Malaysia

Lore & Background

The country has its origins in the Malay kingdoms, which, from the 18th century on, became subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. During World War II, British Malaya, along with other nearby British and American colonies, was occupied by the Empire of Japan. Following three years of occupation, Malaya was briefly unified as the Malayan Union in 1946 until 1948 when it was restructured as the Federation of Malaya. The country achieved independence on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was separated from the federation and became an independent country. The name Malaysia is a combination of the word Malays and the Latin-Greek suffix -ia/-ία, which can be translated as 'land of the Malays'. The state that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 took the name the Federation of Malaya. In 1963, the name Malaysia was adopted when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak, formed a new federation.

In Their Own Story

The humid air hung heavy over Jalan Alor as evening descended on Kuala Lumpur. Steam rose from clay pots of char kway teow while the neon glow of skyscrapers reflected off the wet pavement, mirroring the city's dual soul. A street vendor ladled spicy laksa into a bowl for a weary traveler, his hands moving with practiced precision. Nearby, the call to prayer drifted from a minaret, weaving through the hum of traffic and the chatter of a Chinese opera troupe rehearsing in a temple courtyard. Here, ancient rhythms pulsed beneath a glass-and-steel veneer, a living mosaic where every corner whispered a different history.

Reader's Guide

Malaysia is tropical and is one of 17 megadiverse countries; it is home to numerous endemic species. The country is multiethnic and multicultural, which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The Bumiputra policy grants the Malay majority a constitutionally enshrined privileged status over Malaysian citizens who are Chinese or Indians via affirmative action measures. The official language is Malaysian Malay, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the official religion, the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system, and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen among the nine state rulers every five years. The head of government is the prime minister. The country's economy was once heavily reliant on agriculture and primary commodities but is now driven by the services and manufacturing sectors. Malaysia ranks highly in peacefulness and passport strength and has a newly industrialised economy that is relatively open and state-oriented. The country is a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Did You Know?

• Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the legislative branch, while Putrajaya is the seat of the executive and judicial branches.
• The official language is Malaysian Malay; English is an active second language but not official.
• The constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims, but the source does not specify rules on conversion out of Islam.
• Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries and home to numerous endemic species.