Malaysia (pronounced /məˈleɪʒə/ or /məˈleɪziə/) is a secular country that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of 329,847 km².[1][2] The capital city is Kuala Lumpur while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government.[2] The country is separated into two regions — Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo — by the South China Sea.[2] Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines.[2] Located near the equator, the weather is characterized by tropical climate.[2] Malaysia is headed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and politically led by a Prime Minister.[3][4] The government is closely modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system.[5]
The country was once colonized by the United Kingdom; British Malaya and Malaysia did not exist as a unified state prior to 1946 and 1963, respectively.[clarify] The Federation of Malaya achieved independence from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1957.[6] Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya federated to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963.[7] The early years of the federation were marred by an armed conflict with Indonesia and the expulsion of Singapore.[8][9] 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.[10][11] As one of three countries that control the Strait of Malacca, international trade plays a large role in its economy.[12] At one time, it was the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world.[13][14] Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy.[15]
The population of Malaysia is approximately 25 million.[2] The Malays forms the majority of the population while there are sizable Chinese and Indian communities. Islam is the largest as well as the official religion of the federation.[2][16] The Malay language is the official language.[17]
Malaysia is the founding member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and participates in many international organizations such as the United Nations.[18][19] As a former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[20] It is also a member of the Developing 8 Countries.[21]
The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a 14-state federation.[7] Yet, the name itself had been vaguely used to refer to unspecified areas in Southeast Asia. A map published in 1914 in Chicago has the word Malaysia printed on it referring to certain territories within the Malay Archipelago.[22] The Philippines once contemplated to name their state "Malaysia" but Malaysia adopted the name first in 1963 before the Philippines could act further on the matter.[23] Other names were contemplated for the 1963 federation. Among them was Langkasuka; Langkasuka was an old kingdom located at the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the first millennium of the common era.[24]
Even farther into history, English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor Earl in volume IV of Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia in 1850 proposed to name the islands of Indonesia as Melayunesia or Indunesia though he favored the former.[25]
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