About Malaysia

Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/) is a country that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of 329,847 km². The capital city is Kuala Lumpur while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The government is closely modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system.

Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until the mid 20th century. Before a set of colonies was established by the United Kingdom starting in the late 1700s, 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 Federation of Malaya and later recognized as an independent nation in 1957. Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya joined to form Malaysia on September 16 1963. The early years of the new union were marred by an armed conflict with Indonesia and the expulsion of Singapore. The Southeast Asian nation experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development during the late 20th century. With a GDP per capita standing at USD13,000, it has, from time to time, been considered a newly industrialized country. As one of three countries that control the Strait of Malacca, international trade plays a large role in its economy. At one time, it was the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world.
Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy.

The population of Malaysia is approximately 25 million. The Malay language is the official language. As a former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also a member of the Developing 8 Countries.