Map of Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia . A federal constitutional monarchy , it consists of 13 states and three federal territories , separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo 's East Malaysia . Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore , Vietnam , and Indonesia . East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia, as well as a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, the country's largest city, and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government .
Putrajaya is the administrative centre, which represents the seat of both the executive branch (the Cabinet , federal ministries, and federal agencies ) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 34 million, the country is the world's 43rd-most populous country . Malaysia is tropical and is one of 17 megadiverse countries ; it is home to numerous endemic species . Tanjung Piai in the Malaysian state of Johor is the southernmost point of continental Eurasia .
The country has its origins in the Malay kingdoms , which, from the 18th century on, became subject to the British Empire , along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. During World War Two , British Malaya , along with other nearby British and American colonies, was occupied by the Empire of Japan . Following three years of occupation, Peninsular Malaysia was briefly unified as the Malayan Union in 1946 until 1948 when it was restructured as the Federation of Malaya . The country achieved independence on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963 , independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo , Sarawak , and Singapore to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became a separate, independent country .
The country is multiethnic and multicultural , which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay , with minorities of Chinese , Indians , and indigenous peoples . The official language is Malaysian Malay , a standard form of the Malay language . English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the official religion , the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system , and the legal system is based on common law . The head of state is an elected monarch , chosen from among the nine state sultans every five years. The head of government is the prime minister .
The country's economy has traditionally been driven by its natural resources but is expanding into commerce, tourism, and medical tourism . The country has a newly industrialised market economy , which is relatively open and state-oriented. The country is a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth , and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). (Full article... )
Kadazandusun priests and priestesses attires during the opening ceremony of Kaamatan 2014 at Hongkod Koisaan, the unity hall of KDCA
Kadazandusun (also written as Kadazan-Dusun or Mamasok ) are the largest ethnic group in Sabah , Malaysia , an amalgamation of the closely related indigenous Kadazan and Dusun peoples. "Kadazandusun" is an umbrella term that encompasses both the Kadazan and Dusun peoples. They are also known as Mamasok Sabah , meaning "indigenous people of Sabah". Kadazandusun tradition holds that they are the descendants of Nunuk Ragang . Kadazandusun is recognised as an indigenous nation of Borneo with documented heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2004. Kadazandusuns are part of the bumiputera in Malaysia having been endowed with rights concerning land, rivers, education and maintaining their own customary laws. (Full article... )
Saiful Bahri (19 September 1924 – 26 December 1976) was an Indonesian saxophonist, violinist, bandleader, composer, and songwriter, active in Indonesia and Malaysia during the 1950s and 1960s. He was also famous for conducting a number of orchestras during the period. Bahri composed and wrote Melaka Maju Jaya , the Malaccan state anthem, and wrote the lyrics to Duli Yang Maha Mulia , the Selangor state anthem. (Full article... )
A food court in George Town, Penang Island, Malaysia with a plethora of Malaysian cuisine
The following are images from various Malaysia-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1 Murtabak being made at a stall, a type of pancake filled with eggs, small chunks of meat and onions. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 2 Peninsular Malaysia (left) is 40% of
Malaysia 's territory, and
East Malaysia (right) is 60% of
Malaysia 's territory. The capital of Malaysia is
Kuala Lumpur . (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 3 A craftsman making
batik .
Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring. (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 4 Former mine which has been converted into a
lake garden in
Perak . (from
Mining in Malaysia )
Image 5 Chinatown Penang , A Chinatown located in
Georgetown , Penang. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 6 Some of the traditional clothes from
East Malaysia (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 9 Philippine President Duterte in a meeting with Mahathir in the
Malacanang Palace in 2019 (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 10 Chinese women working in a British
mobile canteen during the
Malayan Campaign ,
c. January 1942 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 12 1935 map of the
Ming dynasty under the
Yongle Emperor in 1415 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 13 Chinese
tycoon Ng Boo Bee with British officials in
Perak in 1904 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 14 The Nyonya making various traditional
kuih . (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 15 Johor-Dutch battle in the 1780s (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 16 Peninsular Malaysia Precipitation Map in December 2004 showing heavy precipitation on the east coast, causing floods there. (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 17 Nasi dagang (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 19 Aside from
mandarin orange , various other snacks are presented for visitors throughout the Chinese New Year. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 20 Japanese troops moving through Kuala Lumpur during their advance through Malaya (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 21 Nasi kerabu (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 22 Gasing spinning top at the cultural center Gelanggang Seni (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 23 Petaling Street , a
Chinatown in Malaysia's capital of
Kuala Lumpur , at night (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 25 Bronze Avalokiteshvara statue found in Perak, 8th–9th century (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 26 Tongmenghui fundraising meeting in
Ipoh for the
Second Guangzhou Uprising ,
c. 1911 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 27 New villages were established during the 1950s to segregate Chinese with connections to communist insurgents. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 28 Kolo mee (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 29 Geographical distributions of ethnic Chinese Malaysians by majority in each cities or towns:
Undetermined majority
(from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 30 Raw (l) and cooked (r) sambal tempoyak. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 31 The discovery of a skull estimated to be around 40,000 years old in the
Niah Caves , in Sarawak, has been identified as the earliest evidence for human settlement in
Malaysian Borneo (photo December 1958). (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 32 British flag hoisted for the first time on the
island of Labuan on 24 December 1846 (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 33 Mount Kinabalu , the highest point of Malaysia, is located in
Sabah . (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 36 Members of the
Cobbold Commission were formed to conduct a study in the
British Borneo territories of
Sarawak and
Sabah to see whether the two were interested in the idea to form the Federation of Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 37 An ethnic Chinese woman in Malaysia grinds and cuts up dried
herbs to make
traditional Chinese medicine . (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 38 Idli served with typical accompaniments. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 39 The usually crowded
Lim Chong Eu Expressway and its surroundings in
Penang deserted throughout the Malaysian movement control order, as seen on 22 March 2020, to combat
COVID-19 pandemic . (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 40 Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) in Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysians celebrate Independence Day on 31 August each year (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 44 South-East Asia's Largest Temple-
Kek Lok Si in
Penang being illuminated in preparation for the
Lunar New Year . (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 45 Iced Ipoh white coffee in
Menglembu ,
Ipoh , Malaysia (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 46 British and Malayan police talking to a Chinese civilian about communist activity in the area in 1949 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 48 A selection of Nyonya kuih (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 49 Sea grapes, known as latok by the Bajau people. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 52 Bubur pulut hitam, without coconut milk. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 53 Japanese troops landed on Malaya in 1941. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 55 Lion dance in Malaysia's capital during the Chinese main festivity. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 56 Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur was the tallest building in Southeast Asia. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 57 A view of a river from the anchorage off Sarawak, Borneo,
c. 1800s . Painting from the
National Maritime Museum of London. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 58 Malaysian Chinese
Catholics during
Palm Sunday at St Ignatius Church in
Selangor . (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 59 Kuala Lumpur , a blend of old and new (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 60 Roti tisu served as a savoury meal, pictured here with a glass of teh tarik. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 61 Map of the geographic origin of the present-day ethnic Chinese Malaysians since their early migrations from China to
Nanyang region more than a hundred years ago. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 62 Inside the former house of a Peranakan (Baba-Nyonya or 峇峇娘惹) in
Malacca which has now been
converted into a museum , a Nyonya can be seen sitting inside wearing the traditional
kebaya . (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 63 Evolution of Malaysia (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 64 Clockwise from bottom left: beef soup, ketupat (compressed rice cubes), beef
rendang and
sayur lodeh (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 65 A Malaysian
nasi lemak traditionally wrapped in
banana leaves (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 66 Built in the 6th century AD, Candi Bukit Batu Pahat is the most well-known ancient Hindu temple found in Bujang Valley. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 67 Wonton Mee (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 68 Bantang River Recreational Forest in
Segamat District ,
Johor . (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 69 Tau sar pneah , also known as
Tambun pneah , from
Penang (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 70 Joint Chinese-Malay anticommunist demonstration in
Semenyih , Selangor during the 1950s (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 71 1860–1900 photograph of
Bukit Cina (Chinese Hill) in
Malacca , one of Malaysia's oldest Chinese cemeteries (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 73 Amplang. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 74 Map of the
Sinophone world, where
Chinese languages are spoken as a
first language among ethnic Chinese in countries where their population is significant:
Chinese-speaking majority (Coastal and central areas of China,
Taiwan and
Singapore )
(from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 75 Some of the examples of ethnic Chinese influenced Malaysian cuisine, clockwise from top-right:
grass jelly (凉粉) with
Bandung ,
yong tau foo ,
Nyonya steamed layer cake (娘惹千层糕) and
laksa noodle. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 76 A Chinese
junk in the
Kinabatangan District of northern Borneo, photographed by
Martin Johnson c. 1935 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 77 The
Klang Bell , dated 200 BC–200 AD (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 79 The proclamation on the formation of the independent
Federation of Malaysia by
Lee Kuan Yew (top) for
Singapore ;
Donald Stephens (centre) for
North Borneo and
Stephen Kalong Ningkan (bottom) for
Sarawak . However, Singapore left the Federation less than two years after the merger due to
racial issues . (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 80 The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the
Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of
Malacca (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 83 A bowl of
curry mee , with fried beancurd skins and fish cake on the side (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 84 Tugu Negara , the Malaysian national monument, is dedicated to those who fell during World War II and the Malayan Emergency. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 85 Joget Melayu , a Malay dance (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 87 Roti Telur and Teh Tarik (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 88 Tanks of fresh
seafood at a seafood restaurant in
Kota Kinabalu , Malaysia (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 89 The Buddha-Gupta stone, dating to the 4th–5th century AD, was dedicated by an Indian Merchant, Buddha Gupta. Found in Seberang Perai and kept in the National Museum, Calcutta, India. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 91 SMJK Confucian in Kuala Lumpur, an example of converted Chinese independent school to government-funded "SMJK" (literally
Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan ). (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 92 An 1880 painting of southern Chinese merchant from
Fujian (left) and Chinese official in
Penang Island . (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 94 Authentic
mee bandung from
Muar (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 95 A beach on
Redang Island in the South China Sea. (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 96 A bowl of Asam laksa (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 97 The Zheng He monument, today, marks his stopover at the city. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 98 Kangkung belacan (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 99 Proportion of ethnic Chinese and Malay with indigenous voters in the
2018 Malaysian parliamentary constituency :
Bright red indicates a higher proportion of ethnic Chinese
Mixed colour means that the ratio of the two is equivalent
The brownish colour are the area with the higher proportion of other non-indigenous races (such as
Indians )
(from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 100 Photo of Sultan
Ahmad Muʽazzam and his courtiers. Many years after the precolonial period. c. 1900. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 101 The extent of the
Malaccan Empire in the 15th century became the main point for the spreading of
Islam in the
Malay Archipelago . (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 102 Air bandung. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 104 A
wau workshop (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 105 Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) guerrillas during their disbandment ceremony in
Kuala Lumpur after the end of World War II (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 107 The 1056m
Johor-Singapore Causeway connects Malaysia and Singapore across the
Straits of Johor . In the background is
Johor Bahru . (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 108 Replica of the palace of the
Malacca Sultanate , built from information in the
Malay Annals . (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 109 Comparison of Malay language, Jawi writing, and Khat calligraphy with other languages. (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 110 Heads from old
headhunting practices in a
Kadazan house in Sabah (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 111 A view of Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding
central business district in Kuala Lumpur (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 112 Bak Kut Teh (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 115 Children in a
rickshaw pulled by a Chinese
coolie in
Kuching around 1919 (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 116 The topography of Malaysian Borneo. (from
Geography of Malaysia )
Image 118 Malay children dressed for
Hari raya (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 119 Na Tuk Kong (拿督公) shrine in West Malaysia. (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 120 Laksa Sarawak (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 121 Happy Valley in George Town, Penang (looking west from Jalan Pasar) (from
Malaysian Chinese )
Image 122 Sambal belacan, made with mixed toasted
belachan , ground chilli, kaffir leaves, sugar and water (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 125 Yusheng (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 126 16th century Portuguese sketch of Malacca. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 127 Teh C Peng Special (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 128 Historic
Indosphere cultural influence zone of
Greater India for transmission of religion, music, arts, and cuisine (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 129 The
1MDB corruption scandal tainted the tenure of Prime Minister, Najib Razak. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 130 Maggi goreng in
George Town ,
Penang (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 131 Pan Mee (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 132 Nasi Lemak , the national dish of Malaysia (from
Culture of Malaysia )
Image 133 Ikan bakar in
Muar ,
Johor . (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 135 Durians in rack sold in Kuala Lumpur (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 136 Soto ayam , (chicken soto). Note the transparent yellow broth, the
emping and fried shallot (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 138 The earliest record of a local law influenced by Islamic teaching and written in
Jawi . The
stone monument is found in
Terengganu . (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 139 2007 Bersih rally that was held in Kuala Lumpur (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 140 Hainanese chicken rice balls in
Muar ,
Johor ,
Malaysia (from
Malaysian cuisine )
Image 141 Statue of
Francis Light in the
Fort Cornwallis of Penang, marking the start of
British rule in the Malay Archipelago (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 143 Bersih 's protesters marched through the streets of
Kuala Lumpur peacefully before the police confronted them. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 144 Mahathir Mohamad was the leading force in making Malaysia into a major industrial power. (from
History of Malaysia )
Image 145 A typical serving of banana leaf rice. (from
Malaysian cuisine )
For more images from Malaysia, see the following categories at Wikimedia Commons:
Category puzzle
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Miri
... that Miri (pictured) was the first town in Malaysia that was not a state capital to be granted city status?
... that part of capital city Kuala Terengganu 's name, according to one theory, is derived from terang ganu , Malay for "bright rainbow"?
... that George Town , the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang , was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia?
1 October 1996: Kuala Lumpur Tower was inaugurated in Kuala Lumpur .
1 October 2010: 2010 Proton Malaysian Open was held in Kuala Lumpur .
2 October 2010: 2010 Proton Malaysian Open was held in Kuala Lumpur .
3 October 2010: 2010 Proton Malaysian Open was held in Kuala Lumpur .
5 October 2019: The launch of Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 .
6 October 2017: The first Rocktoberfest Borneo was held in Miri , Sarawak .
6 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
7 October 2017: The first Rocktoberfest Borneo was held in Miri , Sarawak .
7 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
8 October 1996: Parti Melayu Semangat 46 was dissolved.
8 October 2004: Labuan Museum in Labuan was officially opened.
8 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
9 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
10 October 2000: Shah Alam was upgraded from town to a city .
10 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
11 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
12 October 2004: Paddy Museum in Alor Setar , Kedah was inaugurated.
12 October 2018: 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
13 October 2018:
2018 Port Dickson by-election .
2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was held in Johor Bahru , Johor .
14 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
15 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
16 October 2014: Quill City Mall in Kuala Lumpur was opened.
16 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
16 October 2002: 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy was held in Kuala Lumpur .
17 October 2002: 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy was held in Kuala Lumpur .
17 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
17 October 2016: Heritage Party was founded.
18 October 2002: 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy was held in Kuala Lumpur .
18 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
19 October 1991: 1991 Asian Athletics Championships was held in Kuala Lumpur .
19 October 2002: 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy was held in Kuala Lumpur .
19 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
20 October 1991: 1991 Asian Athletics Championships was held in Kuala Lumpur .
20 October 1990: 1990 Malaysian general election .
20 October 2011: Kenanga Wholesale City in Pudu , Kuala Lumpur was opened.
20 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
20 October 2020: Subang Jaya was upgraded from town to a city .
21 October 1976: Sultan Abu Bakar Museum in Pekan , Pahang was opened.
21 October 1990:
21 October 1991: 1991 Asian Athletics Championships was held in Kuala Lumpur .
21 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
22 October 1991: 1991 Asian Athletics Championships was held in Kuala Lumpur .
22 October 2015: 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier was held in Malaysia .
23 October 1991: 1991 Asian Athletics Championships was held in Kuala Lumpur .
23 October 1993: Chinese History Museum in Kuching , Sarawak was officially opened.
23 October 2013: 2013 Cameron Highlands mud floods .
24 October 1976: Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress was founded.
24 October 2002: 2002 Eisenhower Trophy was held in Selangor .
25 October 2002: 2002 Eisenhower Trophy was held in Selangor .
26 October 2002: 2002 Eisenhower Trophy was held in Selangor .
27 October 1987: Operation Lalang .
27 October 2002: 2002 Eisenhower Trophy was held in Selangor .
28 October 1987: Operation Lalang .
29 October 1987: Operation Lalang .
30 October 1987: Operation Lalang .
30 October 2015: People's Alternative Party was founded.
31 October 1987: Operation Lalang .
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Jementah
Rank
Name
State
Pop.
Rank
Name
State
Pop.
Kuala Lumpur Kajang
1
Kuala Lumpur
Federal Territory
1,982,112
11
Ipoh
Perak
759,952
Seberang Perai Subang Jaya
2
Kajang
Selangor
1,047,356
12
Seremban
Negeri Sembilan
681,541
3
Seberang Perai
Penang
946,092
13
Iskandar Puteri
Johor
575,977
4
Subang Jaya
Selangor
902,086
14
Kuantan
Pahang
548,014
5
Klang
Selangor
902,025
15
Sungai Petani
Kedah
545,053
6
Johor Bahru
Johor
858,118
16
Ampang Jaya
Selangor
531,904
7
Shah Alam
Selangor
812,327
17
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
500,425
8
George Town
Penang
794,313
18
Malacca City
Malacca
453,904
9
Petaling Jaya
Selangor
771,687
19
Sandakan
Sabah
439,050
10
Selayang
Selangor
764,327
20
Alor Setar
Kedah
423,868
Religions in Malaysia
Southeast Asia
Other countries