1996 Edition

Description

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Location

2 30 N, 112 30 E -- Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than New Mexico

land area

328,550 sq km

total area

329,750 sq km

Climate

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Coastline

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Environment

current issues

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

flooding

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Geographic note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

International disputes

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into two parts; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Irrigated land

3,420 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

total

2,669 km

Land use

arable land

3%

forest and woodland

63%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

24%

permanent crops

10%

Location

Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

highest point

Mount Kinabalu 4,100 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 36% (male 3,684,510; female 3,483,893) 15-64 years: 60% (male 5,996,369; female 6,017,327) 65 years and over: 4% (male 342,742; female 438,052) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

26.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.49 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian 9%

Infant mortality rate

24 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.89 years (1996 est.)

male

66.82 years

total population

69.75 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

78.1%

male

89.1%

total population

83.5%

Nationality

adjective

Malaysian

noun

Malaysian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Peninsular Malaysia

Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians)

Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil

Population

19,962,893 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.07% (1996 est.)

Sabah

Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%

English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and Hakka dialects predominate)

Sarawak

tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages

Sex ratio

all ages

1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.27 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Constitution

31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963

Data code

MY

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador DALI Mahmud Hashim

telephone

[1] (202) 328-2700

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the paramount ruler from among the members of Parliament

chief of state

Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994) were elected for five-year terms by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states

head of government

Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981) was appointed by the paramount ruler; Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-7661

[60] (3) 2422207

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles and New York

Flag

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

members elected for five-year terms; elections last held NA April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - National Front 63%, other 37%; seats - (192 total) National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Semangat'46 6

Independence

31 August 1957 (from UK)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler

Legal system

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Parlimen)

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Malaysia

former

Malayan Union

National holiday

National Day, 31 August (1957)

Peninsular Malaysia

National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU; Spirit of '46 (Semangat '46), Tengku Tan Sri RAZALEIGH, president

Sabah

National Front, SALLEH Said Keruak, Sabah Chief Minister, Sakaran DANDAI, head of Sabah State; United Sabah National Organizaton (USNO), leader NA; Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah, PBS), Datuk Seri Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan

Sarawak

coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud; Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai; Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties are Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR

Senate (Dewan Negara)

elected members serve six-year terms; elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (58 total, 32 appointed by the paramount ruler and 26 elected by the state legislatures) seats by party NA

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type of government

constitutional monarchy

note

Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador John R. MALOTT

embassy

376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

mailing address

P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

telephone

[60] (3) 2489011

Budget

expenditures

$19.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.8 billion (1995 est.)

revenues

$20.2 billion

Currency

1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $45 million (1993)

Economic overview

The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and public management, has posted a remarkable record of 9% average annual growth in 1988-95. The official growth target for 1996 is 8.3%. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Manufactured goods exports expanded rapidly, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.

Electricity

capacity

6,700,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,528 kWh (1993)

production

31 billion kWh

Exchange rates

ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.5567 (January 1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474 (1992), 2.7501 (1991)

Exports

$72 billion (1995)

commodities

electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles

partners

Singapore 21%, US 20%, Japan 12%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1994)

External debt

$27.4 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $193.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

25%

services

67%

GDP per capita

$9,800 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

9.5% (1995)

Illicit drugs

transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties for drug trafficking

Imports

$72.2 billion (1995)

commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleum products

partners

Japan 26%, US 17%, Singapore 14%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, UK 3%, South Korea 3% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

12% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.3% (1995)

Labor force

7.627 million (1993)

Peninsular Malaysia

rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber

natural rubber, palm oil, rice

Sabah

logging, petroleum production

subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconut, rice

Sarawak

agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

rubber, pepper; timber

Unemployment rate

2.8% (1995 est.)

Branches

Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

5,160,884

males fit for military service

3,129,626

males reach military age (21) annually

184,236 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

8.08 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

international service good

domestic

good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations

international

submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

2,550,957 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

33

Televisions

2 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

105

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

11

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

5

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

6

with paved runways over 3 047 m

3

with paved runways under 914 m

74

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

5 (1995 est.)

Heliports

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

69,409 km (including 574 km of expressways)

total

92,545 km

unpaved

23,136 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 43, cargo 83, chemical tanker 13, container 31, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 55, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4 (1995 est.)

total

248 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,035,684 GRT/4,494,476 DWT

Peninsular Malaysia

3,209 km

Pipelines

crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km

Ports

Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Labuan, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjong Berhala, Tanjong Kidurong, Tawau

Railways

narrow gauge

1,806 km 1.000-m gauge (Peninsular Malaysia 1,672 km; Sabah 134 km)

total

1,806 km (Peninsular Malaysia 1,672 km; Sabah 134 km; Sarawak 0 km)

Sabah

1,569 km

Sarawak

2,518 km