Malaysia, 

country of Southeast Asia, lying

just north of the Equator, that is composed
of two non-contiguous regions: Peninsular
Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia), also
called West Malaysia (Malaysia Barat),
which is on the Malay Peninsula, and East
Malaysia (Malaysia Timur), which is on
the island of Borneo. The Malaysian
capital, Kuala Lumpur, lies in the
western part of the peninsula, about 25
miles (40 km) from the coast; the
administrative centre, Putrajaya, is
located about 16 miles (25 km) south of the
capital.
 political marriage of territories that
were formerly under British rule. When
it was established on September 16,
1963. Malaysia comprised the
territories of Malaya (now Peninsular
Malaysia), the island of Singapore, and
the colonies of Sarawak and Sabah in
northern Borneo. In August 1965
Singapore seceded from the federation
and became an independent republic.

Malaysia, a member of the

Commonwealth, represents the
 the Latin alphabet. English is a
recognised language. Tamil and
Chinese are also often used. There are
over 130 other languages spoken in
Malaysia, with 94 in Malaysian Borneo
and 40 on the peninsula. Islam is the
official religion, but non-Malay citizens
have the freedom to practice other
religions.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-

cultural, with most people being Malay,
but there are also Chinese and Indians.
Its official language is Malay written in
Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per
cent of Malaysia's land area, extends
740 km (460 mi) from north to south,
and its maximum width is 322 km
(200 mile). It is divided between its east
and west coasts by the Titiwangsa
Mountains, rising to a peak elevation of
2,183 metres (7,162 ft) at Mount
Korbu, part of a series of mountain
ranges running down the centre of the
peninsula.
 protected as one of the four
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in
Malaysia. The highest mountain ranges
formed the border between Malaysia and
Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu
Caves, the largest cave system in the world,
in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is
also a World Heritage Site.

East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has

a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi). It is
divided between coastal regions, hills and
valleys, and a mountainous interior. The
Crocker Range extends northwards from
Sarawak, dividing the state of Sabah. It is
the location of the 4,095 m (13,435 ft)
high Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain
in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is located in
the Kinabalu National Park, which is
 religion. According to government
census figures in 2009, the four main
religions are Islam (55.4% of the
people, Buddhism
(27.2%), Christianity (9.1%), mostly in
East Malaysia, i.e., (Borneo), and
Hinduism (10.8%).

Malaysia is a multi-religious society,

and Islam is the country's official
Malaysia is a federation which consists
of thirteen states (Negeri) and three
federal territories (Wilayah
Persekutuan). Eleven states and two
federal territories are located on the
Malay Peninsula while the remaining
two states and one federal territory are
on the island of Borneo.
 established in 1957, when
the Federation of Malaya (now
Malaysia) gained independence from
the United Kingdom. The Yang di-
Pertuan Agong is elected by
the Conference of Rulers, comprising
the nine rulers of the Malay states, with
the office de facto rotated between
them, making Malaysia one of the
world's few elective monarchies.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, also
known as the Supreme Head of the
Federation, the Paramount Ruler or
simply as the Agong, and unofficially
as the King of Malaysia, is
the constitutional monarch and head of
state of Malaysia. The office was
The country achieved independence on
31 August 1957. The independent
Malaya united with the then British
crown colonies of North Borneo,
Sarawak, and Singapore on 16
September 1963 to become Malaysia.
In August 1965, Singapore was
expelled from the federation and
became a separate independent country.