World Tourism about Malaysia, Tourist Destination, General Fact and many more,

1. By Mark Joel

2. One of the last British colonies to achieve independence, Malaysia has been
developed by its leaders as a model of rapid modernisation. From an earlier
image as a romantic tropical backwater, it is now a self-conscious, rapidly
developing, hi-tech nation-state stretching from Thailand to the sea boundaries
of the Philippines. But the past remains a crucial part of Malaysia's present.
In this concise history, Virginia Matheson Hooker takes the lives of individuals
as examples of their times and describes how the peoples of Malaysia became
masters of their extremely varied environments - not only by exploiting the rich
natural advantages, but by linking into the complex patterns of trade in the
region. Many of the skills of diplomacy, alliance and adaptation Malaysians
developed over the centuries are used today as the country embraces
globalisation while still participating in international life in distinctly Malaysian
ways.
From the origins of its aboriginal peoples, through the years of Western
domination to the forceful culture politics of Dr Mahathir, this is a lively and
very informative account of Malaysia's past and the major trends in its
contemporary political life and the challenges it faces in the 21st century.

3. Malaysia is a Southeast
Asian nation that exists
on two sides of the
South China Sea, split
into Peninsular
Malaysia which covers
the southernmost point
of Eurasia, and
Malaysian Borneo (East
Malaysia)

4. Capital
Kuala Lumpur, pop. 1,810,000
Government
Malaysia's government is a constitutional
monarchy. The current king is Yang di-
Pertuan Agong; he is the head of state and
serves in a ceremonial role.
The head of government is the prime
minister, presently Najib Tun Razak.
Malaysia has a bicameral parliament, with a
70-member Senate and a 222-member House
of Representatives. Senators are elected by
state legislatures or appointed by the king;
members of the House are directly elected
by the people.
General courts, including the Federal Court,
Court of Appeals, high courts, session
courts, etc., hear all types of cases.
Najib Tun Razak
Prime Minister

5. People of Malaysia
Malaysia has more than 28
million citizens. Ethnic
Malays make up a bare
majority of the population of
Malaysia at 50.4%. Another
11% are defined as
"indigenous" peoples of
Malaysia or bumiputra,
literally "sons of the earth."
Ethnic Chinese make up
23.7% of Malaysia's
population, while 7.1% are
ethnically Indian, and 7.8%
are from other ethno-
linguistic groups.

6. Languages
Malaysia's official language is Bahasa
Malaysia, a form of Malay. English is the
former colonial language, and is still in
common use, although it is not an
official language.
The citizens of Malaysia speak about
140 additional languages as mother
tongues. Malaysians of Chinese
descent come from many different
regions of China, so they may speak not
just Mandarin or Cantonese, but also
Hokkien, Hakka, Foochou and other
dialects. Most Malaysians of Indian
descent are Tamil speakers.
Particularly in East Malaysia (Malaysian
Borneo), people speak over 100 local
languages including Iban and Kadazan.

7. Religion
Officially, Malaysia is a Muslim
country. Although the Constitution
guarantees freedom of religion, it
also defines all ethnic Malays as
Muslims. Approximately 60% of
the population adheres to Islam.
According to the 2000 census,
Buddhists make up 19% of the
Malaysian population, Christians
about 9%, Hindus over 6%,
followers of Chinese philosophies
such as Confucianism or Taoism
2.5%. The remaining 3.5% listed
no religion or an indigenous faith.

8. Malaysian Geography
Malaysia covers almost 330,000 square
kilometers (127,000 square miles).
Malaysia covers the tip of the peninsula it
shares with Thailand as well as two large
states on a portion of the island of Borneo.
In addition, it controls a number of small
islands between peninsular Malaysia and
Borneo.
Malaysia has land borders with Thailand
(on the peninsula), as well as Indonesia
and Brunei (on Borneo). It has maritime
borders with Vietnam and the Philippines,
and is separated from Singapore by a
saltwater causeway.
The highest point in Malaysia is Mt.
Kinabalu at 4,095 meters (13,436 feet). The
lowest point is sea level.

9. Climate
Equatorial Malaysia has a tropical,
monsoonal climate. The average
temperature throughout the year is 27°C
(80.5°F).
Malaysia has two monsoon rain seasons,
with the stronger rains coming between
November and March. Lighter rains fall
between May and September.
Although the highlands and coasts have
lower humidity than the inland lowlands,
humidity is quite high throughout the
country. According to the Malaysian
government, the highest temperature ever
recorded was 40.1°C (104.2°F) at Chuping,
Perlis on April 9, 1998, while the lowest
was 7.8°C (46°F) at the Cameron Highlands
on Feb. 1, 1978.

10. Economy
The Malaysian economy has shifted over the
past 40 years from dependence on raw
materials export to a healthy mixed economy,
although it still relies to some degree on
income from oil sales. Today, the labor force
is 13% agricultural, 36% industrial, and 51% in
the services sector.
Malaysia was one of Asia's "tiger economies"
prior to the 1997 crash, and has recovered
nicely. It ranks 30th in the world in terms of
per capita GDP. The unemployment rate as of
2010 was an enviable 3.5%, and only 5.1% of
Malaysians live below the poverty line.
Malaysia exports electronics, petroleum
products, rubber, textiles and chemicals. It
imports electronics, machinery, vehicles, etc.

11. The main variable of Malaysia�s climate is not temperature or air pressure,
but rainfall. In general, the climate of Malaysia can be described as typical
tropical climate, with the coastal plains averaging 28°C, the inland and
mountain areas averaging 26°C, and the higher mountain regions, 23°C. The
area's relative humidity is quite high, and ranges between 70 and 90 percent.
Malaysia has extreme variations in rainfall that are linked with the
monsoons. Generally speaking, there is a dry season (June to September),
and a rainy season (December to March). Western and northern parts of
Malaysia experiences the most precipitation, since the north- and westward-
moving monsoon clouds are heavy with moisture by the time they reach
these more distant regions.
Typhoons can sometimes hit Malaysia from July to mid November, and can
cause heavy damage, flooding and erosion.
Required clothing
Lightweight cotton clothing is advised throughout the year, with an umbrella
or raincoat for sudden cloudbursts. No matter where you go, be prepared for
high temperatures and humidity.

12. Distance from Philippines to Malaysia is : 1545.9 miles
(2487.8 kilometers / 1342.4 Nautical Miles)
Approximate travel time from Manila, Philippines to Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia is 3 hours and 13 minutes.
Most nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa, and they would be
issued a 14,30 or 90 days entry permit stamp on their passport. This would
indicate the length of stay granted.
If you’re looking to make sure you don’t breach any behavioral rules while
visiting Malaysia, the following will give you a good idea of what not to do
in Malaysia.
The Malaysian Expressway System (Malay: Sistem Lebuh Raya Ekspres
Malaysia) is a network of national controlled-access expressways in
Malaysia that forms the primary backbone network of Malaysian national
highways. The network begins with the North-South Expressway (NSE),
and is being substantially developed. Malaysian expressways are built by
private companies under the supervision of the government highway
authority, Malaysian Highway Authority (abbreviated as MHA; also referred
to as Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) in Malay).

13. Time Capsule Retreat @ Pahang
Quiet and cozy little family run retreat located in
the middle of the Sungai Lembing Town,
Kuantan, Time Capsule Retreat was started as a
weird idea from a young entrepreneur, Kevin
Young, 26, to help improve his father’s resort.
Facing a lush forest reserve with great views,
cool temperatures and great ambiance, Time
Capsule Retreat is a perfect getaway for
relaxation and serenity.
The rooms like capsule or tubes? Each culvert is
fitted with warm lighting, a queen-size bed and
an air conditioning unit. However, the occupants
have to use the shared bathrooms at an open-air
jacuzzi nearby. A hole was made on the top of
each capsule to allow natural lighting to enter the
room.
Location | Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, Pahang
Website | timecapsuleretreat.wix.com/home

14. The Stable @ Malacca
The Stable is a sublime sanctuary in the hub of
Malacca’s historical precinct, between Heeren Street and
the famous Jonker Street, which now houses antique
dealers, museums, restaurants, galleries, cafes and craft
shops.
The Stable is a witty and charming reinvention of what
used to be a horse stable built during the 16th century
Dutch occupation of Malacca. Picture original wooden
beams dancing around richly-textured rooms of rough
exposed bricks, Peranakan tiles, quaint louvered
windows and reclaimed lumber floor. With a brilliant
collision of influences – from the modern to the baroque
to the local Peranakan heritage, this small guesthouse is
an inspired fusion of old-world charm with distinctly
contemporary style and energy. The Stable offers you
the ultimate in exclusivity and privacy with a one-room
only guesthouse where you get the whole house to
yourself.
Location | No. D, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75200 Malacca
Website | thestablemalacca.com

15. The Blue Mansion @ Penang
The Blue Mansion has been perfectly poised for over a
century on firm foundations of architectural, cultural
and historic superlatives. A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy,
the Mansion was built in the 1880s. The magnificent 38-
room, 220-window Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was
commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze, a local merchant
trader who left China as a penniless teenager and
ended up as ‘the Rockefeller of the East’.
The mansion blends Eastern and Western designs,
with louvred windows, art nouveau stained glass and
beautiful floor tiles, and is a rare surviving example of
the eclectic architectural style preferred by wealthy
Straits Chinese of the time. The house sits on the
‘dragon’s throne’, meaning that there is a mountain
(Penang Hill) behind and water (the channel) in front –
the site was chosen for its excellent feng shui.
Magnificent? Experience a life of a tycoon today by
lofting in The Blue Mansion.
Location | 14, Leith Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Website | www.thebluemansion.com.my

16. It is one of Malaysia’s most extensive
hill stations, first developed by the
British in the 1920’s. It has a
population of more than 34,000 people
consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians
and other ethnic group. It is renowned
for its trails. They lead visitors through
the forest to waterfalls and other
tranquil sports. Apart from its jungle
walks, the sanctuary is also known for
its tea plantations and visitors can book
several “ tea factory” tours.

17. It is named after Britain’s King George
III, Georgetown is located on the north-
east corner of Penang Island. Most of
George Towns populatios is of Chinese
origin. It is officially recognized as
having aunique architectural and
cultural townscape without parallel
anywhere in Southeast Asia.

18. was established at the Titiwangsa
Mountains, Malaysia, in 1938-1939
as the King George V National
Park. It was renamed to Taman
Negara after independence, which
literally means "national park" in
Malay. world's oldest tropical
rainforest, estimated to be more
than 130 million years old. It is one
of the best rain forest in the world. It
features massive trees, waterfalls,
jungle treks of various duration and
the world’s longest canopy
walkways. Several trails enable the
visitor to explore the forest without
a guide. Taman Negara is haven for
endangered species such as the
Asian Elephant, tigers, leopards,
and rhinos, but numbers are low
and sightings are very rare.

19. It is a small island located off the east
coast of peninsular Malaysia. In the
1970’s Time Magazine selected Tioman
as one of the world’s most beautiful
islands. Tourist have numerous white
coral reefs, Making it a haven for scuba
divers while the interior is densely
forested . Visitors outnumber villager
outside the monsoon but Tioman can be
virtually deserted at other times.

20. -It is the highest mountain in
Borneo. The mountain is known
worldwide for its tremendous
botanical and biological species
biodiversity. Over 600 species of
ferns, 326 species of birds and 100
mammalian species have been
identified at Mount Kinabalu and its
surroundings. The main peak of the
mountain can be climbed easily by a
person with good physical
condition, and requires no
mountaineering equipment although
climbers must be accompanied by
guides at all times.

21. The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur
were the world’s tallest buildings before
surpassed in 2004 by Taipei 101. However,
the towers are still the tallest twin buildings
in the world. The 88- floor towers are
constructed largely of reinforced concrete
with a steel and glass façade designed to
resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a
reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. The
Petronas Twin Towers feature a sky bridge
between the two towers on 41st and 42nd
floors

22. -It is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman
Sea. The islands are part of the state Kedah, which
is adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of
the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with
a population of about 65,000, the only other
inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Fringed
with , white beaches and with an interior of jungle
covered hills and craggy mountain peaks, it’s easy
to see why this is Malaysia’s most heavily
promoted tourist destination. The most popular
beaches can be found on the west coast with a
wide choice of restaurants and eateries and some
of the best resorts in Langkawi.

23. It opened in 1964 for rescued orphaned baby
orangutans from logging sites, plantations
and illegal hunting. The orphaned orangutans
are trained to survive again in the wild and
are released as soon as they are ready. The
Orangutan Sanctuary is located within the
Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, much of which
is virgin forest. About 60 to 80 orangutans are
living free in the reserve.

24. It is located off the coast of northeastern
Malaysia not far from the Thai border. The
Perhentian Islands are the must-go place
Malaysia for budget travelers. They have some
of the world’s most beautiful beaches and
great diving with plenty of cheap
accomodation. The two main islands are
Perhentian Besar (“Big Perhentian”) and
Perhentian Kecil ( “Small Perhentian”). Both
the islands have palm- fringed white sandy
beaches and turquoise blue sea

25. These are located in the Gunung Malu
National Park in Malaysian Borneo. The park
encompasses incredible caves and karst
formations in a mountainous equatorial
rainforest setting. The Sarawak chamber
found in one of the underground caves is the
largest cave chamber in the world. It has been
said that the chamber is so big that it could
accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s, without
overlapping their wings.

26. Be Aware of Gestures Considered Rude or Obscene
Gestures are a difficult thing to control as they often come automatically.
When in Malaysia, it’s good to avoid a few gestures that are not
acceptable in Malaysia but may be commonly acceptable in other parts of
the world.
For instance, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body and
as such, should be respected. Touching the head of an adult or passing an
object above someone’s head is considered rude and disrespectful.
While common in a lot of western cultures, using the forefinger to point is
seen as a rude in Malaysia and instead, make a fist with your thumb over
top the fingers and point using the thumb as the directional guide. We
noticed about half of the people would point with their finger and the rest
with their thumb over fingers. We’ve also found that in many places
“pointing in a direction” with your whole hand open-palm, works very well.
Pounding your fist into the palm of your other hand is an obscene gesture
to some people in Malaysia and should also be avoided.

27. Remember Table Manners and Guest Etiquette
Table manners and guest etiquette change significantly from country to
country, and even sometimes city to city. What you have been told as a
child may not always apply to another country or culture. In Malaysia, there
are several important rules to remember when acting as a guest.
You may be used to showing signs of embarrassment when burping as it is
often considered rude to do so in public in many Western countries, but in
Malaysia burping after a meal is typically acceptable and a regular part of
dining etiquette. On the flipside, wearing your shoes upon entering
someone’s home, a mosque or a temple is a definite faux-pas. Remove your
shoes before entering a house or place of worship as a sign of respect.
A related custom is ensuring the soles of your feet do not point at people or
sacred images. When in public, ensure that your feet are facing towards the
ground and are not propped up exposing the soles to others.
In Malaysia, there are apparently fairly strict customs for using your hands
to eat. Always eat with your right hand, even if you are left-handed, as the
left hand in Malaysian culture is usually reserved for bathroom-related
behaviors. If you are left handed and cannot get used to the right-handed
way, ask for utensils.

28. Cultural Hubs
Malaysia has two of my favorite cultural
HUBs in all of SE Asia – George Town
(Penang) & Melaka. Many backpackers
and travellers are familiar with George
Town in Penang. It’s a popular destination
for those looking to renew their Thai
tourist Visa or to continue onward
southbound to Singapore or Indonesia.
For those who take their time to explore
this UNESCO heritage city a wonderful
selection of colonial homes and diverse
cuisine await them. Even more under-
rated, in my opinion, is Melaka. Many
tourists only take the time to check out
Kuala Lumpur or head straight for
Singapore. That’s a big mistake in my
opinion. Melaka offers gorgeous riverside
views, a rich colonial history and very
distinct neighborhoods that a treat to
explore on foot or by rickshaw.

29. Melting Pot of Cultures and
Cuisines
Nowhere in South East Asia have I
found such a diverse melting pot of
cultures and cuisine. For those
who don’t know, Malaysia is
ethnically diverse with a large
Malay, Chinese, Indian and expat
community. Its rich colonial history
combined with Indian, Chinese and
SE Asian influences have resulted
in some of the most diverse and
satisfying cuisine I’ve ever tried in
my entire life.

30. Diversity in Landscape
I never realized how diverse
Malaysia was until I first
visited. From gorgeous
beaches such as Pulau
Perhentian (Perhentian
Islands) to hillside retreats
such as the Cameron
Highlands to exotic jungles
such as Tamah Negara
there is something for
everyone.