Malaysia is a country that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia. The population stands at over 25 million. The country is separated into two regions-Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo-by the South China Sea. Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. It as a unified state did not exist until 1963.

Previously, a set of colonies were established by the United Kingdom from the late-18th century, Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganized again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957 and the Federation of Malaya joined to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963.Most of Malaysia is covered by forest, with a mountain range running the length of the peninsula. Extensive forests provide ebony, sandalwood, teak, and other woods. It comprises of more than one thousand islands among them 38 are designated as marine parks and it is the Member of Commonwealth of Nations.

It is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world. The country with its natural beauty, charm and fantastic sight seeing options attracts tourists throughout the year.

The ancestors of the people that now inhabit the Malaysian peninsula first migrated to the area between 2500 and 1500 B.C. Those living in the coastal regions had early contact with Chinese and Indians; seafaring traders from India brought with them Hinduism, which was blended with the local animist beliefs. As Muslims conquered India, they spread the religion of Islam to Malaysia. In the 15th century A.D., Islam acquired a firm hold on the region when the Hindu ruler of the powerful city-state of Malacca.

British and Dutch interest in the region grew in the 1800s, with the British East India Company establishment of a trading settlement on the island of Singapore. In the 1880s, Britain formally established protectorates in Malaysia. At about the same time, rubber trees were introduced from Brazil. With the mass production of automobiles, rubber became a valuable export, and laborers were brought from India to work the rubber plantations.

And the Japanese occupation of Malaysia during World War II, during the late 18th and 19th centuries a growing nationalist movement prompted the Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. But Communist guerrillas took to the jungles to begin a war of national liberation against the British, who declared a state of emergency to quell the insurgency, which lasted until 1960.

Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. The Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003) in his period, Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism. It is a very famous tourist destination in Southeast Asia that attracts thomalaysiand of tourists every year from all over the world.

Economic summary:

. GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $357.4 billion; per capita $13,300.

. Real growth rate: 6.3%.

. Inflation: 2.1%.

. Unemployment: 3.2%.

. Arable land: 5%.

. Agriculture: Peninsular Malaysia-rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah-subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak-rubber, pepper, timber.

. Labor force: 10.67 million; agriculture 14.5%, industry 36%, services 49.5% (2000 EST.).

. Industries: Peninsular Malaysia-rubber and oil-palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah-logging, petroleum production; Sarawak-agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging.

. Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite.

. Exports: $147.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals.

. Imports: $118.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals.

. Major trading partners: U.S., Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, Indonesia (2004).

Communications:

. Telephones: main lines in use: 4.6 million (2000); mobile cellular: 5 million (2000).

. Radio broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001).

. Radios: 10.9 million (1999).

. Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001).

. Televisions: 10.8 million (1999).

. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000).

. Internet users: 5.7 million (2002).

Transportation:

. Railways: total: 2,418 km (2002).

. Highways: total: 65,877 km; paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways); unpaved: 15,942 km (1999).

. Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km).

. Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau.

. Airports: 114 (2002).