Portal:Malaysia

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Portal:Malaysia/Intro

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of 13 states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia, as well as a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, the country's largest city, and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. Putrajaya is the administrative centre, which represents the seat of both the executive branch (the Cabinet, federal ministries, and federal agencies) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 33 million, the country is the world's 43rd-most populous country. Malaysia is tropical and is one of 17 megadiverse countries; it is home to numerous endemic species. Tanjung Piai in the Malaysian state of Johor is the southernmost point of continental Eurasia.

The country has its origins in the Malay kingdoms, which, from the 18th century on, became subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. During World War Two, British Malaya, along with other nearby British and American colonies, was occupied by the Empire of Japan. Following three years of occupation, Peninsular Malaysia was unified as the Malayan Union in 1946 and then restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948. The country achieved independence on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, independent Malaya united with the then British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. In August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became a separate, independent country.

The country is multiethnic and multicultural, which has a significant effect on its politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The official language is Malaysian Malay, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second language. While recognising Islam as the official religion, the constitution grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system, and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen from among the nine state sultans every five years. The head of government is the prime minister.

After independence, the gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average rate of 6.5% per year for almost 50 years. The country's economy has traditionally been driven by its natural resources but is expanding into commerce, tourism, and medical tourism. The country has a newly industrialised market economy, and it ranks very high in the Human Development Index. The country is a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). (Full article...)

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Jakun teenagers playing pick-up sticks in a community centre.

Jakun people or Orang Ulu/Orang Hulu (meaning "people of the upstream") are an ethnic group recognised as Orang Asli (indigenous people) of the Malay Peninsula in Malaysia.

The Malaysian government recognises 18 different sub-groups of Orang Asli, including three broad divisions: the Negrito (Semang), Senoi and aboriginal Malays (Proto-Malay). The Jakun people are the largest sub-group in the Proto-Malay division, and the second-largest Orang Asli sub-group overall, after the Semai. (Full article...)

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Mazlan in 2010

Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dr. Mazlan binti Othman (Jawi: مصلان بنت عثمان; born 11 December 1951) is a Malaysian astrophysicist whose work has pioneered Malaysia's participation in space exploration. She was her country's first astrophysicist, and helped to create a curriculum in astrophysics at the national university, as well as to build public awareness and understanding of astronomy and space issues. She was appointed Director General of Angkasa, the Malaysian National Space Agency and served as the director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna from 2007 to 2014. (Full article...)

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Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church in Johor Bahru, Johor. Rebuilt in 1927, it is the oldest church in the city. The original church building was constructed in 1883.

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The following are images from various Malaysia-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Japanese troops moving through Kuala Lumpur during their advance through Malaya (from History of Malaysia)
Image 2Maggi goreng in George Town, Penang (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 3Geographical distributions of ethnic Chinese Malaysians by majority in each cities or towns:
  Hokkien
  Cantonese
  Hakka
  Fuzhou
  Hainanese
  Teochew
  Kwongsai
  Hockchia
  Undetermined majority
(from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 4The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of Malacca (from History of Malaysia)
Image 5Sate (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 6Batik cake (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 7Nasi dagang (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 8Some of the examples of ethnic Chinese influenced Malaysian cuisine, clockwise from top-right: grass jelly (凉粉) with Bandung, yong tau foo, Nyonya steamed layer cake (娘惹千层糕) and laksa noodle. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 9A selection of Nyonya kuih (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 10Köppen–Geiger climate classification map of Malaysia. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 1116th century Portuguese sketch of Malacca. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 12Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, a Chinatown in Sabah. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 13Comparison of Malay language, Jawi writing, and Khat calligraphy with other languages. (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 14Mahathir Mohamad was the leading force in making Malaysia into a major industrial power. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 15Inside the former house of a Peranakan (Baba-Nyonya or 峇峇娘惹) in Malacca which has now been converted into a museum, a Nyonya can be seen sitting inside wearing the traditional kebaya. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 16Wonton Mee (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 17A bowl of Penang Hokkien mee (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 18An ethnic Chinese woman in Malaysia grinds and cuts up dried herbs to make traditional Chinese medicine. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 19Lion dance in Malaysia's capital during the Chinese main festivity. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 20A view of Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding central business district in Kuala Lumpur (from History of Malaysia)
Image 21Tongmenghui fundraising meeting in Ipoh for the Second Guangzhou Uprising, c. 1911 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 22Some of the traditional clothes from East Malaysia (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 23Copper mine in Sabah. (from Mining in Malaysia)
Image 24Nasi kerabu (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 25Claypot chicken rice (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 26The proclamation on the formation of the independent Federation of Malaysia by Lee Kuan Yew (top) for Singapore; Donald Stephens (centre) for North Borneo and Stephen Kalong Ningkan (bottom) for Sarawak. However, Singapore left the Federation less than two years after the merger due to racial issues. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 27Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources (from Mining in Malaysia)
Image 28Chinatown, Kuching, a Chinatown in Kuching. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 29The Buddha-Gupta stone, dating to the 4th–5th century AD, was dedicated by an Indian Merchant, Buddha Gupta. Found in Seberang Perai and kept in the National Museum, Calcutta, India. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 30Yusheng (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 31The usually crowded Lim Chong Eu Expressway and its surroundings in Penang deserted throughout the Malaysian movement control order, as seen on 22 March 2020, to combat COVID-19 pandemic. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 32Soto ayam, (chicken soto). Note the transparent yellow broth, the emping and fried shallot (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 33An 1880 painting of southern Chinese merchant from Fujian (left) and Chinese official in Penang Island. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 34Proportion of ethnic Chinese and Malay with indigenous voters in the 2018 Malaysian parliamentary constituency:
  Bright red indicates a higher proportion of ethnic Chinese
  Bright green indicates a higher proportion of ethnic Malay or indigenous people
  Mixed colour means that the ratio of the two is equivalent
  The brownish colour are the area with the higher proportion of other non-indigenous races (such as Indians)
(from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 35Members of the Cobbold Commission were formed to conduct a study in the British Borneo territories of Sarawak and Sabah to see whether the two were interested in the idea to form the Federation of Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 36Tanks of fresh seafood at a seafood restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 37Built in the 6th century AD, Candi Bukit Batu Pahat is the most well-known ancient Hindu temple found in Bujang Valley. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 38Peninsular Malaysia Precipitation Map in December 2004 showing heavy precipitation on the east coast, causing floods there. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 39Kangkung belacan (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 40The topography of Peninsular Malaysia. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 41Happy Valley in George Town, Penang (looking west from Jalan Pasar) (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 42Children in a rickshaw pulled by a Chinese coolie in Kuching around 1919 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 43SMJK Confucian in Kuala Lumpur, an example of converted Chinese independent school to government-funded "SMJK" (literally Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan). (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 44The extent of the Malaccan Empire in the 15th century became the main point for the spreading of Islam in the Malay Archipelago. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 45Petroleum Museum in Sarawak. (from Mining in Malaysia)
Image 46Amplang. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 47New villages were established during the 1950s to segregate Chinese with connections to communist insurgents. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 48Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) guerrillas during their disbandment ceremony in Kuala Lumpur after the end of World War II (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 49Idli served with typical accompaniments. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 50Teh C Peng Special (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 51Heads from old headhunting practices in a Kadazan house in Sabah (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 52Kolo mee (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 531935 map of the Ming dynasty under the Yongle Emperor in 1415 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 54Roti tisu served as a savoury meal, pictured here with a glass of teh tarik. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 55Penang rojak (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 56The Nyonya making various traditional kuih. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 57Aside from mandarin orange, various other snacks are presented for visitors throughout the Chinese New Year. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 58Bubur pulut hitam, without coconut milk. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 59Chinese women working in a British mobile canteen during the Malayan Campaign, c. January 1942 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 60Joget Melayu, a Malay dance (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 61Sarawak layered cake. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 62Map of the Sinophone world, where Chinese languages are spoken as a first language among ethnic Chinese in countries where their population is significant:
  Chinese-speaking majority (Coastal and central areas of China, Taiwan and Singapore)
  Large Chinese-speaking minority (Highland China, Malaysia and Brunei)
  Small Chinese-speaking minority (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam)
(from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 63Tau sar pneah, also known as Tambun pneah, from Penang (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 64The Klang Bell, dated 200 BC–200 AD (from History of Malaysia)
Image 65Durians in rack sold in Kuala Lumpur (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 66A beach on Redang Island in the South China Sea. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 67A wau workshop (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 68A typical serving of banana leaf rice. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 69Ais kacang (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 70Sambal belacan, made with mixed toasted belachan, ground chilli, kaffir leaves, sugar and water (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 71Penang chee cheong fun (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 72Bak Kut Teh (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 73Pekan Cina dan Pekan Melayu a Chinatown and Malaytown in Kedah. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 74Iced Ipoh white coffee in Menglembu, Ipoh, Malaysia (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 75Laksa Sarawak (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 76A Map of Malaysia's states. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 77Hainanese chicken rice balls in Muar, Johor, Malaysia (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 78Tugu Negara, the Malaysian national monument, is dedicated to those who fell during World War II and the Malayan Emergency. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 79Roti canai (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 80British and Malayan police talking to a Chinese civilian about communist activity in the area in 1949 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 81Japanese troops landed on Malaya in 1941. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 82Malacca Art Gallery (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 83Sultanate of Aceh's influence in Perak, Kedah, Pahang, and Terengganu on the Malay Peninsula, c. 1570s (from History of Malaysia)
Image 84Pan Mee (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 85Petaling Street, a Chinatown in Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur, at night (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 86Joint Chinese-Malay anticommunist demonstration in Semenyih, Selangor during the 1950s (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 87Roti Telur and Teh Tarik (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 88Johor-Dutch battle in the 1780s (from History of Malaysia)
Image 89The 1MDB corruption scandal tainted the tenure of Prime Minister, Najib Razak. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 90Co-curricular activities in Tshung Tsin Secondary School, a Chinese independent high school in Sabah. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 91Mount Kinabalu, the highest point of Malaysia, is located in Sabah. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 922007 Bersih Rally that was held in Kuala Lumpur (from History of Malaysia)
Image 93Mee Siput Muar (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 94Philippine President Duterte in a meeting with Mahathir in the Malacanang Palace in 2019 (from History of Malaysia)
Image 95Clockwise from bottom left: beef soup, ketupat (compressed rice cubes), beef rendang and sayur lodeh (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 96Malacca Literature Museum (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 97Raw (l) and cooked (r) sambal tempoyak. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 98Malaysian Chinese Catholics during Palm Sunday at St Ignatius Church in Selangor. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 99A Malaysian nasi lemak traditionally wrapped in banana leaves (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 100A bowl of curry mee, with fried beancurd skins and fish cake on the side (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 101George Town, Penang during the 1950s (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 102Historic Indosphere cultural influence zone of Greater India for transmission of religion, music, arts, and cuisine (from History of Malaysia)
Image 103The Zheng He monument, today, marks his stopover at the city. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 104The Hai San Secret Society's "Captain China" with his followers in Selangor, June 1874 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 105Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur was the tallest building in Southeast Asia. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 106Nasi Lemak, the national dish of Malaysia (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 107A view of a river from the anchorage off Sarawak, Borneo, c. 1800s. Painting from the National Maritime Museum of London. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 108Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) in Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysians celebrate Independence Day on 31 August each year (from History of Malaysia)
Image 109Malay children dressed for Hari raya (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 110The 1056m Johor-Singapore Causeway connects Malaysia and Singapore across the Straits of Johor. In the background is Johor Bahru. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 111Map of the geographic origin of the present-day ethnic Chinese Malaysians since their early migrations from China to Nanyang region more than a hundred years ago. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 112Gasing spinning top at the cultural center Gelanggang Seni (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 113A Chinese junk in the Kinabatangan District of northern Borneo, photographed by Martin Johnson c. 1935 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 114Chinatown Penang, A Chinatown located in Georgetown, Penang. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 115Sea grapes, known as latok by the Bajau people. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 116South-East Asia's Largest Temple- Kek Lok Si in Penang being illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year. (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 117Chinese tycoon Ng Boo Bee with British officials in Perak in 1904 (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 118Authentic mee bandung from Muar (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 1191860–1900 photograph of Bukit Cina (Chinese Hill) in Malacca, one of Malaysia's oldest Chinese cemeteries (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 120Air bandung. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 121Char kway teow in Penang (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 122A bowl of Asam laksa (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 123Na Tuk Kong (拿督公) shrine in West Malaysia. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 124A craftsman making batik. Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring. (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 125Former mine which has been converted into a lake garden in Perak. (from Mining in Malaysia)
Image 126Jonker Walk, a Chinatown in Malacca. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 127Siti Nurhaliza wearing a tudung (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 128Statue of Francis Light in the Fort Cornwallis of Penang, marking the start of British rule in the Malay Archipelago (from History of Malaysia)
Image 129Murtabak being made at a stall, a type of pancake filled with eggs, small chunks of meat and onions. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 130Bronze Avalokiteshvara statue found in Perak, 8th–9th century (from History of Malaysia)
Image 131Ikan bakar in Muar, Johor. (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 132British flag hoisted for the first time on the island of Labuan on 24 December 1846 (from History of Malaysia)
Image 133Kuala Lumpur, a blend of old and new (from History of Malaysia)
Image 134The earliest record of a local law influenced by Islamic teaching and written in Jawi. The stone monument is found in Terengganu. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 135Photo of Sultan Ahmad Muʽazzam and his courtiers. Many years after the precolonial period. c. 1900. (from History of Malaysia)
Image 136The topography of Malaysian Borneo. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 137Bantang River Recreational Forest in Segamat District, Johor. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 138Replica of the palace of the Malacca Sultanate, built from information in the Malay Annals. (from Culture of Malaysia)
Image 139Evolution of Malaysia (from History of Malaysia)
Image 140The discovery of a skull estimated to be around 40,000 years old in the Niah Caves, in Sarawak, has been identified as the earliest evidence for human settlement in Malaysian Borneo (photo December 1958). (from History of Malaysia)
Image 141Ayer Keroh Lake. (from Geography of Malaysia)
Image 142Swordfish hinava served with sandwich bread (from Malaysian cuisine)
Image 143Chinatown Gateway, a Chinatown in Kuala Terengganu, Terrengganu. (from Malaysian Chinese)
Image 144Peninsular Malaysia (left) is 40% of Malaysia's territory, and East Malaysia (right) is 60% of Malaysia's territory. The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. (from Culture of Malaysia)

Wiki Loves Malaysia

For more images from Malaysia, see the following categories at Wikimedia Commons:

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WikiProjects

WikiProject Malaysia

Malaysia Topics Notice Board • Malaysian Wikipedians • Wikipedians in Malaysia • WikiProject Malaysia Facebook Page • Malay Language Wikipedia

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Did you know - show different entries

... that Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (pictured) will become the first Malaysian in space when he launches on board Soyuz TMA-11 towards the International Space Station in September 2007?

... that Steven Gan took advantage of a loophole in Malaysian Internet law to create the country's first independent news source?

... that Maniam Moorthy, a member of the first team of Malaysians to summit Mount Everest, fell during army training a year later and became a paraplegic?

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