Malaysia
An Asian Treasure Waiting to Be Discovered
Malaysia, located in Southeast Asia, is composed of thirteen states and three federal territories.
Peninsular Malaysia shares a land border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia, while East Malaysia, situated on the island of Borneo, shares both land and sea borders with Brunei and Indonesia, as well as maritime boundaries with the Philippines and Vietnam.
The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya serves as the seat of the federal government. With a population of over 30 million people, Malaysia ranks as the 44th most populous country in the world.
The southernmost point of the Eurasian mainland, Tanjung Piai, lies within Malaysia’s borders.
Situated in the tropics, the country is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse nations, home to an incredible number of endemic species.
Malaysia’s roots lie in the ancient Malay kingdoms that once flourished in the region, which later came under British rule during the 18th century.
The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, followed by a series of Malay kingdoms that became British protectorates.
In 1946, the territories of Peninsular Malaysia were unified under the Malayan Union, which was restructured two years later as the Federation of Malaya, gaining independence on August 31, 1957.
On September 16, 1963, Malaya joined with North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia. Less than two years later, in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became an independent state.
Language: The official language is Bahasa Melayu. Among the Chinese community, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects are widely spoken, while the Tamil language prevails among citizens of Indian origin. English is commonly used throughout the country, especially in cities and business settings.
Currency: Ringgit (Malaysian Dollar).
Time Zone: UTC +8, which means +7 hours ahead of Italy, or +6 hours when Italy observes daylight saving time.
Religion: Islam is the official religion, but Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity are also widely practiced, reflecting Malaysia’s multicultural identity.
Sports: The most popular sports include badminton, motorsports, and field hockey, though traditional martial arts also play an important role in local culture. Among them, Silat Melayu, developed by the Malay people as a means of defense during times of invasion, and Tomoi, a martial art similar to Thai Muay Thai, remain symbols of national pride and discipline.
Documents: A valid passport is required, with at least six months’ validity remaining from the date of departure. This is also necessary for entry into other countries within the region.
