Malaysia

Profile of Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,355 sq mi). The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 27 million.The country is separated into two regions — Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo — by the South China Sea.

Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.The country is located near the equator and experiences a tropical climate. Malaysia's head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (a term that is similar to King), an elected monarch,and the government is headed by a Prime Minister.The government is closely modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system.

Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963. Previously, the United Kingdom had established influence in colonies in the territory from the late-18th century. The western half of modern Malaysia was composed of several separate kingdoms. This group of colonies was known as British Malaya until its dissolution in 1946, when it was reorganized as the Malayan Union.

Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganized again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957.Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya joined to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Tensions in the early years of the new union sparked an armed conflict with Indonesia, and the expulsion of Singapore on 9 August 1965.