Malaysia, in the true sense can be termed as 'cosmopolitan’. Strategically located at the junction of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Already know worldwide as a holiday destination. Malaysia is also gaining recognition as a venue for international class exhibition, trade fairs and conventions.



Rightly known as a tropical paradise, Malaysia is situated 7 degrees north of the Equator in the heart of Southeast Asia. Malaysia covers an area of about 330,3071 sq.km., occupying the Malay Peninsular and the states of Sabah and Sarawak in the north-western coastal area of Borneo Island.

The two regions are separated by about 531.1 km of the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia, covering 131,587.67 sq.km, has its frontiers with Thailand while East Malaysia which consists Sabah and Sarawak, about 198,847.4 sq.km., border the territory of Indonesia's Kalimantan.



Malaysia is the classic example of a wet tropical zone- hot and humid all through the year, with the temperature ranging between 21º C and 33ºC, and the humidity usually touching around 90%. As in all of South East Asia, the monsoons are an important feature of the climate- Malaysia has two monsoons, one in August-September and the other between November and February. The time to see turtles on the east coast is between May and September.

Post independence, Malaysia made remarkable progress; especially after the economic reforms introduced by the government of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the 1980s. As a result of these reforms, Malaysia’s economy shifted from being primarily agrarian to a more mixed one. Today, Malaysia’s GDP owes more to industry than to agriculture: industry accounts for 46%, services for 41% and agriculture for 13%. The last decade of the 20th century saw a sustained growth rate of 8%, but this slumped dreadfully and declined 7% in 1998, following the Asian financial crisis. Steps have been taken by the government to arrest the downslide, including funding from internal and external sources, introduction of an expansionary budget, and attempts to curb the rising level of unemployment.

Malaysia's revenue earners are tin, rubber, palm oil, timber, oil, textiles and electronics. The GDP is at US$ 171 billion, GDP per head stands at US$ 8,950 and the annual growth rate has slumped to -7% (1998 figures). Malaysia's major trading partners are Singapore, Japan and USA.

Malaysia is a unique nation in her own right, this diversity spills well into her population mix like Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Dayaks, and numerous other minority groups has spawned a great many cultural and religious festivals earning her the title of "the land of festivals" and the "gourmand's delight".

Malaysian can be broadly categorised into two groups, the indigenous people comprise the Bumiputra and Orang Asli while the immigrant groups are known as non-Bumiputra.

The different types of religion in Malaysia reflects the variety of races living there. Islam is the official religion but Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and other religions are practiced freely.

Islam is practiced predominantly by the Malays. Most of the Chinese believe in Buddhism and Taoism but others are Christians. Hinduism is mostly practiced by the region's Indian population. Many indigenous people have converted to Christianity but others still practiced animism.

The annual precipitation is pretty high (200 to 250 cm), and daily rainfall in the afternoon is a normal occurrence. Rain, however, falls generally in the form of a short, heavy shower, after which the sun starts shining again.



The national language in Malaysia is Bahasa Malaysia. English, Tamil, Chinese (in its different dialects- Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan and Foochow), Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi are the other languages spoken by different ethnic groups. In addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the main ones being Iban and Kadazan. English is widely spoken by the business community. Mandarin and Tamil are taught concurrently with Bahasa Malaysia and English in schools.



Malaysian cuisine is exotic with an exciting range of flavours and culinary styles offering the uninitiated an endless gastronomic adventure. It comprises three main groups – Malay, Chinese and Indian with each having its own distinct style of cooking. There are also cuisines that have evolved from the meeting of cultures notably those of the Nyonya and Indian Muslim communities.

Western cuisine, especially Continental and Mediterranean fare, are also available in the major cities. Indeed, Malaysia as a meeting place of both eastern and western cultures has produced a most diverse culinary melting pot.

For the visitor who is interested in dining out, Kuala Lumpur will prove to be a unique experience both in terms of the array of culinary delights as well as in the wide choice of settings. You can dine out at posh hotel restaurants, elegant chain restaurants, chic sidewalk cafes, delicatessens or eat out at the many hawker stalls till the wee hours of the morning.