The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Located between 2 and 7 degrees north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak share a common border with Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei

329,758 sq km. POPULATION 22 million. CAPITAL Kuala Lumpur

All citizens of the country, comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians and several other races, are 'Malaysians'. Current population is estimated at around 23.3 million, of whom 83 percent live in the Peninsula, eight percent in Sabah and nine percent in Sarawak. The Malays (the country's original inhabitants), make up 52 percent, Chinese 29 percent, Indians eight percent and the indigenous communities 11 percent. The Malays and the indigenous people are called 'Bumiputeras' (Sons of the Soil) owing to the entrenched ancestral roots that go back thousands of years. Together, the Malays and the various indigenous groups make up 63 percent of the population.

Malaysia's capital city is Kuala Lumpur. The name, which means 'muddy confluence' in Malay, began as a mining settlement and outpost for the tin trade in the 1800s. Simply known as KL, today's Kuala Lumpur is a bustling metropolis, the federal capital of Malaysia and the principal centre of commerce, politics, entertainment and international activities. The site of the original settlement draws a steady stream of tourists, largely to the adjacent Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the Merdeka Square where the British flag was lowered for the last time on August 31, 1957 and replaced by the flag of independent Malaysia - the 'Jalur Gemilang'.

Malaysia has a combined population of over 18 million people. Because of its central location, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travelers from both the East and West. As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business, and the English language is a compulsory subject in all schools. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great diversity of religions is prevalent throughout Malaysia. Although the official religion is Islam, freedom of worship is practiced. As a result, it is a common to see temples, mosques and churches within the same area.

Language : Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka dialects, Cantonese, Tamil and numerous tribal languages.
Such a diversity of ethnic groups inevitably features a large number of spoken languages. The official local language is Bahasa Melayu, but then English is widely spoken as are a number of Chinese dialects. Various other languages are spoken and East Malaysia features several other indigenous languages. With such obvious diversity it is remarkable that racial tension is not a constant problem but clearly the gentleness and tolerance of the local population contributes to a real spirit of peace and harmony.

Religion : Muslim (primarily Malays), Buddhism (Chinese), Hindu (Indian), Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism and tribal religions.

Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di Pertuan Agong while the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.

Its always hot and humid in Malaysia, especially on the eastern coast; at higher altitudes, it does get better (it even gets downright cold in the Cameron Highlands). There is a rainy season, but you need not fear a monsoon. The east coast is wet between October and February, and many tourists operations on the islands shut down because of rough seas. This is the best time to visit the west coast, where it tends to be dry when the east coast is wet. Borneo is more humid. Take along a sweater if you're going to the higher elevations in the Mt. Kinabalu area.
Malaysia's tropical climate means that Kuala Lumpur is warm all year. Temperatures range from 70-95F/21-35C. You should expect rain year-round, but it's heaviest and most frequent during the Northeast Monsoon, which runs November-February.

There is a strong interlink between the country's multi-racial and multicultural make-up and its history. Besides the local Malays and the other indigenous groups, immigrants from China, India, Indonesia and other parts of the world have all contributed to the multiracial composition of its population. Its interesting cultural diversity can be largely attributed to the country's long and on-going interaction with the outside world and colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Consequently the evolution of the country into a cultural melting pot is evident in the unique blend of religions, socio-cultural activities and traditions, dressing, languages and food.

The Malaysian economy has undergone rapid expansion, with emphasis shifting from agriculture to manufacturing. For this millennium the nation is set to make the transition from industrial to the information age. In line with this local and foreign companies are encouraged to invest in technology-related ventures. Malaysia is ranked as one of the top 20 trading nations of the world and the 17th largest exporter according to the WTO Annual Report 2000. Its global trade tripled in the last decade, from RM158 billion in 1990 to RM570 billion in 1999 with the USA, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea making up the major trading partners.

The local currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM), which is divided into 100 sen. In circulation are RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, RM100, RM500 and RM1000. Coins being used in Malaysia are the 1,5,10,20, & 50 sen, and RM1.

The country's regulation requires all travellers to declare the amount of local and foreign currencies in their possession on arrival into and departure from Malaysia. The Travellers Declaration Form (TDF) for this purpose can be obtained from all entry/exit points in Malaysia or any Malaysian mission abroad.

Non-resident travellers entering Malaysia are permitted to import up to a maximum amount of RM 1000 only and any amount of foreign currencies. Conversely, they are permitted to export up to a maximum amount of RM 1000 only and foreign currencies not more then what was originally brought into the country.

Changing money in Malaysia is easy. You will find local banks in just about any major town in Malaysia, however remote, including private money changers in most major town centres. Credit cards are widely accepted (although I often carry enough cash with me in more remote areas or when I will be away from a major town), and most major banks ATM machines (Maybank, Standard Chartered, etc) will accept Visa or MasterCards if your card has a Pin number associated with it.

Most states : Mon-Fri : 9.30am-4.00pm • Sat : 9.30am-11.30am • Sun : closed • Kedah, Kelantan &Terengganu : Sat-Wed : 9.30am-4.00pm • Thur : 9.30am 11.30am • Fri : closed.

Open from 8.00am to 5.00pm daily except Sundays and public holidays. In Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu post offices are closed on Fridays and public holidays.

The Malaysian Standard Time (MST) is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Voltage is 220-240 volts while A/C is at 50 cycles per second.

Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or pre-paid cards. International calls can be made from public phones with card phone facilities or at any Telekom offices.

The main gateway to Malaysia is through the new K.L. International Airport at Sepang located approximately 50km south of Kuala Lumpur. The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang serves a few domestic and regional airlines. Other major international airports which serve as entry points are Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi. The main entry point by sea to KL is Port Klang, about 50km away from KL. Malaysia is also accessible by rail and road from Singapore and Thailand.

Malaysia has excellent domestic air links and a well developed and effective public transportation system served by buses, taxis and trains.

When visiting Malaysia, the visitor should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows:-

• It is polite to call before visiting a home.
• Shoes must always be removed when entering a Malaysian home.
• Drinks are generally offered to guests. It would be polite to accept.
• The right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or when giving and receiving objects.
• The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with the four fingers, folded under is the preferred usage.
• Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors. Taking photographs at places of worship is usually permitted but always ask for permission first.
• Toasting is not a common practice in Malaysia. The country's large Muslim population does not drink alcohol.