Explore Malaysia's noncontiguous Southeast Asian peninsula and island of Borneo and the people therein
An overview of the land, people, and economy of Malaysia.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
NARRATOR: Malaysia rests between mainland Asia and Australia. The country is composed of two noncontiguous regions—one on the Southeast Asian peninsula and one on the island of Borneo. The two parts are approximately 400 miles apart, separated by the South China Sea.
Some ethnic groups of Malaysia, including Malays, are originally from the Southeast Asian region. Others come to Malaysia ultimately from China, India, Pakistan, and other parts of the world. Malays practice Islam. Other groups follow Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, or other religions.
West—or Peninsular—Malaysia shares its northern border with Thailand. To the southeast, bridges across the narrow Strait of Johor connect the country to Singapore. The center of Peninsular Malaysia is mountainous and mostly blanketed by rainforest. Rice, tea, rubber, and oil-palm farms cover much of the remaining countryside. Fishing is important in the towns and villages near the ocean.
Malaysia's capital and largest city is Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is a busy, modern city, with towering skyscrapers, crowded highways, busy shopping centers, and large universities and colleges. Kuala Lumpur's skyscrapers are among the highest in the world. Banking is concentrated in the city center, while technology industries are scattered across the suburbs.
East Malaysia includes the states of Sarawak and Sabah, on the island of Borneo. To the south East Malaysia borders Indonesia. To the north it surrounds the tiny coastal country of Brunei and is otherwise bounded by the South China, Sulu, and Celebes seas. The biggest cities in East Malaysia are Kuching, in Sarawak, and Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah. Outside of these cities, rainforests cover well over half of East Malaysia.
Because fewer people live in East Malaysia than in Peninsular Malaysia, the region has fewer roads and no major railways. In the areas farthest from the coast, it is most common to travel by foot or by small boat.
Many families live in small villages that often contain one or more longhouses, which are somewhat like long one- or two-story apartment buildings. The residents usually grow rice and vegetables, fish in nearby rivers, and hunt in the surrounding forest.
Many East Malaysians work for timber companies, for which they harvest trees, ship logs, and make boards to be sold in the cities. Still others work on offshore petroleum platforms that supply crude oil and natural gas to refineries in both East and Peninsular Malaysia.
Some ethnic groups of Malaysia, including Malays, are originally from the Southeast Asian region. Others come to Malaysia ultimately from China, India, Pakistan, and other parts of the world. Malays practice Islam. Other groups follow Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, or other religions.
West—or Peninsular—Malaysia shares its northern border with Thailand. To the southeast, bridges across the narrow Strait of Johor connect the country to Singapore. The center of Peninsular Malaysia is mountainous and mostly blanketed by rainforest. Rice, tea, rubber, and oil-palm farms cover much of the remaining countryside. Fishing is important in the towns and villages near the ocean.
Malaysia's capital and largest city is Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is a busy, modern city, with towering skyscrapers, crowded highways, busy shopping centers, and large universities and colleges. Kuala Lumpur's skyscrapers are among the highest in the world. Banking is concentrated in the city center, while technology industries are scattered across the suburbs.
East Malaysia includes the states of Sarawak and Sabah, on the island of Borneo. To the south East Malaysia borders Indonesia. To the north it surrounds the tiny coastal country of Brunei and is otherwise bounded by the South China, Sulu, and Celebes seas. The biggest cities in East Malaysia are Kuching, in Sarawak, and Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah. Outside of these cities, rainforests cover well over half of East Malaysia.
Because fewer people live in East Malaysia than in Peninsular Malaysia, the region has fewer roads and no major railways. In the areas farthest from the coast, it is most common to travel by foot or by small boat.
Many families live in small villages that often contain one or more longhouses, which are somewhat like long one- or two-story apartment buildings. The residents usually grow rice and vegetables, fish in nearby rivers, and hunt in the surrounding forest.
Many East Malaysians work for timber companies, for which they harvest trees, ship logs, and make boards to be sold in the cities. Still others work on offshore petroleum platforms that supply crude oil and natural gas to refineries in both East and Peninsular Malaysia.