1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than New Mexico
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)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Environment--current issues
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Geography--note
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
Irrigated land
2,941 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 68% other: 17% (1993 est.)
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 territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
flooding, landslides
Natural resources
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Terrain
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 35% (male 3,879,012; female 3,680,895) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,478,910; female 6,482,909) 65 years and over: 4% (male 369,639; female 484,701) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
26.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%, Indian 7%, others 9%
Infant mortality rate
21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malalalam, Panjabi, Thai; note--in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.67 years male: 67.62 years female: 73.9 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.5% male: 89.1% female: 78.1% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: does not include illegal immigrants--large numbers from Indonesia and smaller numbers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Burma, China, and India
Population
21,376,066 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.08% (1999 est.)
Religions
Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note--in addition, Shamanism is practiced on East Malaysia
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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* note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Constitution
31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union
Data code
MY
Executive branch
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) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 8 January 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman elected paramount ruler; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount ruler
Flag 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
Government type
constitutional monarchy note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states--hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah--holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak--holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister Political parties and leaders:
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 or Parlimen consists of nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives--last held 24-25 April 1995 (next to be held by April 2000) election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party--National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6; note--subsequent to the election there was a change in the distribution of seats, the current distribution is--National Front 168, DAP 8, PAS 8, PBS 5, independents 3
National holiday
National Day, 31 August (1957)
Peninsular Malaysia
National Front (a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization or UMNO
Sarawak
National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
Peninsular Malaysia?rubber, palm oil, rice; Sabah--subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak--rubber, pepper; timber
Budget
revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (1996 est.)
Currency
1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Debt--external
$39.8 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient
$125 million (1995)
Economy--overview
After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the Malaysian economy--severely hit by the regional financial crisis--declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment. Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its weakened banking sector.
Electricity--consumption
47.977 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
174 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
151 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 83.33% hydro: 16.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
ringgits (M$) per US$1--3.8000 (January 1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994)
Exports
$74.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
Exports--partners
US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$215.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 13% industry: 46% services: 41% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-7% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.9% (1989)
Imports
$59.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment, chemicals, food
Imports--partners
Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)
Industrial production growth rate
14.4% (1995)
Industries
Peninsular Malaysia--rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah--logging, petroleum production; Sarawak--agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.3% (1998)
Labor force
8.398 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
manufacturing 25%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)
Population below poverty line
15.5% (1989 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.6% (1996 est.)
Communications
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
27 (of which 26 are government-owned and one is independent and has 15 high-power repeater stations to relay its programs) (1997)
Televisions
2 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
115 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 74 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 94,500 km paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 378 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,059,272 GRT/7,428,623 DWT ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 30, container 58, liquefied gas tanker 19, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Railways
total: 1,798 km narrow gauge: 1,798 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (1998 est.)
Waterways
7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km)
Military and Security
Military branches
Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$2.1 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2.1% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 5,526,555 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,349,066 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
21 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 183,928 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah State; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia
Illicit drugs
transit point for some illicit drugs going to Western markets; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties