GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

 Malaysia is located in south East Asia at latitudes 2 and 7 in the northern hemisphere and longitudes    100°E and 104°E.Total Area of Malaysia is 329,750 sq.km (Land Area: 328,550 sq. km and Water Area: 1,200 sq. km).Malaysia has a coastline of 4675 km.

Malaysia comprises peninsula and east Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia has 11 states with Thailand as its northern neighbor and Singapore at southern tip of the peninsula. East Malaysia comprises two states, Sabah and Sarawak on the island  of Borneo. Its neighboring countries are Bruner and part of Indonesia, known as Kalimantan.

POPULATION, LANGUAGE AND RELIGIONS

Malaysia is a multi-racial country with many languages spoken and diverse custom, cultures and religion.

The predominant races are Malays, Chinese and Indians found mainly in peninsula, where several indigenous tribes also reside.

Numerous indigenous races like the Dayak, Murut, Kadazan and Iban reside in Sabah and Sarawak, living harmoniously.

Bahasa Malaysia is the National language but English is widely spoken and therefore, communication between races is not a problem.

All the races have their own mother tongue, but, everybody communicate in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

Though ISLAM is the national religion there is freedom of worship amongst all races. This has brought stability, respectability among each other and peace to the country. 

WEATHER IN MALAYSIA

As Malaysia’s location is on the equatorial latitude, its climate is hot and wet throughout the year. Humidity is constantly high. Daily temperature range between 27 and 34 degrees Centigrade. Average annual rainfall varies from 2,000-2,500mm.Temperatures on the hill resorts like Cameron Highland and Fraser’s Hill are cool.
 Malaysia has two distinct seasons, dry and rainy season. The wet seasons occurs during the month of May to September (southwest monsoon) and November until March (northeast monsoon).

MALAYSIAN CURRENCY

The Malaysian currency is donated as RINGGIT MALAYSIA (RM).

One RM is equivalent to 100 CENTS.

Against foreign currencies, which fluctuate, the RM rates are as follows:

ONE USD    = RM 3.42

ONE Pound = RM 5.09

ONE Euro    = RM 4.83

Traveler’s cheques are accepted at banks and hotels, when issued in USD and Pound Sterling. Rates for currencies of other countries are available at banks and money changers.

Credit cards like American Express, Dines Club, Master and Visa Card companies are available.