57 Facts About Malaysia

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country with a land area of 329,847 square kilometres. It is the only country in the world that is located on both the Malay archipelago and mainland Asia.

Malaysia is a premier Southeast Asian destination.

Malaysia is well-known for its beautiful landscape, natural wonders, and bustling cities, particularly Kuala Lumpur, its capital.

Malaysia appears to have it all, from its cosmopolitan areas to its near-perfect bucolic spots: beautiful, stunning, mysterious, and fun.

Malaysia is also one of Asia's financial powerhouses, owing to its robust economy, which is fueled primarily by the consistent transport of raw materials.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a federal structure. The country has a reigning monarch, but his authority is limited by the constitution. Any decisions must still be approved by Parliament.

Malaysian Parliament is divided into three branches: the King, who is considered the supreme ruler, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

Malaysia is derived from the words "Malay" (a group of people) and "ia," a Latin-Greek suffix. The country's name means "land of the Malays".

Malaysia's capital is Kuala Lumpur, which translates as "muddy estuary or confluence" in Malay.

The origins of the name Kuala Lumpur are unknown. The name could be derived from the Hakka term "Lampang," which means muddy, uncleared forest. It could also be because the area is near the confluence of the Sungei Klang and Sungei Gombak rivers.

Malaysia shares a northern border with Thailand and is linked to Singapore by the Tuas Second Link Bridge and the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

Malaysia's national anthem is Negaraku. It was once used as the Perak region's anthem.

The country's first known human habitation is thought to be 40,000 years old. The Negritos were most likely the first to inhabit the peninsula.

Malaysia has control over 878 islands. Some islands are inhabited, while others are too far away to be reached.

Malaysia is home to one of the world's oldest tropical rainforests. The Taman Negara is thought to be more than 130 million years old.

Taman Negara is only accessible to visitors with a special permit from the Malaysian government. Visitors must obtain a Park Entry permit as well as a Photographic License, which is charged for each camera brought into the park. The licence is valid for 30 days.

Taman Negara is home to a number of endangered species. Crab-eating macaques, Asian elephants, Sumatran rhinos, and Malayan tigers are among them.

Malaysia's national animal is the Malayan tiger. It is so significant as a national symbol that it is depicted on the national coat of arms.

The world's largest cave chamber is located in Malaysia, specifically in Sarawak's Gunung Mulu National Park. It is estimated that the massive cave can comfortably accommodate up to 50 Boeing 747s.

Malaysia is proud to be home to one of the most diverse environments on the planet. It is home to more than 200 mammalian species, 14,500 plant species, 140 snake species, and 600 bird species.

The country is famous for its many flowers, but the Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, is arguably its most famous bloom.

The hibiscus is Malaysia's national flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). On July 28, 1960, it was officially chosen. Its vibrant colours represent the vitality and courage of the Malaysian people.

The infamous King Cobra can also be found in Malaysia. Although this snake can be found in other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia has the most of this species of venomous snakes in the world.

The King Cobra is already the world's longest venomous snake. The longest known member measured 19.2 feet (5.85 metres) in length. The snake was captured in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, in 1937. The snake was rehabilitated at the London Zoo. By 1939, it had reached its full length.

The country was once ruled by the British but gained independence in 1957. Malaysia gained independence through diplomatic means.

Malaysia was formerly a colony of the Straits Settlement. Malacca and Singapore were also included in the settlements.

The Malay Peninsula's first inhabitants were divided into tribes. They are, however, collectively referred to as the Orang Asli, which translates as the Original People. This group is officially made up of 18 tribes.

Malaysia has a tropical rainforest climate, which means that most days are warm, humid, and sunny, with plenty of rain from October to March.

Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital, is known for its high temperatures.

Malaysia is divided into Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The two landmasses are separated by the South China Sea.

Malaysia is divided into three federal territories. These are Kuala Lumpur, the federal administrative territory of Putrajaya, and Labuan Island.

The country is divided into 13 states, including Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah, as well as three federal territories.

Malaysia's monarchy governs through a rotating system. Each ethnic Malay state ruler takes his or her turn on the throne. His reign will last for five years.

The Malaysian flag was created through a design competition. Mohammad Hamzah created the winning design. The star and crescent symbols represented Islam, the religion practised by the majority of the population.

Hamzah's design for the Malaysian flag was later changed. The original 5-point star was modified by adding one more point. The star was later modified to represent Malaysia's states, which is why it now has 14 points.

Malaysia's flag colours represent the country's British Commonwealth membership (blue) as well as the traditional colours of Malagasy nations (red and white).

The Malaysian flag was first raised on September 16, 1963 – the same day that Malaysia was founded.

Tuanku Abdul Rahman was Malaysia's first king, reigning from 1957 until his death in 1960. Malaysian monarchs are referred to as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which translates as He Who Is Made Lord.

Malaysia's currency is the ringgit. "Ringgit," which means "jagged" in Malay, is a now-obscure term.

Malaysia is well-known for its multiculturalism.

Malaysians refer to their culture as "kebudayaan Malaysia" (Malaysian culture).

Malaysia is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Javanese, Filipinos, Nepalese, and other Asian nationalities. Malaysia is truly Asian because of its cultural diversity.

Malaysia has three major languages: Bahasa Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. The country, however, is home to 137 different languages.

Malaysians typically say "Salaam" to each other.

A Malaysian will grasp a person's right hand with both hands, bow slightly, and place their right hand over their heart when using a formal greeting.

The majority of Malaysians follow Islam, followed by Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The remainder of the population adheres to traditional Chinese religions and philosophies, while others are members of other religious groups.

The term "face" has significant cultural and traditional significance among Malaysians, particularly among Malays, Indians, and Chinese. Face can refer to anything that maintains and promotes respect. To 'lose face' means to be humiliated or shamed. To'save face,' any act or strategy that avoids humiliation and preserves reputation is referred to.

The type of gifts you should give to a Malaysian will vary depending on their background. To a Malay, it is best to offer chocolates or pastries rather than alcohol. Toys with pigs or dogs should be avoided. It is best to offer a Chinese pastry or cake, or any souvenir from your country. Offer cakes, pastries, or flowers to an Indian. Never give leather to anyone, especially a Hindu.

Nasi lemak is Malaysia's unofficial national dish. It is made of fluffy rice cooked in pandan leaf and coconut milk, and it is served with a variety of delectable accompaniments such as boiled egg, fried chicken, peanuts, omelette, or cucumber.

The hornbill is the national bird of Malaysia.

The Petronas Twin Towers are a well-known landmark in Malaysia. The structure was completed in 1996 and remained the world's tallest building until 2004. The Petronas Towers take their name from Malaysia's national oil company, Petronas. It has 88 stories and 32,000 windows.

The Skybridge that connects the Twin Towers is the highest in the world. It occupies the 41st and 42nd floors.

Malaysians do not consider themselves to be 'Malaysian'. They likely will refer to themselves as Malay, Indian, Chinese or Dan Lain Lain, which means "other".

The Batu Caves are a well-known landmark in Malaysia. The caves are located on a limestone hill just 11 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur. These caves contain a century-old Hindu temple with numerous statues and idols. The Batu River inspired the names of the caves.

The 140-foot-tall Sri Murugan statue stands at the entrance to Batu Caves. It is the country's tallest Hindu deity statue and the world's third tallest.

Sabah is one of Malaysia's crowning achievements. Sabah, located on the northern tip of Borneo, has some of the most beautiful beaches, rivers, limestone caves, and fertile plains in the world.

Sabah is known as "the land beneath the wind" at times.