The Time is Now … The Place is Malaysia

Welcome to Malaysia, or as we say it locally, "Selamat Datang".

Malaysia is a fusion of East and West. Aside form the gleaming tower of 21st century marvel, The Petronas Twin Tower, Malaysia has some of the most superb beaches, mountains, and national parks in Asia.

The weather is warm all year round. You're going to have sunshine pretty much whenever you visit which allows for plenty of actiities, and you can always cool off by the pool, beacher or by retreating to the delightfully cool hill stations.

Cultures have been meeting and mixing in Malaysia since the very beginning of its history. More than fifteen hundred years ago a Malay kingdom in Bujang Valley welcomed traders from China and India. With the arrival of gold and silks, Buddhism and Hinduism also came to Malaysia. A thousand years later, Arab traders arrived in Malacca and brought with them the principles and practices of Islam. By the time the Portuguese arrived in Malaysia, the empire that they encountered was more cosmopolitan than their own.

Malaysia's cultural mosaic is marked by many different cultures, but several in particular have had especially lasting influence on the country. Chief among these is the ancient Malay culture, and the cultures of Malaysia's two most prominent trading partners throughout history--the Chinese, and the Indians. These three groups are joined by a dizzying array of indigenous tribes, many of which live in the forests and coastal areas of Borneo. Although each of these cultures has vigorously maintained its traditions and community structures, they have also blended together to create contemporary Malaysia's uniquely diverse heritage.

You can go from a Malaysian kampung to a rubber plantation worked by Indians to Penang's Chinese kongsi and feel you've traveled through three nations. But in cities like Kuala Lumpur, you'll find everyone in a grand melange. In one house, a Chinese opera will be playing on the radio; in another they're preparing for Muslim prayers; in the next, the daughter of the household readies herself for classical Indian dance lessons. Perhaps the easiest way to begin to understand the highly complex cultural interaction which is Malaysia is to look at the open door policy maintained during religious festivals.

Although Malaysia's different cultural traditions are frequently maintained by seemingly self-contained ethnic communities, all of Malaysia's communities open their doors to members of other cultures during a religious festival--to tourists as well as neighbors. Such inclusiveness is more than just a way to break down cultural barriers and foster understanding. It is a positive celebration of a tradition of tolerance that has for millennia formed the basis of Malaysia's progress.

Malaysia has lots to offer.
Just visiting Malaysia - seeing a few sights, meeting its people, and eating good food - is more than enough to make for an unforgettable trip. Your best memory might be a quiet day you spend wandering the colonial streets of Malacca, or breathing in the earthy air of a kampung.

Usually, it will be the Malaysians themselves you remember most, their smiles and generosity. That said, Malaysia also offers some very special activities, and if you make room for one or two of them, they will enhance your trip immeasurably.

We welcome you to Beautiful Malaysia.

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Capital City : Kuala Lumpur
Administrative Capital : Putrajaya

LOCATION
In South East Asia, north of the Equator

LAND AREA
329,758 sq km comprising of 2 regions; Peninsular Malaysia (or West Malaysia) and East Malaysia . West Malaysia and East Malaysia are separated by the South China Sea.

• Peninsular Malaysia shares a border on the northern part with Thailand with Singapore to its south across the Straits of Johor.
• East Malaysia is part of the island of Borneo and has 2 of the 13 states of Malaysia.

POPULATION
Over 25 million people (as at 2004) made up of various races ie. Malays (52%), Chinese (24%), Indians (7%) and other races and ethnic groups (17%). Malaysia is an Islamic country with the majority of its population being Muslim. However, religious freedom is practiced and other religions practiced and recognized here include Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Taoism.

LANGUAGE
The official language is Bahasa Melayu (or the Malay language). English is widely spoken and used especially in fields and forum of public interest. The mother-tongue of every race is also still spoken (ie. Tamil, Cantonese, Hokien, Hindi etc)

CLIMATE

A typical tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Normal daily temperature ranges from 21 ° C to 32 º. Particularly wet weather and cooler temperatures will be experienced during the rainy seasons which occur from April to May and October to November along the west coast of West Malaysia and November to February along the east coast of Western Malaysia and along the coast of Sabah and Sarawak.

GOVERNMENT
Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister and the Head of State is the Yang Di Pertuan Agong or King of Malaysia who is elected every five years from amongst the 9 Sultans of the Malaysian states.

ECONOMY
The beginnings of Malaysia’s economy placed it amongst the world’s largest producers and exporters of tin, rubber, timber and pepper until the 1980s. Now manufacturing constitutes the largest single component of Malaysian economy. Tourism and commodities such as petroleum and palm oil are also major contributors to the economy.

INFRASTRUCTURE

International Connections

Malaysia has a total of 5 international airports with the main gateway being the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, approximately 50km south of Kuala Lumpur.
Domestic Connections

• Air: 2 commercial airlines operates domestic flights to and from major cities and towns throughout Malaysia.
• Land:Land transportation is extremely affordable and operates from the southern-most tip of Peninsular Malaysia to its most northern point near Thailand borders. Cities and towns are connected via modern highways. Choice of transportation range from trains, buses, luxury coaches, cars and taxis. Intra-city links are efficient with modern train service, taxis and buses.

Resorts & Hotels
Malaysia is home to many international class hotels and resorts. It also offers a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates.

Banking & Finances
Malaysian currency is Ringgit Malaysia (RM). There are local banks in all cities and towns throughout the country. Foreign banks can be found in the major cities. Money changers are always a short walk away. Major credit cards are widely accepted.

Communications
Telephone, cellular and internet connections are as readily available as the sidewalk cafes that serves you 24-hours a day