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For the biogeographical region, see Malesia. Page semi-protected Malaysia A blue rectangle with a gold star and crescent in the canton, with 14 horizontal red and white lines on the rest of the flag Shield showing symbols of the Ma laysian states with a star and crescent above it and a motto below it supported by two tigers Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu"[1] "Unity Is Strength" Anthem: Negaraku My Country Capital and largest city Kuala Lumpur[a] Putrajaya (administrative) 308'N 10142'E Official languages Malaysian[b] Official script Malay (Latin) alphabet[c] Recognized English[d] Ethnic groups ([2]) 50.4% 23.7% 11.0% 7.1% 7.8% Malay Chinese Indigenous Indian other

Demonym Malaysian[3] Government Federal constitutional elective monarchy and federal parliamenta ry democracy King Abdul Halim Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (BN) Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (BN) Legislature Parliament Upper house Dewan Negara Lower house Dewan Rakyat Independence from the United Kingdom Malaya 31 August 1957[4] Sarawak 22 July 1963[5] North Borneo[e] 31 August 1963[6] Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore[f] 16 September 1963 Area Total 329,847 km2 (67th) 127,355 sq mi Water (%) 0.3 Population 2010 census 28,334,135[7] (42nd) Density 86/km2 (114th) 216.45/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2013 estimate Total $521.963 billion[8] Per capita $17,675[8] GDP (nominal) 2013 estimate Total $340.002 billion[8] Per capita $12,243[8]

Gini (2009) 46.2[9] high 36th HDI (2013) Increase 0.769[10] high 64th Currency Ringgit (RM) (MYR) Time zone MST (UTC+8) Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+8) Date format dd-mm-yyyy Drives on the left Calling code +60 ISO 3166 code MY Internet TLD .my, ??????.[11] a. ^ Kuala Lumpur is the capital city and is home to the legislative branch of the Federal government. Putrajaya is the primary seat of the federal governm ent where the executive and judicial branches are located. b. ^ The terminology as per government policy is Bahasa Malaysia (literally "Malaysian language")[12] but legislation continues to refer to the official la nguage as Bahasa Melayu (literally "Malay language").[13] c. ^ Under the National Language Act 1967, "The script of the national lang uage shall be the Rumi [Latin] script: provided that this shall not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi script, of the nationa l language."[14] d. ^ Under the National Language Act 1967, English may be used for some pur poses. e. ^ Before the accession, Sabah was referred to as North Borneo. f. ^ Singapore became an independent country on 9 August 1965.[15] Malaysia (Listeni/m?'le???/ m?-LAY-zh? or Listeni/m?'le?si?/ m?-LAY-see-?) is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen state s and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilom etres (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Viet nam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is t he seat of the federal government. In 2010 the population was 28.33 million, wit h 22.6 million living on the Peninsula. Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from t he 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territo ries were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructur ed as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1 957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with si being added to give the new country the name Malaysia. Less than two years l ater in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. Since independence, Ma laysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an ave rage 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerc e and medical tourism. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in poli tics. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedo m of religion. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parl iamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law. The head o f state is the King, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is an elected monarc h chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. T he head of government is the Prime Minister. Malaysia contains the southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai. L

ocated in the tropics, it is a megadiverse country, with large numbers of endemi c animals, fungi and plants. It is a founding member of the Association of South east Asian Nations, the East Asia Summit and the Organisation of Islamic Coopera tion, and a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nat ions, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 Etymology History Government and politics Foreign relations and military Subdivisions Geography 6.1 Biodiversity 6.2 Animals 6.3 Fungi 6.4 Plants 6.5 Conservation issues 7 Economy 7.1 Infrastructure 7.2 Science and Technology 8 Demographics 8.1 Religion 8.2 Language 9 Culture 9.1 Fine arts 9.2 Cuisine 9.3 Media 9.4 Holidays and festivals 9.5 Sports 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Etymology English Map of Southeast Asia, "MALAYSIA" typeset horizontally so that the lette rs run across the northernmost corner of Borneo and pass just south of the Phili ppines. "Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas The word Melayu is thought to derive from the Tamil words Malai and ur meaning " mountain" and "city, land", respectively.[16][17][18] The term was later used as the name of the Melayu Kingdom, which existed between the 7th and 13th centurie s on Sumatra.[19] Malayadvipa was the word used by ancient Indian traders when r eferring to the Malay Peninsula.[20][21][22][23][24] Following his 1826 expedition in Oceania, French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urvill e invented the terms Malaysia, Micronesia and Melanesia, distinguishing these Pa cific cultures and island groups from the existing term Polynesia. In 1831, he p roposed these terms to the Socit de Gographie. Dumont d'Urville described Malaysia as "an area commonly known as the East Indies".[25] In 1850, the English ethnolo gist George Samuel Windsor Earl, writing in the Journal of the Indian Archipelag o and Eastern Asia, proposed naming the islands of Southeast Asia as Melayunesia or Indunesia, favouring the former.[26] In 1957, the Federation of Malaya was declared as an independent federation of t he Malay states on the Malay Peninsula.[27] The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1 963 when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new federation, with "sia" being added to Malaya in

honour of the three joining states.[28] Prior to that, the name itself had been used to refer to the whole Malay Archipelago.[29] Politicians in the Philippines contemplated renaming their state "Malaysia" before the modern country took the name.[30] At the time of federation, other names were considered: among them wa s Langkasuka, after the historic kingdom located at the upper section of the Mal ay Peninsula in the 1st millennium CE.[31] History Main article: History of Malaysia Evidence of modern human habitation in Malaysia dates back 40,000 years.[32] The first inhabitants are thought to be Negritos.[33] Traders and settlers from Ind ia and China arrived as early as the 1st century AD, establishing trading ports and coastal towns in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Their presence resulted in stron g Indian and Chinese influence on the local cultures, and the people of the Mala y Peninsula adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Sanskrit inscription s appear as early as the 4th or 5th century.[34] The Kingdom of Langkasuka arose around the 2nd century in the northern area of the Malay Peninsula, lasting unt il about the 15th century.[31] Between the 7th and 13th centuries, much of the s outhern Malay Peninsula was part of the maritime Srivijaya empire. After the fal l of Srivijaya, the Majapahit empire had influence over most of Peninsular Malay sia and the Malay Archipelago.[35] Islam began to spread among Malays in the 14t h century.[3] In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a prince of the former Sri vijayan empire, founded the Malacca Sultanate, commonly considered the first ind ependent state in the peninsula.[36] Malacca was an important commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region. Parameswara became a Muslim, accelerating the spread of Islam.[3] Stained ruin of a stone building, showing a central arch, flanked by two columns , with a stone relief above the arch, also flanked by two columns, and a second free-standing arch perched on the very top of the ruin. A Famosa fortress in Malacca was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1511 Malacca was conquered by Portugal,[3] after which it was taken by the Du tch in 1641. In 1786 the British Empire established a presence in Malaya, when t he Sultan of Kedah leased Penang to the British East India Company. The British obtained the town of Singapore in 1819,[37] and in 1824 took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty. By 1826 the British directly controlled Penang , Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the cr own colony of the Straits Settlements. By the 20th century, the states of Pahang , Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay St ates, had British Residents appointed to advise the Malay rulers, to whom the ru lers were bound to defer by treaty.[38] The remaining five states in the peninsu la, known as the Unfederated Malay States, while not directly under British rule , also accepted British advisers around the turn of the 20th century. Developmen t on the Peninsula and Borneo were generally separate until the 19th century. Un der British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers wa s encouraged.[39] The area that is now Sabah came under British control as North Borneo when both the Sultan of Brunei and the Sultan of Sulu transferred their respective territorial rights of ownership, between 1877 and 1878.[40] In 1842, Sarawak was ceded by the Sultan of Brunei to James Brooke, whose successors rule d as the White Rajahs over an independent kingdom until 1946, when it became a C rown colony.[41] In the Second World War the Japanese army invaded and occupied Malaya, North Bor neo, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years. During this time, ethnic tensi ons were raised and nationalism grew.[42] Popular support for independence incre ased after Malaya was reconquered by Allied Forces.[43] Post-war British plans t o unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the Mala yan Union met with strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The M alayan Union, established in 1946 and consisting of all the British possessions

in the Malay Peninsula with the exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved an d replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the ruler s of the Malay states under British protection.[44] During this time, mostly Chi nese rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerril la operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency lasted from 1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commo nwealth troops in Malaya.[45] After this a plan was put in place to federate Mal aya with the crown colonies of North Borneo (which joined as Sabah), Sarawak, an d Singapore. The proposed date of federation was 31 August 1963, however, the da te was delayed until 16 September 1963 due to opposition from Indonesia's Sukarn o and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party.[46] An ornate fountain at left with steps leading up to a wall with some of Malaysia 's state flags on it. Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, where Independence Day is celebrated on 31 Augus t each year. Federation brought heightened tensions including a conflict with Indonesia, Sing apore's eventual exit in 1965,[47][48] and racial strife. This strife culminated in the 13 May race riots in 1969.[49] After the riots, the controversial New Ec onomic Policy was launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, trying to increase the share of the economy held by the bumiputera.[50] Under Prime Minister Mahat hir Mohamad there was a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginni ng in the 1980s. The economy shifted from being agriculturally based to one base d on manufacturing and industry. Numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Petronas Towers, the North-South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.[28] However, in the lat e 1990s the Asian financial crisis almost caused the collapse of the currency an d the stock and property markets.[51] Government and politics Main article: Politics of Malaysia A photo showing the Malaysian Parliament building along with two white arches in diagonal position front of the building. The Malaysian Houses of Parliament is the building where the Malaysian Parliamen t assembles. Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The system of government is closely modelled on that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy o f British colonial rule.[52] The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, com monly referred to as the king. The King is elected to a five-year term by and fr om among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection. By informal a greement the position is systematically rotated among the nine,[52] and has been held by Abdul Halim of Kedah since December 2011.[53] The King's role has been largely ceremonial since changes to the constitution in 1994, picking ministers and members of the upper house.[54] Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicamer al federal parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate.[55] The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the King upon the Prime Minister's recomm endation.[3] The parliament follows a multi-party system and the government is e lected through a first-past-the-post system. Since independence Malaysia has bee n governed by a multi-party coalition known as the Barisan Nasional.[3] Each state has a unicameral State Legislative Assembly whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. State governments are led by Chief Ministers ,[3] who are state assembly members from the majority party in the assembly. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is required to be

a Malay, appointed by the ruler upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.[ 56] Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years, the most re cent of which took place in March 2008.[3] Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the st ates, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.[57] Except for elections in Sarawak, all state elections are held concurrently with the federa l election.[54] an official photo of prime minister Najib Tun Razak. Najib Razak, Prime Minister since 2009. Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The prime m inister must be a member of the house of representatives, who in the opinion of the King, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.[3] The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government.[54] The incumbent, Najib Razak, appointed in 2009, i s the sixth prime minister.[58] Malaysia's legal system is based on English Common Law.[3] Although the judiciar y is theoretically independent, its independence has been called into question a nd the appointment of judges lacks accountability and transparency.[59] The high est court in the judicial system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal and two high courts, one for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East Malaysi a. Malaysia also has a special court to hear cases brought by or against Royalty .[60] Separate from the civil courts are the Syariah Courts, which apply Shariah law to cases which involve Malaysian Muslims[61] and run parallel to the secula r court system.[62] The Internal Security Act allows detention without trial, an d the death penalty is in use for crimes such as drug trafficking.[63] Race is a significant force in politics, and many political parties are ethnical ly based.[3] Actions such as the New Economic Policy[50] and the National Develo pment Policy which superseded it, were implemented to advance the standing of th e bumiputera, consisting of Malays and the indigenous tribes who are considered the original inhabitants of Malaysia, over non-bumiputera such as Malaysian Chin ese and Malaysian Indians.[64] These policies provide preferential treatment to bumiputera in employment, education, scholarships, business, and access to cheap er housing and assisted savings. However, it has generated greater interethnic r esentment.[65] There is ongoing debate over whether the laws and society of Mala ysia should reflect secular or Islamic principles.[66] Islamic laws passed by th e Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party in state legislative assemblies have been blocked by the federal government.[67] Foreign relations and military Main articles: Foreign relations of Malaysia and Malaysian Armed Forces The Royal Malaysian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flankers and Aermacchi MB-339s m ilitary aircraft at the Langkawi Airport. The RMAF MiG-29N/UB & Aermacchi MB-339 A founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)[68] and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),[69] the country participates in m any international organisations such as the United Nations,[70] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,[71] the Developing 8 Countries,[72] and the Non-Aligned M ovement (NAM).[73] It has chaired ASEAN, the OIC, and the NAM in the past.[3] A former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[74] K uala Lumpur was the site of the first East Asia Summit in 2005.[75] Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their politica l system.[76] The government attaches a high priority to the security and stabil ity of Southeast Asia,[75] and seeks to further develop relations with other cou ntries in the region. Historically the government has tried to portray Malaysia as a progressive Islamic nation[76] while strengthening relations with other Isl

amic states.[75] A strong tenet of Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control its domestic affairs.[54] The policy towards territorial disputes by the government is one of pragmatism, with the government solving disputes in a number of ways, such as bringing the c ase to the International Court of Justice.[77] The Spratly Islands are disputed by many states in the area, although tensions have eased since the 2002 Declarat ion on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Brunei and Malaysia in 200 8 announced an end to claims of each other's land, and to resolve issues related to their maritime borders. The Philippines has a dormant claim to Sabah. Singap ore's land reclamation has caused tensions, and maritime border disputes exist w ith Indonesia.[78] A Scorpne class submarine at dock, half out of the water. People on top are moori ng it, and a boat can be seen in the background Royal Malaysian Navy's first Scorpne class submarine Malaysia has never recognised Israel and has no diplomatic ties with it.[79] It has remained a strong supporter of the State of Palestine,[80] and has called fo r Israel to be taken to the International Criminal Court over the Gaza flotilla raid.[81] Malaysian peacekeeping forces are present in Lebanon[82] and have cont ributed to many other UN peacekeeping missions.[3] The Malaysian Armed Forces have three branches, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Ma laysian Army, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There is no conscription, and t he required age for voluntary military service is 18. The military uses 1.9 per cent of the country's GDP, and employs 1.23 per cent of Malaysia's manpower.[83] Currently, Malaysia is undergoing major program to expand and modernize all thr ee branches of its armed forces. The Five Power Defence Arrangements is a regional security initiative which has been in place for almost 40 years. It involves joint military exercises held amo ng Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[84] Join t exercises and war games have been held with Indonesia for years.[85] Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to host joint security force exercises in order to secure their maritime border and tackle issues such as illegal immigration.[8 6] There are fears that unrest in the Muslim areas of the southern Philippines[8 7] and southern Thailand[88] could spill over into Malaysia. Subdivisions Main articles: States and federal territories of Malaysia and Districts of Malay sia Perlis Kedah Penang Kelantan Terengganu Perak Selangor Negeri Sembilan Malacca Johor Pahang Sarawak Sabah Labuan Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya West Malaysia East Malaysia South China Sea Strait

of Malacca Gulf of Thailand Sulu Sea Celebes Sea Brunei Indonesia Indonesia Singapore Thailand Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. These are d ivided between two regions, with 11 states and two federal territories on Penins ular Malaysia and the other two states and one federal territory in East Malaysi a. Governance of the states is divided between the federal and the state governm ents, and the Federal government has direct administration of the federal territ ories.[89] The 13 states are based on historical Malay Kingdoms, and 9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain their royal families. The King is ele cted by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year term.[3] Each state has a unicameral legislature known as the State Legislative Assembly. The states of Ea st Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) have separate immigration policies and controls, and a unique residency status.[90] For citizens of one of these states or Penin sular Malaysia, the other areas of Malaysia are considered foreign countries und er immigration laws.[91] Each state is further divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into divisi ons.[92] The federal parliament is permitted to legislate on issues of land, the Islamic religion and local government, in order to provide for a uniform law among all s tates. It may also intervene at the request of the state assembly concerned. Exc ept for some land related laws, the in question must also be passed by the state assembly. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations.[93] Geography Main article: Geography of Malaysia A view from Low's peak, with a smaller peak to the right of the photo, with fore sted mountains in the background A view from Low's peak, the highest peak of Mount Kinabalu Malaysia is the 67th largest country by total land area, with a land area of 329 ,847 km2 (127,355 sq mi). It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia, an d Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia.[2] It is linked to Singapore by a narro w causeway and a bridge. The country also has maritime boundaries with Vietnam[9 4] and the Philippines.[95] The land borders are defined in large part by geolog ical features such as the Perlis River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention.[2 ] Brunei forms what is almost an enclave in Malaysia,[96] with the state of Sara wak dividing it into two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on b oth the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago.[97] Tanjung Piai, located in t he southern state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia.[98] The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the wo rld's trade.[99] The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, sha re a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.[2] Peninsular Malaysia, containin

g 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area,[97] extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km (200 mi).[100] It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains,[101] part of a series of moun tain ranges running down the centre of the peninsula.[97] These mountains are he avily forested,[102] and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Muc h of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape.[97] The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's river systems.[102] The coastal plains surroun ding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the penin sula's coastline is nearly 1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western side.[100] A view over the top of the Taman Negara rainforest National Park, Pahang East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi).[ 2] It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous i nterior.[97] The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak,[97] dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095.2 m (13,436 ft) high Mount Kina balu,[103] the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is protected as the Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[104] The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world.[97] Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands, the largest of which i s Banggi.[105] The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual s outhwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.[100] T he temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans.[97] Humid ity is usually high, and the average annual rainfall is 250 cm (98 in).[100] The climates of the Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfal l, increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.[97] Biodiversity Main article: Wildlife of Malaysia A male proboscis monkey sitting on a branch Proboscis monkey in Borneo Malaysia signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 12 June 1993, and became a party to the convention on 24 June 1994.[106] It has subsequently produ ced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 2 May 1998.[107] The country is megadiverse with a high number of species and high levels of endemism.[108] It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal species.[109] High levels of endemism are found on the di verse forests of Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland forest.[97] Animals There are about 210 mammal species in the country.[110] Over 620 species of bird s have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia,[109] with many endemic to the mount ains there. A high number of endemic bird species are also found in Malaysian Bo rneo.[97] 250 reptile species have been recorded in the country, with about 150 species of snakes[111] and 80 species of lizards.[110] There are about 150 speci es of frogs,[110] and thousands of insect species.[110] Malaysia's exclusive eco nomic zone is 1.5 times larger than its land area,[112] and some of its waters a re in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot.[113] The waters around Sipadan island are the most biodiverse in the world.[109] Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species.[114] Fungi

Nearly 4000 species of fungi, including lichen-forming species have been recorde d from Malaysia. Of the two fungal groups with the largest number of species in Malaysia, the Ascomycota and their asexual states have been surveyed in some hab itats (decaying wood, marine and freshwater ecosystems, as parasites of some pla nts, and as agents of biodegradation), but have not been or have been only poorl y surveyed in other habitats (as endobionts, in soils, on dung, as human and ani mal pathogens); the Basidiomycota are only partly surveyed: bracket fungi, and m ushrooms and toadstools have been studied, but Malaysian rust and smut fungi rem ain very poorly known. Without doubt, many more fungal species occur in Malaysia which have not yet been recorded, and it is likely that many of those, when fou nd, will be new to science.[115] Red flower made of 5 petals surrounding a depressed centre, on the forest floor surrounded by dead leaves and small green plants Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter, making the m the largest flowers in the world. Plants About two thirds of Malaysia is covered in forest,[100] with some forests believ ed to be 130 million years old.[110] The forests are dominated by dipterocarps.[ 116] Lowland forest occurs below 760 m (2,490 ft),[100] and formerly East Malays ia was covered in such rainforest,[116] which is supported by its hot wet climat e.[97] There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.[110] Besid es rainforests, there are over 1,425 km2 (550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia,[1 00] and a large amount of peat forest. At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace dipterocarps.[97] There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East.[117] T he forests of East Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 differ ent species of trees every hectare.[97] These forests host many members of the R afflesia genus, the largest flowers in the world,[116] with a maximum diameter o f 1 m (3 ft 3 in).[110] Conservation issues Logging, along with cultivation practices has devastated tree cover, causing sev ere environmental degradation in the country. Over 80 per cent of Sarawak's rain forest has been cleared.[97] Floods in East Malaysia have been worsened by the l oss of trees, and over 60 per cent of the Peninsular's forest have been cleared. [110] With current rates of deforestation, the forests are predicted to be extin ct by 2020.[97] Deforestation is a major problem for animals, fungi and plants, as the forest is cut to make room for plantations.[118] Most remaining forest is found inside national parks.[110] Habitat destruction has proved a threat for m arine life.[114] Illegal fishing is another major threat,[114] with fishing meth ods such as dynamite fishing and poisoning depleting marine ecosystems.[119] Lea therback turtle numbers have dropped 98 per cent since the 1950s.[111] Hunting h as also been an issue for some animals,[110] with overconsumption and the use of animal parts for profit endangering many animals, from marine life[114] to tige rs.[118] Marine life is also detrimentally affected by uncontrolled tourism.[120 ] The Malaysian government aims to balance economic growth with environmental prot ection, but has been accused of favouring big business over the environment.[110 ] Some state governments are now trying to counter the environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;[116] and the federal government is trying to cut logging by 10 per cent each year. 28 national parks have been established; 23 in East Malaysia and five in the Peninsular.[110] Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan island.[120] Animal trafficking is a large iss ue, and the Malaysian government is holding talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise anti-trafficking laws.[121] Economy Main article: Economy of Malaysia

A Proton car. Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia which manufactures indigenously designed automobiles. Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market eco nomy.[122][123] The state plays a significant but declining role in guiding econ omic activity through macroeconomic plans. Malaysia has had one of the best econ omic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5 per cent annually from 195 7 to 2005.[3] In 2011 the GDP (PPP) was about $450 billion, the 3rd largest eco nomy in ASEAN and 29th largest in the world.[124] In 1991, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad outlined his ideal, Vision 2020 in which Mala ysia would become a self-sufficient industrialized nation by 2020.[125] Tan Sri Nor Mohamed, a government minister, said Malaysia could attain developed country status in 2018 if the country's growth remains constant or increases.[126] Vikt or Shvets, the managing director of Credit Suisse has said Malaysia has all the r ight ingredients to become a developed nation."[127] The Petronas Towers house the headquarters of the national oil company Petronas and are the tallest twin-towers in the world. In the 1970s, the predominantly mining and agricultural-based economy began a tr ansition towards a more multi-sector economy. Since the 1980s the industrial sec tor has led Malaysia's growth.[128] High levels of investment played a significa nt role in this.[3] The economy recovered from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis s ooner than neighbouring countries, and has since recovered to the levels of the pre-crisis era with a GDP per capita of $14,800.[129][130] Inequalities exist be tween different ethnic groups. The Chinese make up about one-third of the popula tion but accounts for 70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation.[131] C hinese businesses in Malaysia are part of the larger bamboo network, a network o f overseas Chinese businesses operating in the markets of Southeast Asia that sh are common family and cultural ties.[132] International trade, facilitated by the adjacent Strait of Malacca shipping rout e, and manufacturing are key sectors of the country's economy.[133][134][135] Ma laysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, the most valuable e xported resource being petroleum.[3] At one time, it was the largest producer of tin,[136] rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy,[137] although Malaysia s economic structure has been mo ving away from it.[138] Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.[139] In an effort to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on exported goo ds, the government has pushed to increase tourism to Malaysia. As a result, tour ism has become Malaysia s third largest source of income from foreign exchange, al though it is threatened by the negative effects of the growing industrial econom y, with large amounts of air and water pollution along with deforestation affect ing tourism.[140] The country has developed into a centre of Islamic banking, an d is the country with the highest numbers of female workers in that industry.[14 1] Knowledge-based services are also expanding.[138] Infrastructure See also: Transport in Malaysia and Energy policy of Malaysia A dual highway with greenery on either side The North-South Expressway The infrastructure of Malaysia is one of the most developed in Asia.[142] Its te lecommunications network is second only to Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4 .7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers. [143][144] The country has seven international ports, the major one being the Po rt Klang. There are 200 industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Te chnology Park Malaysia and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.[145] Fresh water is available to over 95 per cent of the population. During the colonial period, development was mainly concentrated in economically powerful cities and in areas forming securit

y concerns. Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag behind areas such as the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.[146] The t elecommunication network, although strong in urban areas, is less available to t he rural population.[143] Malaysia's road network covers 98,721 kilometres (61,342 mi) and includes 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) of expressways.[2] The longest highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres (497 mi) between the Thai b order and Singapore. The road systems in East Malaysia are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of Peninsular Malaysia.[147] Malaysia has 1 18 airports, of which 38 are paved. The country's official airline is Malaysia A irlines, providing international and domestic air service alongside two other ca rriers. The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi).[2] Relatively inexpensive elevated Light Rail Transit systems are us ed in some cities, such as Kuala Lumpur.[148] The Asean Rail Express is a railwa y service that connects Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, and is intended to eventually s tretch from Singapore to China.[142] Traditionally, energy production in Malaysia has been based on oil and natural g as.[149] The country has 13 GW of electrical generation capacity.[150] However, the country only has 33 years of natural gas reserves, and 19 years of oil reser ves, while the demand for energy is increasing. In response, the government is e xpanding into renewable energy sources.[149] Sixteen per cent of electricity gen eration is hydroelectric, the remaining 84 per cent being thermal.[150] The oil and gas industry is dominated by state owned Petronas,[151] and the energy secto r as a whole is regulated by the Energy Commission of Malaysia, a statutory comm ission that governs the energy in the peninsula and Sabah, under the terms of th e Electricity Commission Act of 2001.[152] Science and Technology Main article: Science and technology in Malaysia Malaysian remote sensing satellite, RazakSAT Science policies in Malaysia are regulated by the Ministry of Science, Technolog y, and Innovation. The country is one of the world's largest exporters of semico nductor devices, electrical goods, and information and communication technology products.[3] First satellite operate by Malaysia is during 1996 when a private c ompany, MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd (formerly known as Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd) bought 2 communications satellite from Boeing Satellite Syste ms named them MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2. MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3A was launched on 2006 and 2009 respectively. Malaysia successfully design and built first remote sens ing satellite named TiungSAT-1 through collaboration between Astronautic Technol ogy Sdn Bhd (ATSB) (Malaysia) and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (United Kingd om). The satellite was launched into Low Earth orbit on 26 September 2000 at Bai konur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Malaysian second remote sensing satellite, RazakSA T was launched on 14 July 2009 and RazakSAT-2 was planned to be launched in 2015 .[153] Malaysia began developing its own space programme in 2002,[154][155] and in 2006 Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the International Space Stat ion as part of a multi-billion dollar purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fig hter jets by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.[156] In an effort to create a self-r eliant defensive ability and support national development, Malaysia privatised s ome of its military facilities in the 1970s. This has created a defence industry , which in 1999 was brought under the Malaysia Defence Industry Council. The gov ernment continues to promote this sector and its competitiveness, actively marke ting the defence industry.[157] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Malaysia As of the 2010 census, the population of Malaysia was 28,334,135,[7] making it t he 42nd most populated country. The population of Malaysia consists of many ethn ic groups. Malays make up 50.4 per cent of the population, while other bumiputer

a make up another 11 per cent.[2] According to constitutional definition, Malays are Muslims who practice Malay customs and culture. They play a dominant role p olitically. Bumiputera status is also accorded to certain non-Malay indigenous p eoples, including ethnic Thais, Khmers, Chams and the natives of Sabah and Saraw ak. Non-Malay bumiputera make up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's population.[2] There also exist aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsula, where they are collectively known as the Oran g Asli.[158] Laws over who gets bumiputera status vary between states.[159] A map of Malaysia depicting the expected 2010 estimated population density. Population density (person per Km2) Other minorities who lack bumiputera status make up a large amount of the popula tion. 23.7 per cent of the population are of Chinese descent, while those of Ind ian descent comprise 7.1 per cent of the population.[2] The Chinese have histori cally been dominant in the business and commerce community, and form a plurality of the population of Penang. Indians began migrating to Malaysia in the early 1 9th century.[160] The majority of the Indian community are Tamils.[161] Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, bu t is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia. Dual cit izenship is not permitted.[162] Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak i n Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immi gration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card k nown as MyKad at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times.[163] The education system features a non-compulsory kindergarten education followed b y six years of compulsory primary education, and five years of optional secondar y education.[164] Schools in the primary education system are divided into two c ategories: national primary schools, which teach in Malay, and vernacular school s, which teach in Chinese or Tamil.[165] Secondary education is conducted for fi ve years. In the final year of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysi an Certificate of Education examination.[166] Since the introduction of the matr iculation programme in 1999, students who completed the 12-month programme in ma triculation colleges can enroll in local universities. However, in the matricula tion system, only 10 per cent of places are open to non-bumiputera students.[167 ] The infant mortality rate in 2009 was 6 deaths per 1000 births, and life expecta ncy at birth in 2009 was 75 years.[168] With the aim of developing Malaysia into a medical tourism destination, 5 per cent of the government social sector devel opment budget is spent on health care.[169] The population in concentrated on Pe ninsular Malaysia[170] where 20 million of approximately 28 million Malaysians l ive.[3] 70 per cent of the population is urban.[2] Kuala Lumpur is the capital[2 ] and the largest city in Malaysia,[171] as well as its main commercial and fina ncial centre.[172] Putrajaya, a purpose-built city constructed from 1999, is the seat of government,[173] as many executive and judicial branches of the federal government were moved there to ease growing congestion within Kuala Lumpur.[174 ] Due to the rise in labour intensive industries,[175] the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent of the population.[176] Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.[177] Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 171,500. Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from Burma, 72,400 from the Philippines, and 17,700 fr om Indonesia. Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law.[178] v

t e Largest cities or towns of Malaysia Source? Rank City name State Pop. Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru Johor Bahru 1 Georgetown Kajang

Pop.

Rank

City name

State

Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Penang 520 202 Kajang

1 674 621

11

Ipoh Ipoh 2 Johor Bahru Johor 1 386 569 503 127 3 Kajang Selangor 795 522 491 237 4 Ipoh Perak 767 794 14 5 Klang Selangor 744 062 456 605 6 Subang Jaya Selangor 708 296 Johor 417 458 7 Kota Kinabalu Sabah 628 725 8 Kuching Sarawak 617 887 Sabah 409 056 9 Petaling Jaya Selangor 613 977 Kedah 366 787 10 Seremban Negeri Sembilan rengganu Terengganu 343 284 Religion Main article: Religion in Malaysia The wooden Kampung Laut mosque with its minaret tiled roof. Kampung Laut Mosque in Kota Bharu is one of the ng to early 18th century.

12 13

Malacca City Kota Bharu

Malacca Kelantan

Kuantan Pahang 461 906 15 Sungai Petani Kedah 16 17 Tawau 18 19 555 935 Batu Pahat Sabah 412 375 Sandakan Alor Setar 20 Kuala Te

and an onion-shaped dome on its oldest mosques in Malaysia, dati

The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion while making Islam the state religion.[179] According to the Population and Housing Census 2010 figure s, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly. Approximately 61.3% of the population practice Islam, 19.8% practice Buddhism, 9.2% Christianity, 6.3% Hind uism and 1.3% practice Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religi ons. 0.7% declared no religion and the remaining 1.4% practised other religions or did not provide any information.[7] All ethnic Malays are considered Muslim by law of the Constitution.[179] Statist ics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and C hristianity (11.1%), along with small Hui-Muslim populations in areas like Penan g. The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a signifi cant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity i s the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputera community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4% identifying as Muslims.[7] Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah courts in matters concern ing their religion. The Islamic judges are expected to follow the Shafi`i legal

school of Islam, which is the main madh'hab of Malaysia.[180] The jurisdiction o f Shariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and custody among others. No other cri minal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Shariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts. Despite being the supreme courts o f the land, the Civil Courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.[1 81] Language Main article: Languages of Malaysia The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian,[2] a standardised form of the Ma lay language.[182] Historically English was the de facto administrative language , with Malay becoming predominant after the 1969 race riots.[183] English remain s an active second language, and serves as the medium of instruction for maths a nd sciences in all public schools.[184][185] Malaysian English, also known as Ma laysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Mal aysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a collo quial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The gover nment discourages the use of non-standard Malay and has instituted fines for pub lic signs that mix Malay and English.[186][187] Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages.[188] Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages. [189] The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are rela ted to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah.[190] Chi nese Malaysians predominately speak Chinese dialects from the southern provinces of China. The more common dialects in the country are Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokk ien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Fuzhou. Tamil is used predominantly by Tamils, who fo rm a majority of Malaysian Indians. Other south Asian languages are also widely spoken in Malaysia, as well as Thai[2] A small number of Malaysians have Caucasi an ancestry and speak creole languages, such as the Portuguese based Malaccan Cr eoles,[191] and the Spanish based Chavacano language.[192] Culture Main article: Culture of Malaysia A cook making Murtabak, a type of pancake, in an outdoor stall. He is pictured l eaning over his custom-made flattened wok filled with pieces of murtabak. A cook making murtabak, a type of pancake mixed with eggs, small pieces of meat and onions, in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The origin al culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along w ith the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Other cultural infl uences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure o f the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minima l cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.[193] In 1971, the government created a "National Cultural Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must be based on the culture of the i ndigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may incorporate suitable elements from ot her cultures, and that Islam must play a part in it.[194] It also promoted the M alay language above others.[195] This government intervention into culture has c aused resentment among non-Malays who feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations have submitted memorandums to the governmen t, accusing it of formulating an undemocratic culture policy.[194] Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring countries, notabl y Indonesia. The two countries have a similar cultural heritage, sharing many tr aditions and items. However, disputes have arisen over things ranging from culin

ary dishes to Malaysia's national anthem. Strong feelings exist in Indonesia abo ut protecting their national heritage.[196] The Malaysian government and the Ind onesian government have met to defuse some of the tensions resulting from the ov erlaps in culture.[197] Feelings are not as strong in Malaysia, where most recog nise that many cultural values are shared.[196] Fine arts See also: Music of Malaysia and Malaysian literature Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred around the areas of carving, weavin g, and silversmithing.[198] Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from r ural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornam ental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous Eas t Malaysians are known for their wooden masks.[97] Each ethnic group have distin ct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does sh ow some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India.[199] Two rows of hanging patterned cloths Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring. Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kel antan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments,[199] the most important of whi ch is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums.[200] Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natu ral materials.[200] Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating li fe-cycle events, and occasions such as a harvest.[199] It was once used as a for m of long-distance communication.[200] In East Malaysia, gong-based musical ense mbles such as agung and kulintang are commonly used in ceremonies such as funera ls and weddings.[201] These ensembles are also common in neighbouring regions su ch as in the southern Philippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Brunei.[201] Malaysia has a strong oral tradition that has existed since before the arrival o f writing, and continues today. Each of the Malay Sultanates created their own l iterary tradition, influenced by pre-existing oral stories and by the stories th at came with Islam.[202] The first Malay literature was in the Arabic script. Th e earliest known Malay writing is on the Terengganu stone, made in 1303.[97] Chi nese and Indian literature became common as the numbers of speakers increased in Malaysia, and locally produced works based in languages from those areas began to be produced in the 19th century.[202] English has also become a common litera ry language.[97] In 1971, the government took the step of defining the literatur e of different languages. Literature written in Malay was called "the national l iterature of Malaysia", literature in other bumiputera languages was called "reg ional literature", while literature in other languages was called "sectional lit erature".[195] Malay poetry is highly developed, and uses many forms. The Hikaya t form is popular, and the pantun has spread from Malay to other languages.[202] Cuisine Main article: Malaysian cuisine 4 Malay dishes on a table. (clockwise from bottom left): beef soup, nasi impit (compressed rice cubes), bee f rendang and sayur lodeh Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population.[203] Many cultures from within the country and from surrounding regions have greatly infl uenced the cuisine. Much of the influence comes from the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cultures,[97] largely due to the country being par t of the ancient spice route.[204] The cuisine is very similar to that of Singap ore and Brunei,[110] and also bears resemblance to Filipino cuisine.[97] The dif ferent states have varied dishes,[110] and often the food in Malaysia is differe nt from the original dishes.[161] Sometimes food not found in its original culture is assimilated into another; fo

r example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often serve Malay dishes.[205] Food f rom one culture is sometimes also cooked using styles taken from another culture ,[110] This means that although much of Malaysian food can be traced back to a c ertain culture, they have their own identity.[204] Rice is popular in many dishe s. Chili is commonly found in local cuisine, although this does not necessarily make them spicy.[203] Media Main article: Media of Malaysia Malaysia's main newspapers are owned by the government and political parties in the ruling coalition,[206] although some major opposition parties also have thei r own.[207] A divide exists between the media in the two halves of the country. Peninsular-based media gives low priority to news from the East, and often treat s the eastern states as colonies of the Peninsula.[208] The media have been blam ed for increasing tension between Indonesia and Malaysia, and giving Malaysians a bad image of Indonesians.[209] The country has Malay, English, Chinese, and Ta mil dailies.[208] There is very little freedom of the press, leading to very little government acc ountability.[210] The government has previously tried to crack down on oppositio n papers before elections.[207] In 2007, a government agency issued a directive to all private television and radio stations to refrain from broadcasting speech es made by opposition leaders,[211] a move condemned by politicians from the opp osition Democratic Action Party.[212] Sabah, where all tabloids but one are inde pendent of government control, has the freest press in Malaysia.[208] Laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act have also been cited as curtailing freedom of expression.[213] Holidays and festivals Main article: Public holidays in Malaysia Temple at night illuminated with light from decorations Southeast Asia's largest temple Kek Lok Si in Penang illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Som e are federally gazetted public holidays and some are observed by individual sta tes. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, and t he main holiday of each major group has been declared a public holiday. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) on 31 August, comm emorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957.[97] Malaysia Day on 16 September commemorates federation in 1963.[214] Other notable national ho lidays are Labour Day (1 May) and the King's birthday (first week of June).[97] Muslim holidays are prominent as Islam is the state religion; Hari Raya Puasa (a lso called Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Malay for Eid al-Fitr), Hari Raya Haji (also ca lled Hari Raya Aidiladha, the translation of Eid ul-Adha), Maulidur Rasul (birth day of the Prophet), and others being observed.[97] Malaysian Chinese celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year and others relating to traditional Chinese be liefs. Hindus in Malaysia celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights,[179] whil e Thaipusam is a religious rite which sees pilgrims from all over the country co nverge at the Batu Caves.[215] Malaysia's Christian community celebrates most of the holidays observed by Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas and Easte r. East Malaysians also celebrate a harvest festival known as Gawai.[216] Despit e most festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group, c elebrations are universal. In a custom known as "open house" Malaysians particip ate in the celebrations of others, often visiting the houses of those who identi fy with the festival.[145] Sports Main article: Sport in Malaysia Malaysia Formula One track, the Sepang International Circuit.

Popular sports in Malaysia include football, badminton, field hockey, bowls, ten nis, squash, martial arts, horse riding, sailing, and skate boarding.[145] Footb all is the most popular sport in Malaysia and Malaysia is studying the possibili ty of bidding as a joint host for 2034 FIFA World Cup.[217] Badminton matches at tract thousands of spectators, and since 1948 Malaysia has been one of three cou ntries to hold the Thomas Cup.[218] The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation was regi stered in 1997.[219] Squash was brought to the country by members of the British army, with the first competition being held in 1939. The Squash Racquets Associ ation of Malaysia was created on 25 June 1972.[220] Malaysia has proposed a Sout heast Asian football league.[221] The men's national field hockey team ranked 15 th in the world as of August 2010.[222] The 3rd Hockey World Cup was hosted at M erdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the 10th cup.[223] The country also h as its own Formula One track the Sepang International Circuit. It runs for 310.408 kilometres (192.88 mi), and held its first Grand Prix in 1999.[224] The Federation of Malaya Olympic Council was formed in 1953, and received recogn ition by the IOC in 1954. It first participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Ga mes. The council was renamed the Olympic Council of Malaysia in 1964, and has pa rticipated in all but one Olympic games since its inception. The largest number of athletes ever sent to the Olympics was 57 to the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.[2 25] Malaysian athletes have won a total of four Olympic medals, all of which are in badminton.[226] The country has competed at the Commonwealth Games since 195 0 as Malaya, and 1966 as Malaysia, and the games were hosted in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.[227][228] Two styles of martial arts are being practiced in Malaysia; Sila t and Malaysian kickboxing, called Tomoi.