Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travelers from both the East and West due to its beneficial position on the maritime trade routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians, numerous indigenous peoples and the Eurasians who descended from Malacca's Portuguese conquerors of the 16th century.
As Malaysia's name suggests, the Malays are the dominant ethnic group in the country, numbering over half the population of almost 21 million. With the oldest indigenous peoples they form a group called bumiputera, which translates as "sons of the soil". Immigrants form a substantial part of the population and have a tremendous influence in the country. The dominant immigrant group is that of Chinese ancestry, which accounts for one third of the total Malaysian population. About ten percent of the people are of Indian descent. Peninsular Malaysia's indigenous inhabitants are the Orang Asli people, which mean "original people". The indigenous peoples of Borneo are Ibans, Kadazan, Dusun, and other ethnic groups.
The official religion in Malaysia is Islam. All the Malays in Malaysia are Muslims. Other religions are: Buddhism (17%), Taoism (12%), Christianity (8%), Hinduism (8%) and tribal beliefs.
Approximately 80% of the nation's total population occupies the Peninsula. The largest city is the Malay capital Kuala Lumpur with its almost 1,5 million citizens. The official language of the state is Bahasa Malaysia. English is used widely. |
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Name: Malaysia |
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Area: 330.000 sq. km. |
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Capital City: Kuala Lumpur |
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Population: 19.7 million |
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Language: Bhasa, English, Chienese |
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Currency: Malaysian Ringitt |
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Time Zone: GMT +8 hrs |
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Religion: 52% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 12% Tao |
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