Welcome
to Malaysia
As soon as you arrive in Malaysia, you will
see that it is a country of energetic, friendly
and culturally diverse people. Bordering
Thailand to the north, Singapore to the
south and Indonesia to the south east,
Malaysia is located at the crossroads of
Southeast Asia. Its strategic position
between the Straits of Malacca and the
South China Sea made it a historic trading
centre, absorbing influences from China,
India and colonising western powers, most
notably Britain.
As a result, the country’s mix of Malays,
Chinese, Indians and indigenous people has
produced a society that is rich in traditional
and modern influences, reflected in its many
languages, religions and food options. You
will find no shortage of tempting
gastronomical choices and colourful
festivals to experience.
Geographically, the country is just as varied
as its culture and you will have ample
opportunity to explore Malaysia with its
contrasting corners. Apart from being
a metropolitan centre with a modern
economy, Malaysia possesses a rich history
amidst vast natural rainforests. Several
UNESCO World Heritage Sites are present
here, including the Kinabalu Park and Mulu
National Park in Borneo, and the historical
cities of Melaka and Georgetown in the
peninsula. In the capital city, the iconic
Petronas Twin Towers render a stunning
skyline for Kuala Lumpur.
All in all, you will always have places to go,
people to meet and treasures to discover.
Quick Facts
32
million
POPULATION
CAPITAL
TIME
LANGUAGES
SPOKEN
Thailand
Brunei
Indonesia
Ringgit
CURRENCY
COUNTRIES BORDERING
MALAYSIA
Fun Facts
• Greco-Roman geographer Ptolemy first named our country
Aurea Chersonesus, which means ‘peninsula of gold’. The
name was found in Ptolemy’s book Geographia, written
around A.D. 150.
• Spanning over 743,000 km 2 , the Borneo Island is shared
between Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesia. It is
actually the third largest island in the world, after
Greenland and Papua New Guinea.
• Malaysia’s total highway length is longer than the Earth’s
circumference.
• Few places can be described as ‘a country of two halves’
quite like Malaysia. West Malaysia covers the Malay
Peninsula and East Malaysia consists of Sabah and
Sarawak, which shares landmass with Indonesia and Brunei.
• Malaysia is home to the largest flower known as the
Rafflesia. When blooming, the flower emits a putrid
stench, giving rise to its nickname 'corpse flower.' The
odour attracts flies, leading to pollination.
Source: https://www.expatgo.com/my/2017/08/25/
15-fun-facts-malaysia-will-get-excited/
MONASH ABROAD
9