

Sunni Islam is the official religion of Malaysia. It is practiced by 53% of the population. The Malaysian constitution allows free religion, so in a small area you can simultaneously meet mosques, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu temples. Today, Christians make up 10-12% of the total population of Malaysia. Most Christians are Chinese, but there are also Indians.

Language

The official language of Malaysia is Malay, English, Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese, Tamil and other dialects are also widely spoken. Since English is taught in high school at a fairly serious level, the language barrier is easily overcome.

Because of the heat, humidity and tropical downpours, Malaysia is sometimes referred to as a "sauna". Indeed, there is an equatorial climate, high humidity and many sunny days a year, but this is only a plus for tourism and leisurely relaxation.

Almost none in Malaysia seasonal changes climate, but the coolest time is from November to January, when the thermometer “drops” to 26 degrees. However, the climate of Malaysia differs depending on which region you are in. In the south of Malacca and Kalimantan, the climate is equatorial, hot and humid, to the north - subequatorial monsoon. On the plains, average temperatures during the year range from 25 to 32°C, but in mountainous areas, such as Genting Highlands, temperatures drop to 15°C at night. Monsoon winds blow in the southwest from April to October, and from October to February in the northeast of the country. During the monsoon period, sea tourism sometimes stops on the northeast coast of Malacca. At other times, strong winds are rare.

Strong, but short-term rains go all year round, so there is no rainy season as such in Malaysia. On the west coast of Malaysia (the islands of Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor) the rainy season is practically not expressed and falls on May - September; in April, May and October, thunderstorms hit the western coast of the peninsula. On the east coast (Tioman Islands, Redang) a more pronounced rainy season lasts from October to March. The rainy season is marked by heavy showers lasting two to three hours, they usually pass in the afternoon. Due to the higher rainfall, the evergreen jungle on the east coast is thicker and more impassable, and the river network is very full-flowing, although it consists of short rivers. In mountainous areas, it rains more often, because clouds constantly gather over high peaks. In general, the amount of precipitation in Malaysia is about 2000 mm per year, in the mountains it reaches 5000 mm. However, your clothes here will be wet and without rain: throughout the year, the humidity here is 75%.

All this provided an amazing wealth of flora and fauna of Malaysia, which can amaze any traveler: 600 species of birds, 210 species of mammals, 140 species of snakes, 80 species of lizards, about 14,500 species of plants grow here. You can become a guest of this tropical holiday at any time of the year, but the best time to visit West Malaysia is the period from late February to early October, and East - the second half of October.

Average monthly water temperature in the South China Sea:

Average monthly air temperature in the country:

In Malaysia, where so many cultures have grown together over the centuries, there is no national cuisine as such. It is a skillful interweaving of the best culinary traditions of all those nations that once came here.

But everything traditional cuisines Malaysian peoples are united by one thing - rice, or "nasi", in Malay. Rice is life, everything else is just its decoration. Rice is steamed, fried with spices and vegetables, stewed with coconut milk, mixed with fruit for desserts. All other products are called by the common word - "lauk", which means "addition to rice."

You can eat well and cheaply anywhere in Malaysia, but to get the most complete picture of Malaysian cuisine, you should buy food from hawkers. For us, lunch in such an impromptu street cafe seems undignified, but in Malaysia such meals are very common and respected. The best stalls are just as popular as the famous restaurants. For a couple of coins, the hostess of such a tray will hand you a plastic plate with steamed rice, and then you already choose for yourself: go to each of the huge dishes with "lauk" and put whatever you want on top of the rice. Behind the neighboring tray of venerable years, the owner in a white apron will cook for you "sate ayam" - a traditional Malaysian dish, which is a chicken or meat skewers on small bamboo sticks. The pieces of meat are first marinated in a crushed mixture of cilantro seeds, turmeric and dried turmeric roots with salt, sugar and crushed peanuts. Sate is served on a banana leaf, accompanied by a sweet and sour toasted peanut sauce.

The most important meal for Malaysians is breakfast. Their most common breakfast is nasi lemak, a dish made from rice boiled in coconut milk and served with anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, roasted peanuts, and cucumbers. No less beloved by Malaysians is the dish "ketupat" - a kind of cabbage rolls, where rice and spices are wrapped in palm leaves. "Ketupat" is fried in palm oil, after which the leaves are thrown away and the filling is eaten. Other typical Malay dishes include: "tahu gorent" - fried cubes of soy flour with soy shoots, rolled in ground peanuts with spicy seasoning; "laksa johor" - thick spicy fish soup with rice noodles.

Be sure to also try the rendang dish in a traditional Malay restaurant. It takes several hours to cook, all this time the meat with spices is simmered in coconut milk over low heat. Before that, according to our tradition, you should try the “first”, for example, “ekor” - spicy, thick buffalo tail soup with numerous additives and spices, or “soto ayam” - spicy chicken soup with rice and vegetables. On the "third" you can try traditional Malay pancakes "roti chanai" or "roti jala", puff pies "murtabak". Desserts are also worth a try. What is worth only "melaka", which is made from sago with coconut milk and palm sugar syrup, or "ice kachang" - a multi-colored mixture of jelly cubes, red beans, creamed corn and peanuts, sprinkled with small crumbs of ice and poured with pink syrup.

Chinese dishes are also available in abundance. You can try Taezhou porridge, Hainanese chicken with rice, Hakk yon may fu (meat with bean paste), Hokien mi (fried vermicelli with pieces of meat, shrimp and shellfish). In addition to the traditional wok pan, Malay cuisine borrowed from the Chinese all kinds of noodles, marinades and tofu soy cheese. In Malaysia, there is even a special name for Chinese-Malay cuisine - "nyonya". Indian dishes are distinguished by the abundant use of a variety of spices. The crown dish of Indian cuisine is "nasi bryani", "yellow rice", boiled in milk and meat broth with saffron and infusion of rose petals. From the culinary traditions of India, Malay cuisine took, first of all, a wide variety of spices. In particular, now it is customary here to add lemon grass, zest, leaves and lime juice to sauces for fish and meat, thanks to which the finished dish acquires a stable, slightly harsh citrus aroma. In addition, mint, fresh cilantro, ginger and turmeric roots add a peculiar taste to the dishes.

If Peking duck and oxtail soup aren't for you, stop by one of the Malay vegetarian restaurants. Here you will be served chicken or fish, and the local exotic is that the chefs used only pressed soybean curd or mushrooms to prepare these "meat" dishes.

Malaysia - real paradise for lovers of exotic fruits. Try the durian, for example, a strange football-sized fruit covered in sharp spikes. It is quite expensive, and its value is very ambiguous. "It smells like hell but tastes like heaven" is the classic description of durian. It really smells disgusting, but nevertheless remains one of the favorite Malay fruits. Maybe the secret of its popularity is that durian is a phenomenal aphrodisiac. Little is known to us and another fruit beloved by Malaysians - chiku, which ripens here throughout the year. Most of the desserts here also use guava, which is known for its musky flavor and very tasty pulp. The jackfruit or Nangka seems strange, the twenty-kilogram fruits of which are filled with many very tasty, sweet segments of bright yellow color with an enticing aroma. Back in the days British colonization, high-ranking Europeans considered the opportunity to taste mangosteen a great success. They say that the English Queen Victoria fell in love with him so much that she announced a reward to anyone who could bring fresh mangosteens to England. And, finally, when you go to the noisy and colorful Malaysian market, be sure to buy rambutan. Don't let its hairy skin scare you away, its incredibly juicy and sweet flesh hides underneath.

Strong drinks in Malaysia are not consumed as often. Most often, Malaysians drink local beer, which is allowed even for Muslims. But we advise you to drink coconut milk in Malaysia. It's sold on every corner and costs less than a dollar. In front of you, the seller will choose a nut, cut off the top from it and give you a shell with a straw.

"Salamat makan" - bon appetit, Malaysia tells you. And we advise you to prepare your stomach ahead of time, because you will never be able to refuse this hospitable invitation.

Agreements relating to Malaysia, in English texts (document)

Malaysia Act 1963 (document)

• West Malaysia (traditionally called Malaya) occupies the southern tip of the Malacca Peninsula with adjacent islands, borders Thailand in the north, Singapore in the south, and Indonesia along the Strait of Malacca.

Name etymology

It is believed that the name Melayu derived from the Sanskrit words Malaiur or Malayadvipa, which can be translated as "mountainous country". This word was mentioned by Indian merchants in relation to the Malay Peninsula. According to another version, the name comes from the Tamil word Malai "mountain". The French navigator Jules Dumont-D'Urville, after his expedition to Oceania in 1826, proposed the use of the names "Malaysia", "Micronesia", and "Melanesia" to refer to island groups separate from Polynesia. In 1831 he proposed these names to the French Geographical Society. Dumont-D'Urville named Malaysia "the territory known as the East Indies". In 1850, the English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor wrote in Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, suggesting for the islands of Southeast Asia the names Melayanesia or Indunesia.

In 1957, the Federation of Malaya, which included the states on the Malay Peninsula, declared its independence. The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963, when Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak joined the federation. Thus, the particle "si" was added to the name in honor of the accession of three states. It is also worth noting that even before that, the name "Malaysia" was used in relation to everything Malay Archipelago.

State structure

Malaysia is an elected federal constitutional monarchy, which consists of 13 federal states (states) and three federal territories (11 states and two federal territories are located on the Malay Peninsula, and 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak) are on the island of Kalimantan and one federal Territory (Labuan) - off its northwest coast. Nine states are monarchies. Seven of them are headed by sultans. The ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan bears the traditional Malay title of Yang Dipertuan Besar ( Yang Dipertuan Besar). The ruler of the state of Perlis holds the title of Raja. In monarchical states, the head of the executive branch is the chief minister ( menteri besar). Each ruler is also the spiritual head of his state. The remaining 4 states are headed by governors appointed by the central government. The chief executive in each of these 4 states is also headed by a chief minister, called in Malay ketua menteri. The federal territories are administered directly by the central government.

Every five years, nine monarchs choose from their midst the Supreme Ruler (King, in Malay - Yang di-Pertuan Agong), and his assistant-deputy (vice-king). As a rule, for reasons of seniority or length of reign. The supreme ruler and the sultans perform mainly representative functions, but all laws and amendments to the constitution are subject to their approval. The main functions government controlled carry out the parliament and the cabinet of ministers headed by the federal prime minister. The Malaysian Parliament consists of two chambers: the lower - the House of Representatives and the upper - the Senate. The House of Representatives is elected by direct general suffrage. The Senate consists of elected members (two from each state) and members appointed by the king on the advice of the government. Executive power is vested in the federal government headed by the prime minister, who is the leader of the party that wins elections to the House of Representatives. All ministers must necessarily be members of parliament, that is, they must win the elections.

In Malaysia, religious freedom is proclaimed, but the official religion is Islam, which is practiced by 60% of the population. Issues related to the dissolution of marriage and inheritance are decided by Muslims in Sharia courts, and secular courts do not have the right to review their decisions.

Prime Ministers of Malaysia

Constitution

Natural disasters

Due to the large number of water bodies and the extremely high average rainfall, exceeding 2000 mm for most parts of the country, Malaysia suffers from floods quite often. Since 1926, 15 major floods have been recorded in the country. The 2006-2007 Johor floods killed 18 people and caused damage estimated at RM1.5 billion; about 110 thousand people were temporarily evacuated. The territory of the country is seismically stable. However, there are two tectonic plate boundaries near Malaysia: between the Australian and Eurasian plates in the west, and between the Eurasian and Philippine plates in the east. Thus, tremors from earthquakes occurring on the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines can be felt on the territory of the country.

Live nature

Malaysia is a country with a high level of biodiversity and a large number of endemics. About 20% of all animal species known in the world are found on the territory of the country. A particularly high level of endemism is characteristic of the mountain forests of Kalimantan. About 210 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles (of which about 150 species of snakes and 80 species of lizards), about 150 species of frogs and thousands of species of insects are found in Malaysia. On the territory of the peninsular part of the country alone, there are about 620 species of birds.

In peninsular Malaysia, there are 2 types of big cats: Indochinese tiger and clouded leopard, and in the eastern part - only clouded leopard. Other mammals include Malayan bear, Sumatran rhinoceros, black-backed tapir, muntjacs, Indian sambars, wild boars, bearded pigs, gaurs, Asian elephants, etc. There are such types of primates as: , slow loris, etc. The population of orangutans in East Malaysia is about 11,300 individuals. The population of the Malayan tiger (a subspecies of the Indochinese tiger, endemic to the peninsular part of the country) is only about 500 individuals. In addition, there are about 1,200 elephants in the western part of the country.

Approximately 58.2% of the territory of Malaysia is covered with forests. Once upon a time, the entire eastern part of the country was covered with Bornean lowland rainforests. There are about 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, while there are about 15,000 species in the eastern part. In addition, there are about 2,000 species of trees in island Malaysia, and up to 240 different tree species can be found on one hectare of forest. Rafflesia is found in the forests of the country - the largest flower in the world, the diameter of which can reach 1 meter.

Ecological problems

Smog over Kuala Lumpur

A serious problem for the country's environment is deforestation, the causes of which are deforestation and clearing of areas for agricultural land, mainly for oil palm plantations. Since 2000, Malaysia has been losing up to 140,200 hectares (0.65% of total forest area) of forests annually. So more than 80% of the forests of the state of Sarawak in the east of the country and more than 60% of the forests of peninsular Malaysia were destroyed. At the current rate of deforestation, forests in Malaysia could disappear completely by 2020. Deforestation has a major impact on unique fauna a country that is losing its natural habitats. The number of orangutans in Malaysia has decreased by about 40% over the past 20 years, and the Malaysian population of the Sumatran rhinoceros has probably disappeared altogether. The number of hornbills has also significantly decreased. Most of the modern forests are located within the boundaries of national parks.

Other serious problems are poaching and smuggling of animals, as well as overfishing and other representatives of marine fauna. There is also pollution of inland and coastal waters by industrial waste. About 40% of the country's rivers are heavily polluted. Malaysian cities generate an average of 1.5 million tons of solid waste per year. Air pollution is also a problem in large cities.

Population

Population density

Malaysia has a population of 28,334,135 (44th in the world) as of the 2010 census. The average population density is about 86 people/km². The population is rather unevenly distributed, as 79.6% of Malaysians live in the peninsular part of the country and only 20.4% in the eastern part. The urban population is about 70%. Annual growth is 2.4%; about 34% of the country's population is under the age of 15 years.

National composition

Malaysia is ethnically diverse. Most of the population (about 60.3% as of 2010) are Austronesian peoples, known locally as Bumiputra. The concept of Bumiputra includes Malayswho make up just over half of the country's population (50.4%), as well as indigenous peoples living on these lands even before the arrival of the Malays (about 11%). Indigenous people The country is known collectively as Orang Asli and includes many ethnic groups. If in the peninsular part of the country they make up only an extremely small proportion of the population, then in the east (in the states of Sarawak and Sabah) they make up the majority. The largest of these ethnic groups - Ibans, has about 600 thousand people (30% of the population of Sarawak). Another large indigenous people - Bidayuh, has about 170 thousand people and lives in the southwestern part of Sarawak.

The second largest ethnic group in the country is the Chinese (24.6% of the population of Malaysia). The Chinese population is rather unevenly distributed, for example, the most "Chinese" cities in Malaysia are Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, and the most "Chinese" state is Penang (41% of the state's population are Chinese). The third largest ethnic group is Indians (7.1%). The vast majority of them are of Tamil origin, who, together with Malayali and Telugu, make up more than 85% of the total Malay population of Indian origin.

Languages

The official language of Malaysia is Malay. English has historically (up until the late 1960s) been the de facto language of administration. Today, English plays an important role as a second language and is used to some extent in education. In addition, Malay English is widely used in business, along with it is often used Manglish - English with a very strong influence of Malay and to some extent Chinese and Tamil. In the eastern part of the country, indigenous languages ​​\u200b\u200bare quite common, which are mostly distantly related to Malay. The most common of these languages ​​is Iban, with over 600,000 speakers.

The Malay Chinese mainly speak various Southern Chinese dialects (Southern Min, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese, etc.) and, to a lesser extent, Putonghua. The Indians of the country mainly use Tamil.

Religion

The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, however, Islam has the status of a state religion in the country. According to the 2010 census, Islam is practiced by about 61.3% of the population; Buddhism - 19.8%; Christianity - 9.2%; Hinduism - 6.3%; Confucianism, Taoism and other Chinese religions - 1.3%. 0.7% of the population reported being non-religious, and 1.4% - that they profess other religions, or did not give any information.

All ethnic Malays are Muslims according to the country's constitution. According to the 2010 census, the majority of the Chinese population of the country practice Buddhism (83.6%); 11% profess Christianity; 3.4% - Taoism; in addition, there is a small community of Chinese Muslims. Among the Indian population, 86.2% profess Hinduism; 6% - Christianity; 4.1% - Islam. Christianity is widespread among the indigenous population of the country (orang-asli) - 46.5% of them are Christians; 40.4% are Muslims.

Education

Education in Malaysia is overseen by two ministries, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. Although education is the responsibility of the federal government, each state has the right to make some adjustments in this area in its territory. The main legislation governing education is the Education Act 1996. Education can be obtained in the public school system, which provides free education for all Malaysians, in private schools or at home. By law, primary education is compulsory (6 years). The middle stage includes 5 years.

The main language of education in the country is Malay, which is a key issue for many political groups. At the same time, primary schools remain, using either Chinese or Tamil as the language of education. Until 1981, schools using English remained, the number of which was reduced from 1970 by the transition to Malay, until they completely disappeared by 1982. This causes dissatisfaction among the non-Malay population of the country, mainly the Chinese, who oppose Malay as the main language of education and claim that their culture is being infringed.

healthcare

Healthcare in Malaysia is under the control of the Ministry of Health and includes 2 sectors: public and private. About 5% of the total budget allocated for the development of the social sector goes to health care. The country's government plans to focus on repairing existing ones, as well as building and equipping new hospitals, increasing the number of polyclinics, as well as improving training and developing telemedicine. Over the past few years, it has stepped up its efforts to overhaul all systems and attract foreign investment in this area.

One of the main health problems in the country is the lack of the required number of medical centers in rural areas. Another problem is the lack of highly qualified specialists. So, attempts to send various medical equipment were hampered by the lack of staff experience with this equipment. Thus, many types of medical care are available only in major cities in Malaysia. Private clinics, unlike most public hospitals, are usually equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

Cities

Major cities in Malaysia
	City	State	Population			City	State	Population
1		federal territory	1,809,699		8	Shah Alam	Selangor	617,149
2		Selangor	1,321,672		9	Kota Kinabalu	Sabah	579,304
3	Klang	Selangor	1,055,207		10	Kota Bharu	Kelantan	577,301
4	Johor Bahru	Johor	895 509		11	Petaling Jaya	Selangor	543,415
5	Ampang Jaya	Selangor	756,309		12	Tebrau	Johor	525,351
6	Ipo	Perak	710,798		13	Cheras	Selangor	515,961
7	Kuching	Sarawak	658,562		14	Sandakan	Sabah	479,121

Economy

oil palm plantation

Malaysia had a high economic growth rate (one of the highest in Asia) with an average annual GDP growth of about 6.5% from 1957 to 2005. As of 2010, Malaysia's GDP was $414.400 billion (the third largest economy in ASEAN and the 29th largest economy in the world). In the 1970s, the country's economy, based mainly on the extractive industry and agriculture, begins the transition to a diversified economy; in the 1980s, the industrial sector grew rapidly. Foreign investment played an important role in this growth. After the Asian economic crisis in 1997, the Malaysian economy recovered much faster than the economies of neighboring countries.

International trade, facilitated by the important maritime trade route through the Strait of Malacca, and manufacturing - are the most important sectors of the country's economy. Malaysia is a major exporter of agricultural and natural resources, the most significant of which is oil. Proved oil reserves are about 4.3 billion barrels; Malaysian state oil company - Petronas. At one time, the country was the largest producer of tin, natural rubber and palm oil. Malaysia - developed center Islamic banking.

The country's science is regulated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Malaysia is a major exporter of electrical engineering and information and communication technology products (1st place in the world in the production of electronic chips and household air conditioners). The automotive industry is developing (there is a national brand Proton in the country). In 2002, the country launched its own space program. In order to create an independent defense capability, the government of the country continues to promote the defense industry and its competitiveness.

Tourism

The desire of the Malaysian government to differentiate the country's economy, making it less dependent on the export of goods and production, pushed him to develop tourism. As a result , tourism has become the third largest source of foreign exchange income and accounted for 7 % of the country 's economy in 2005 . For 2009, Malaysia is in 9th place in the list of the most visited countries, right after Germany. However, the existence and further development of tourism is under threat. negative consequences industrial growth associated with environmental degradation and deforestation.

The country attracts tourists with its national parks, located mainly in the eastern part of the country. In addition, with a significant length of coastline, Malaysia is famous for its pristine beaches and comfortable places for diving. Large cities of the country are also interesting, combining modern, traditional and colonial architecture.

Transport

North-South Expressway - a route passing through the entire peninsular part of the country from north to south

Malaysia has an extensive road network of 98,721 km of highways, of which 80,280 km are paved and 1,821 km are freeways ( expressways) . The main highway of the country has a length of 966 km and connects the Thai border with Singapore. The road network in the peninsular part of the country is much better developed and of higher quality than in the eastern part. Malaysia drives on the left.

Malaysian railways have a length of 1,849 km and connect most of the cities in the peninsular part of the country. the only Railway in eastern Malaysia, a 134 km branch in the state of Sabah. The country's railways are linked to the systems of Singapore and Thailand. There is a 57 km high speed railway linking Kuala Lumpur with the airport. In the capital of the country, urban light rail transport is also developed.

In total, there are 58 airports in the country, of which 37 are passenger ones. 8 airports in Malaysia have international status, the busiest of them - ( Kuala Lumpur International Airport ); the second busiest is Kota Kinabalu Airport ( Kota Kinabalu International Airpo rt). The country's state-owned national airline is Malaysia Airlines. Malaysia's largest port is Klang, located 38 km southwest of Kuala Lampur, in the state of Selangor.

culture

Malaysia is a multiethnic and multilingual country. The original culture of these lands comes from the culture of the indigenous peoples living here before the arrival of the Malays, as well as from the Malays themselves, who came later. With the beginning of the development of trade in the East, the Chinese and Indians made an important contribution to the cult of Malaysia. Persian, Arab and British influences are also quite strong.

In 1971, the government of the country announced the National Cultural Policy, defining the Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture should be based on the culture of the country's indigenous peoples; it may also include suitable elements of other cultures, Islam should play an important role in the culture of the country. It was also announced that the Malay language should occupy a more important position than the others. This intervention in culture by the state caused massive resentment from the non-Malay population of the country, who felt that their cultural freedom had been reduced. Associations of Chinese and Indians presented memorandums to the government, accusing them of undemocratic cultural policies.

Literature

Before the appearance of writing in the region, there were quite strong oral traditions that flourished even long after the arrival of the Jawi script (modified Arabic alphabet), which appeared on the territory of modern Malaysia with the arrival of Islam here at the end of the 15th century. The Indian epic had a strong influence on oral traditions. Each Malay sultan created his own literary tradition based on the oral tradition and stories of those who came with Islam from the territory of Persia and the Middle East. An important moment in the development of literature was the emergence of printing. Traditionally, poetry was well developed, which has many forms and genres here. Until the beginning of the 19th century, Malay literature was mainly focused on stories about royalty, later the subject matter of the works became wider. Since the beginning of the 20th century, literature began to change dramatically, reflecting social changes. One of the most famous early works is Malay Genealogies, or Genealogies of the Sultans ( Sulalatus Salatin), was originally written in the 15th century, but the earliest extant versions date back to the 16th century. "The History of Hang Tuah" ( Hikayat Hang Tuah) is also one of the most famous works of the time.

The main languages ​​of Malaysian literature are Malay, English and Chinese. In 1971, the government of the country took a step to define literature in different languages, so the literature in Malay began to be called " national literature Malaysia", literature in other languages ​​bumiputra "regional literature", in other languages ​​- "composite literature"

Art

Joget, traditional Malay dance

Traditional Malaysian art is concentrated mainly on wood carving, basket weaving and silversmithing. The traditional Malay kris dagger with a curved asymmetrical blade shape is widely known. Also widespread is the painting on fabric characteristic of the region - batik, and some other styles of decorating fabrics. It is traditional for the peoples of East Malaysia to make wooden masks. Traditional jewelry is associated with the decoration of silver and gold products with various precious stones. In some parts of the country, there are styles of painting clay products. The local art of staging has a strong Indian influence. For many centuries, the shadow theater wayang-kulit has been widespread, which is also characteristic of other countries of the region. The plots of wayang puppet shows are usually taken from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata; dolls are made of cow or buffalo skin and painted by hand. For the country's Chinese community, performances such as the dragon dance and the lion dance are traditional, usually performed at major holidays such as the Chinese New Year.

Architecture

The architecture of the country is a mixture of many styles, from traditional Indian and Chinese to those brought by European colonialists. Architectural traditions vary from region to region. Traditional building materials are wood, bamboo and leaves. The indigenous peoples of the east of the country are characterized by long houses (longhouses) and water villages on stilts.

Music

Traditional music is based mainly on percussion instruments, the most important of which is the gendang. There are at least 14 different types of reels in total. Other instruments include the rebab (bowed), seruling (a type of flute), and other wind instruments. The east of the country is characterized by different types of gongs. Music has traditionally been used during storytelling, as well as at various festivities.

Kitchen

Nasi lemak

Malaysian cuisine reflects the multi-ethnicity of its population. Many cultures of both the peoples of the country and the peoples of neighboring regions have influenced the cuisine. The main influences take their roots from the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese and Sumatran cultures, largely due to the fact that the spice road once passed through these lands. Many dishes contain several cultural influences at once, which gives Malaysian cuisine its own identity. The cuisine of Malaysia is most similar to the cuisines of Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. Culinary traditions, dishes and how they are prepared often differ from state to state.

As in other countries in the region, one of the staples in Malaysian cuisine is rice. The most popular traditional rice-based dish is nasi lemak: steamed rice with coconut milk; usually served with fried anchovies, walnut, cucumber, hard boiled egg and a spicy chili paste known as sambal. Often nasi lemak is also served with a meat dish. rendang to make food more satisfying. Quite similar to nasi lemak is a dish naxi datang, popular on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Another important ingredient along with rice is noodles, which are popular not only among the local Chinese, but also among other ethnic groups. Due to the maritime position of the country, fish and seafood dishes are common. Beef is the most popular meat among Muslims; pork is also common among non-Muslims.

Holidays

Malaysians celebrate quite a few holidays throughout the year. Some of them are established at the federal level, and some - by the governments of individual states. In addition, the observance of the holidays depends on the particular ethnic and religious group; however, the main holidays of each group were declared state holidays. Of the main holidays, it is worth noting Independence Day ( Hari Merdeka), celebrated on 31 August to commemorate the declaration of independence by the Federation of Malaya in 1957. Another important public holiday is Malaysia Day, celebrated on 16 September to commemorate the 1963 federation. Other national holidays include Labor Day (1 May) and The King's Birthday (first week of June).

The main Islamic holidays are also widely celebrated: Uraza-Bayram ( Hari Raya Puasa), Eid al-Adha ( Hari Raya Haji) and Mawlid al-Nabi ( Maulidur Rasool). The Chinese of the country celebrate the Chinese New Year and other major traditional festivals. Indians celebrate Diwali, Thaipusam and other Hindu festivities. Christians celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. Ethnic groups in the east of Malaysia also widely celebrate the Harvest Festival ( Hawaiian Dayak). Despite the ethnic and religious affiliation of most of the holidays, the main ones are common and are often celebrated by representatives of other ethnic groups of the country.

Mass media

In the system of electronic media, the state-owned corporation Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) occupies a leading position. It is accountable to the Ministry of Information, which coordinates the activities of all state media institutions. The starting point of its existence is considered April 1, 1946, when the Department of Broadcasting was created and Radio Malaya began to broadcast its programs (since 1963 - Radio Malaysia). Now Radio Malaysia has 22 radio stations and 7 programs, including a special tourist program in Malay and English. In addition, since February 15, 1963, the Voice of Malaysia radio has been broadcasting abroad in 8 languages ​​​​(Arabic, Malay, English, Indonesian, Chinese, Burmese, Tagalog, Thai) with a volume of 168 hours a week. Popular music radio station "Classic National" (National Classics).

Television programs have been conducted since December 28, 1963. Color television appeared on December 28, 1978. There are two channels (TV-1 and TV-2). The number of transmitting stations is 131, the volume of broadcasts is 206 hours per week (126 hours of TV-1 and 80 hours of TV-2). On June 1, 1984, the first private channel was created - TV-3 with 24 transmitting stations, which has been broadcasting around the clock since August 31, 1997 and covers 96 percent of the country's population. On July 1, 1995, Metrovision Channel 4 went into operation in the capital and its environs, serving about 3.3 million viewers.

The National Information Agency - BERNAMA, established in 1968 by a government decree of May 1, 1984, it is endowed with the exclusive right to disseminate information of foreign news agencies. Member of the Organization of Asian News Agencies and Pacific Ocean(OANA). It has branches in every state, overseas bureaus on a permanent basis in Singapore, Jakarta, Hanoi, stringers in Washington, London, Dhaka, Melbourne, Tokyo and Delhi.

There are 56 newspapers (14 Malay, 12 English, 18 Chinese, 4 Tamil, 4 Japanese and 4 multilingual) and 1,801 periodicals (959 Malay, 495 English, 255 in Chinese, 62 in Tamil and 30 in Japanese). Since 2006, the quarterly theater magazine "Pentas" (Scene) has been published, edited by the famous poet Rakhimidin Zahari. The largest newspaper syndicates are the New Straits Times Press (1961), which publishes five dailies (New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Business Times, Malay Mail, Harian Metro) and four Sunday papers ( New Sunday Times, Berita Minggu, Sunday Mail, Metro Ahad) with a total circulation of over 1.5 million copies and eight magazines, as well as Utusan Melayyu (Malaysia) Berhad (1938), which published two daily ( "Utusan Malaysia" - in Latin, "Utusan Melayu" - in Arabic) and one Sunday ("Mingguan Malaysia") newspaper with a total circulation of about 700 thousand copies and ten magazines. Other influential newspapers include the Sunday Star Star (circulation 170,000), Nanyang Shanbao (145,000), Xingzhou Ribao (210,000), Tamil Nesan (circulation 30,000). ), "Zhongguo Bao" (110 thousand). Licenses for printed publications were updated annually until 2012. Since 1974, there has been the Malaysian Press Institute, where journalists improve their skills.

see also

• List of Russian-speaking explorers of Malaysia

Notes

1. (English) . - Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957 at Wikisource Archived
2. (English) . - Agreement Establishing the Federation of Malaya at Wikisource. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
3. Putrajaya has been the seat of the Malaysian government since 2007
4. Malaysia
5. CIA (2010)
6. (English) . - Member States of the United Nations at Wikisource. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
7. United Nations List of Non-Governmental Organizations, Non-Self-Governing Territories, North Borneo and Sarawak
8. All Trust Territories achieved self-rule or independence
9. United Nations Treaty of 30 June 1963 no. 8029 between Philippines, Federation of Malaya and Indonesia
10. United Nations Treaties no. 8809, Agreement for the Implementation of the Manila Agreement
11. Govind Chandra Pande India's Interaction with Southeast Asia: History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. 1, Part 3. - Munshiram Manoharlal, 2005. - P. 266. - ISBN 9788187586241
12. Lallanji Gopal The economic life of northern India: c. A.D. 700–1200. - Motilal Banarsidass, 2000. - P. 139. - ISBN 9788120803022
13. On the Islands of the Great Ocean. The Journal of Pacific History(Taylor & Francis, Ltd) 38 (2).
14. States of Malaysia. Statoids (Administrative Divisions of Countries). Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
15. The Sultan, the Bumiputra and the Five-Year Horizons. Private Correspondent (October 30, 2009). Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
16. Richmond Simon Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. - Lonely Planet. - P. 366. - ISBN 9781741048872
17. www.britannica.com
18. Mountain Encyclopedia
19. Malays Travel Guide:Climate of Malaysia , Circle of Asia. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
20. Saw Swee Hock The population of Peninsular Malaysia. - Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2007. - P. 1–2. - ISBN 978-981-230-730-9
21. weather phenomena. Malaysian Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
22. General Climate Information, Malaysia Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
23. Flood and Drought Management in Malaysia , Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia(June 21, 2007). Retrieved August 1, 2008. (unavailable link)
24. Keseismikan Malaysia (Malay), Meteorological Department of Malaysia. Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
25. Alexander James Malaysia Brunei & Singapore. - New Holland Publishers, 2006. - P. 46–50. - ISBN 1860113095
26. Malaysia: Environmental Profile. Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
27. Malaysia-Environment. Environment of the Nations. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
28. Population (Updated 2 July 2010) . Department of Statistics Malaysia (2 July 2010). Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
29. Population, Household and Living Quarters (2010) Department of Statistics, Malaysia.
30. CIA World Factbook - Based on 2004 estimate
31. Slightly more men than women in Malaysian population
32. West Barbara Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, Volume 1 . - New York: Facts on File inc., 2009. - P. 486. - ISBN 0-8160-7109-8
33. Kumar Soundrapandian Social: Indian Malaysian Online. Indianmalaysian.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
34. Taburan Penduduk dan Ciri-ciri Asas Demografi . Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
35. Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob. Doing the Impossible: Quitting Islam in Malaysia Asia Sentinel(April 27, 2007). Retrieved 16 July 2011.
36. Country Comparison:: GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) . CIA. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
37. Bozyk Pawel Newly Industrialized Countries // Globalization and the Transformation of Foreign Economic Policy. - Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2006. - P. 164. - ISBN 0754646386
38. The Security of The Straits of Malacca and Its Implications to The South East Asia Regional Security . Office of The Prime Minister of Malaysia. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
39. TED Case Studies: MALAYTIN: Historical Tin Mining in Malaysia. american university. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
40. Gooch, Liz. A Path to Financial Equality in Malaysia , International Herald Tribune, The New York Times Company. Retrieved 27 September 2010.

Useful data for tourists about Malaysia, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Malaysia, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions Malaysia.

Geography of Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia, consisting of two parts, separated by the South China Sea. West Malaysia (or mainland Malaysia) is located on the Malay Peninsula, borders Thailand and Singapore, a dam leads to Singapore through the strait. East Malaysia occupies the northern part of the island of Borneo and borders Indonesia with Brunei.

The relief of mainland Malaysia is predominantly mountainous, formed by several ridges stretching from north to south (the highest point is 2100 m). Only along the coast is the area flat. The lands of East Malaysia are also mountainous, but the ridges of volcanic origin lie more chaotically and are framed by a narrow coastal plain. The highest point of the country is the city of Kinabalu (4101 m), located in the north of Sabah, as part of the Crocker Range.

State

State structure

Federal constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the supreme head (king), elected for 5 years from among the sultans - the rulers of the states (sultanates). The country's highest legislative body is a bicameral parliament (the Senate and the House of Representatives), the executive is the government headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the lower house of parliament.

Language

Official language: Malay

Chinese, Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese, Tamil and other dialects are widely spoken. Many Malays are fluent in English.

Religion

The official religion is Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism are also common.

Currency

International name: MYR

1 ringgit is equal to 100 cents. Circulation has banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 ringgit. In major banks, hotels, shops, major credit cards are accepted for payment.

You can exchange currency at the official rate at any bank, airport, hotel and exchange office.

History of Malaysia

The history of Malaysia is rooted in the deep past. Archaeological excavations carried out in the Bujag valley provided evidence that already in 300 BC. there existed an Indo-Buddhist civilization.

The Portuguese were the first to establish themselves in Malaysia in 1509, followed by the Dutch in 1641, who ruled there for 154 years. Malaysia was also conquered in the 1920s by the British. Later, in the 1930s, the first calls for independence began to emerge.

On August 31, 1957, the Federation of Malaya was proclaimed an independent state, which united all the states of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak. However, Singapore seceded from the federation in 1965.

Now Malaysia has become an influential member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The political system is a constitutional monarchy. Consists of 13 states and a federal territory.

The history of Malaysia is rooted in the deep past. Archaeological excavations carried out in the Bujag valley provided evidence that already in 300 BC. there was an Indo-Buddhist civilization ....

Popular Attractions

Malaysia Tourism

Where to stay

Malaysia is one of the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia to live in. Here you can find any accommodation option - from fashionable five-star hotels to simple hostels. As a rule, high-class hotels are located in big cities. It is worth considering that in this country you will have to pay 5% service tax in addition to the cost of the room. And in expensive hotels and up to 10%.

If you are an adherent of Spartan conditions and cheap holidays, for you in all tourist cities and near the railway and bus stations, the doors of hostels and boarding houses are open. In large cities, hostels are usually located on the top floors of high-rise buildings. On the coast - it can be simple wooden bungalows or private apartments. What is remarkable about such a vacation is that in such a hotel you will not only meet lovers of “wild” recreation from all over the world, but you will also be able to book and buy tickets for all types of public transport, you will be helped to solve almost all the difficulties that arise.

One of the cheapest accommodation options in Malaysia is to rent a room in one of the many Chinese hostels. The disadvantage of such housing is a shared toilet and shower on the floor, noisy neighbors and relative comfort.

In the National Parks, well-equipped campsites are open for lovers of recreation on wheels. For those who prefer solitude - in the mountains, on the beaches, or sparsely populated islands - there is an opportunity to stay "savage" in any place you like. And those who like to tickle their nerves can try to spend the night in one of the "community houses" on the island of Borneo. The uniqueness of such a house lies in the fact that a tribe of “bounty hunters” actually lives here. The whole tribe can live in one house, and this is up to 100 families. However, progress has also been made in such remote areas, and separate “tourist community houses” have already been built in the most popular places among tourists.

Office Hours

Banks are open from 10:00 to 15:00 on weekdays and from 9:30 to 11:30 on Saturdays. Exchange offices usually open from 11:30 to 22:00.

Large department stores and supermarkets are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. without lunch, ordinary shops - from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some large stores are open around the clock.

Souvenirs

Tourists bring pewter and silverware, as well as "batik" items, wickerwork and wood carvings from the island of Borneo. Gold in Malaysia is sold in the 20th or 24th test. The workmanship is very high, and the products themselves have a beautiful design. When buying gold items, you should definitely ask for a check that indicates the gold content and the weight of the item.

As a souvenir, you can buy bright kites, as well as giant spinning tops.

When buying stuffed animals and dried insects, it is quite possible to “run into” species that are under state protection.

Medicine

It is recommended to get malaria vaccination during the summer months (July-August) for tourists traveling to the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, west Sarawak and northeast Sabah. There is no need to be vaccinated against cholera and smallpox before entering the country.

Safety

Crime is low, but in crowded places you need to constantly monitor your bags, photo and video cameras. It is recommended to make copies of the passport, air tickets, other documents in advance and keep them together with some amount of money separately.

In the spring (usually in February-May, usually within 1-2 weeks) off the coast of the state of Sabah (Borneo), there is a "red tide" ("red tide") - intensive reproduction of some types of plankton, giving the water a red tint. Swimming is not allowed at this time.

Emergency Phones

Police, ambulance and fire department - 999.

National features of Malaysia. Traditions

When visiting Hindu temples, it is advisable to have socks with you: entry inside is only allowed without shoes. It is forbidden to take pictures of Buddha images.

Questions and opinions about Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur - Q&A

Question answer

Question answer

Malaysia is a hospitable country in Southeast Asia that annually receives many tourists from all over the world. This state, apart from its natural resources, is also famous for its historical and archaeological monuments. Malaysia is quite safe. The temperature is evenly high throughout the year. 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.

Many historical monuments, temples and mosques can be seen in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Water lovers and beach holiday waiting for the Langkawi archipelago and the Malay part of the island of Borneo. The mountain resorts of Malaysia will please 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 key chains - wooden, pewter and copper products, silk and batik, spices, various equipment, as well as jewelry made of precious metals are brought from Malaysia.

The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see in Malaysia?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

The capital of Malaysia is famous for its many attractions. Monuments of architecture, parks, Chinatown and a Malaysian village right in the center of the city. Kuala Lumpur has something to entertain its guests. The most popular of the metropolitan areas - Central historic quarter and shopping and entertainment Golden Triangle.

The building, which is rightfully called the symbol of Malaysia, is the famous Petronas Towers. Since the completion of construction in 1998, these towers have been considered the tallest "twin" buildings in the world. The Petronas Towers are open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. During the tour, 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 districts of the capital. Bukit Bintang is also called the Golden Triangle because it is located at the border of three busy city streets. Many 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, which was completed in 1996, is also called the "Garden of Light" for the original illumination, which can be admired at night. So observation deck Menara TV tower offers a beautiful view 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 exposition includes a collection of coins, edged weapons, hats and clothes, jewelry and musical instruments.

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

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 the Entomological Museum. The Orchid and Hibiscus Garden sells seedlings and flowering plant specimens on weekends. The local Bird Park hosts a bird show twice a day, and there is a Deer Park near the lake. The Botanical Garden Planetarium contains an entire floor where you can play with interactive exhibits.

The National Mosque of 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 politicians 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 Jame was the main mosque of the city. This sophisticated Moorish-style building is considered a popular attraction in Kuala Lumpur.

One of the most famous tourist sites of the capital is the royal palace of Istana Negara. This building was erected by a Chinese millionaire in 1928 and was then called the Big House. Since then, the palace has managed to visit both a magnificent Japanese residence and a modest officer's canteen. Currently, the Istana Negara Palace is used for royal ceremonies.

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

In 1897, the construction of the "Moorish" palace of Sultan Abdul-Samad was completed. In the center of the building is a 43-meter clock tower, which makes the structure look like the English Big Ben. Now the palace houses the Ministry of Culture, and the square in front of the building is used for various events.

Near the city of Ipo at the beginning of the 20th century, local planter William Kelly Smith began the construction of 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 here, 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 was carried out at the end of the 19th century. Most often, tourists visit the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the statue of the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin, responsible for mercy. Near 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 facade of the building is made in the style of the southern palaces of India. Its central tower, Raja Gopuram, which appeared in 1968, invariably attracts the attention of tourists with its multi-colored sculptures. Inside Sri Mahamariamman there is a silver chariot that is used in 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 the necessary tourist infrastructure. On the island of Tioman, you can stay both in a comfortable hotel and 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 a huge statue of Murugan, and nearby is a temple dedicated to this deity. Batu consists of 7 small and 3 large caves. An additional fee is charged for the entrance to the Art Gallery Cave, decorated with murals and statues.

The mountain is the fourth highest in Southeast Asia. It is located on the territory of the national park of the same name in the east of 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 as quickly as possible to the top with a height of 4095 meters and also quickly go down.

On the Malacca Peninsula is the famous national park Malaysian Taman Negara. This park is home to leopards, tapirs, rhinos, Malaysian bears, deer, wild boars, tigers, elephants and over 300 species of birds. There is a hotel where you can stay for a couple of days, and in 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, tropical forests and karst formations. In the caves of Gunung Mulu, it is worth visiting the world's largest grotto, Sarawak. Also popular with tourists are the Deer Cave and the Cave of Clear 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 the Niah Cave. Traces of Homo sapiens, who lived in the Stone Age, were found here. The age of the Niah cave is about 37-42 thousand years, its walls are decorated with rock art. Before proceeding with the inspection of the cave, tourists should register and pay for the entrance.

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

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

One of the 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 get to the top of Penang Hill in just 12 minutes. At the top you can visit the botanical garden, the owl museum, a mosque and a restaurant overlooking the island.

In the mountains northeast of Kuala Lumpur is a popular entertainment center Genting Highlands. This amusement park is divided into open and closed areas, each of which consists of the most modern attractions. A closed area also includes a variety of entertainment using computer technology.

One of the most beautiful and unforgettable places in Langkawi. Seven thresholds is enough powerful waterfall form seven purest lakes, in which, if desired, you can swim. A rather long staircase leads to the Seven Wells, the steps of which can be slippery in wet weather. A lot of monkeys live in the jungle surrounding the stairs, so bags, backpacks and cameras will have to be monitored very closely.

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