Malaysia Geography | Government | History
Geography
Malaysia is on the Malay Peninsula in
southeast
Asia. The nation also includes Sabah and Sarawak on the island of
Borneo
to the east. Its area slightly exceeds that of New Mexico.
Most of Malaysia is covered by forest,
with a
mountain range running the length of the peninsula. Extensive
forests
provide ebony, sandalwood, teak, and other wood.
Government
Constitutional monarchy.
History
The ancestors of the people that now
inhabit the
Malaysian peninsula first migrated to the area between 2500 and 1500
B.C. Those living in the coastal regions had
early
contact with the Chinese and Indians; seafaring traders from India
brought
with them Hinduism, which was blended with the local animist
beliefs. As
Muslims conquered India, they spread the religion of Islam to
Malaysia. In
the 15th century, Islam acquired a firm
hold on the region when the Hindu ruler of the powerful city-state
of
Malacca, Parameswara Dewa Shah, converted to Islam.
British and Dutch interest in the region
grew in
the 1800s, with the British East India Company's establishment of a
trading
settlement on the island of Singapore. Trade soared, with
Singapore's
population growing from only 5,000 in 1820 to nearly 100,000 in just
50
years. In the 1880s, Britain formally established protectorates in
Malaysia. At about the same time, rubber trees were introduced from
Brazil. With the mass production of automobiles, rubber became a
valuable
export, and laborers were brought in from India to work the rubber
plantations.
Forming the Independent State of Malaysia
Following the Japanese occupation of
Malaysia
during World War II, a growing nationalist movement prompted the
British
to establish the semiautonomous Federation of Malaya in 1948. But
Communist guerrillas took to the jungles to begin a war of national
liberation against the British, who declared a state of emergency to
quell
the insurgency, which lasted until 1960.
The independent state of Malaysia came
into
existence on Sept. 16, 1963, as a federation of Malaya, Singapore,
Sabah
(North Borneo), and Sarawak. In 1965, Singapore withdrew from the
federation to become a separate nation. Since 1966, the 11 states of
former Malaya have been known as West Malaysia, and Sabah and
Sarawak as
East Malaysia.
By the late 1960s, Malaysia was torn by
rioting directed against Chinese and Indians, who controlled a
disproportionate share of the country's wealth. Beginning in 1968,
it was
the government's goal to achieve greater economic balance through a
national
economic policy.
Economic Reform and Growth
In the 1980s, Dr. Mohamad Mahathir
succeeded
Datuk Hussein as prime minister. Mahathir instituted economic
reforms that
would transform Malaysia into one of the so-called Asian Tigers.
Throughout the 1990s, Mahathir embarked on a massive project to
build a
new capital from scratch in an attempt to bypass congested Kuala
Lumpur.
Beginning in 1997 and continuing through
the
next year, Malaysia suffered from the Asian currency crisis. Instead
of
following the economic prescriptions of the International Monetary
Fund
and World Bank, the prime minister opted for fixed exchange rates
and
capital controls. In late 1999, Malaysia was on the road to economic
recovery, and it appeared Mahathir's measures were working.
Abdullah Badawi Tries to Reduce Government Corruption
In Oct. 2003, Mahathir retired
after 22 years in
office. His rule witnessed enormous economic growth, but was
also characterized by repression and human rights abuses. Malaysia's
new
prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, had a more statesmanlike
reputation, and
in his first year in office he made headway on reducing corruption
and
instituting reforms. In March 2004, the ruling National Front
coalition
won an astonishing 90% of parliamentary seats, and Abdullah was
reelected
.
The governing coalition under Prime
Minister
Badawi suffered a stunning defeat in March 2008's parliamentary
elections.
Opposition parties quadrupled their representation in Parliament,
and
Badawi's coalition, although it won 136 of 222 seats in Parliament,
lost
its two-thirds majority, which is necessary to amend the
constitution, and
control of five state assemblies. It was the worst showing for the
National Front coalition in four decades. Shortly after the
election,
Badawi trimmed his cabinet, removing several ministers who had been
accused of corruption, and appointed a prominent lawyer to oversee
judicial reform.
Leading opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim
was
arrested and jailed on suspicion of sodomy in July 2008—for a second
time. Ten years earlier, when he was serving as deputy prime
minister, he
was convicted of sodomy and corruption. The conviction was
overturned
after he spent six years in jail. Anwar denied the charges both
times,
claiming to have been set up by the government—allegations that had
a broad base of supporters, both domestically and abroad. Prior to
each
arrest, Anwar's political challenge to the governing party had been
gaining momentum. Indeed, days before his arrest, he had announced
plans
to run for Parliament. In August, Anwar won a by-election to return
to
Parliament after a 10-year absence. He defeated the government
party's
candidate, 31,196 to 15,524. After a two-year trial, Anwar was
acquitted of the sodomy charge in January 2012.
In March 2009, the ruling United Malays
National Organization chose Najib Razak to succeed Abdullah Badawi as
Prime Minister of the nation and leader of the party. Razak has promised
to make big changes in the ruling party, which is facing renewed
competition. However, Razak is largely viewed as an insider who is too
entrenched in party politics to follow through on his promises of
reform.
Halim Serves Second Term as King
In October 2011, Abdul Halim was
elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Malaysia's the head of state.
With the election, he became the first person to become head of state
twice. He also became the country's oldest ruler ever at 84 years and 15
days old. Halim's official coronation was on April 11, 2012, although
he began his second term in December 2011.
Law against Transgenders Challenged in Malaysia
In October 2012, a Malaysian court
heard a case challenging the law barring Muslim men from posing or
dressing as women. The case was dismissed and concern quickly spread
that an increasing number of transgender people in Malaysia could be
prosecuted. By law in Malaysia, Muslim men could be jailed or fined or
both for cross-dressing or posing as female. Punishments have varied in
different states within Malaysia. For example in Negeri Sembilan,
offenders could get six months in prison and have to pay a $325 fine.
Four male Muslims brought the challenge to the court for review. All
four men were born male, but dress as women. It was the first time
anyone has challenged the law.
Here are some interesting Germany Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.
• Capital: Berlin with 3.44 mio inhabitants is Germany's biggest city.
• Berlin: learn about German history and reunification
Germany is well known for its great poets like Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe (you see him in the picture to the right in the painting by
Tischbein) or the Grimm brothers or Thomas Mann and because of its
scientists and inventors like Albert Einstein, Robert Koch or Gottlieb
Daimler. The country is therefore often referred to be the "Land der Dichter und Denker"
(country of poets and thinkers). The Germans love going to the museums,
concerts and theatres, so you will find many interesting places you can
visit.
Sauerkraut, Sausages and Brezeln (Pretzels) are surely
the most famous German exports and in Germany you will find fresh bread,
bread rolls and pretzels in the numerous bakeries. Even little villages
often have more than two bakeries and you will have the choice of many
different types of bread and rolls.
