Malaysia

Malaysia

Introduction

Background

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, 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. 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. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism. Current Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 329,847 sq km
country comparison to the world: 67 land:328,657 sq km
water:1,190 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries

total: 2,669 km
border countries:Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate

tropical

annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use

arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops:17.54%
other:77% (2005)

Irrigated land

3,650 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

580 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 9.02cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita:356cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

flooding

landslides

forest fires

Environment – current issues

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions

water pollution from raw sewage

deforestation

smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective:Malaysian

Ethnic groups

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Languages

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note:in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages

most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Religions

Muslim (or Islam – official) 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

Population

28,728,607 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 4,374,495/female 4,132,009)
15-64 years:65.4% (male 9,539,972/female 9,253,574)
65 years and over:5% (male 672,581/female 755,976) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 26.8 years
male:26.7 years
female:27 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.576% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Birth rate

21.08 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Death rate

4.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Net migration rate

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 133 note:does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2011 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 72% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

KUALA LUMPUR (capital) 1.493 million

Klang 1.071 million

Johor Bahru 958,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

31 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.02 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 119 male:17.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female:12.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.79 years
country comparison to the world: 112 male:71.05 years
female:76.73 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.67 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Health expenditures

8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58

Physicians density

0.941 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104

Hospital bed density

1.82 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 95% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 5% of population
total: 4% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

100,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

HIV/AIDS – deaths

5,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:dengue fever and malaria
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

16.3% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 28

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:88.7%
male:92%
female:85.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.9%
country comparison to the world: 99 male:10.3%
female:11.8% (2008)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Malaysia
local long form:none
local short form:Malaysia
former:Federation of Malaya

Government type

constitutional monarchy
note:nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house

all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang)

those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government

powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution

under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

Capital

name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates:3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference:UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note:Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital

Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular – negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu

and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Independence

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya)

Malaysia Day 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

Constitution

31 August 1957

amended many times the latest in 2007

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

21 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King – Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006)

the position of the king is primarily ceremonial

Sultan Abdul HALIM Muadzam Shar has been elected to serve a five-year term as king beginning on 13 December 2011
head of government:Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 3 April 2009)

Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed Yassin (since 9 April 2009)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the king
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:kings elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms

selection based on principle of rotation among rulers of states

election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives

following legislative elections, the leader who commands the support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister (since independence this has been the leader of the UMNO party)
election results:Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected king

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats

44 members appointed by the king, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures to serve three-year terms with a two term limit) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections:House of Representatives – last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results:House of Representatives – percent of vote – BN coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%

seats – BN coalition 140, opposition parties 82

(seats by party as of March 2011 – BN coalition 137, opposition parties 76, independents 9)

Judicial branch

civil courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister)

sharia courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance only for Muslims

decisions of sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Political parties and leaders

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consists of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH Tsu Koon]

Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik – Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]

Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [CHUA Soi Lek]

Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [Govindasamy PALANIVEL]

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]

Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]

Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]

Sarawak United People’s Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]

United Malays National Organization or UMNO [NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]

People’s Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN])
People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition) consists of the following parties:Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]

Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]

People’s Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail]

Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]
independent party:Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Saban) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Bar Council

BERSIH (electoral reform coalition)

PEMBELA (Muslim NGO coalition)

PERKASA (defense of Malay rights)
other:religious groups

women’s groups

youth groups

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDIN Jarjis
chancery:3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 572-9700
FAX:[1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul W. JONES
embassy:376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address:US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone:[60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX:[60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom)

there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star

the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory)

the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government

the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities

the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam

blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers
note:the design is based on the flag of the US

National symbol(s)

tiger

National anthem

name: “Negaraku” (My Country)
lyrics/music:collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
note:adopted 1957

the full version is only performed in the presence of the king

the tune, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled “La Rosalie,” was originally the anthem of the state of Perak

Economy

Economy – overview

Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB, Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic finance, high technology industries, biotechnology, and services. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand and reduce the economy’s dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports – particularly of electronics, oil and gas, palm oil and rubber – remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel, combined with strained government finances, has forced Kuala Lumpur begin to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas, which supplies more than 40% of government revenue. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and its well-developed regulatory regime has limited Malaysia’s exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless, decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods hurt Malaysia’s exports and economic growth in 2009, although both showed signs of recovery in 2010. In order to attract increased investment, NAJIB has raised possible revisions to the special economic and social preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy of 1970, but he has encountered significant opposition, especially from Malay nationalists and other vested interests.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$414.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 $386.8 billion (2009 est.)
$393.5 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$238 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

7.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 -1.7% (2009 est.)
4.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$14,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 $13,900 (2009 est.)
$14,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 10.5%
industry:41.4%
services:48.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

11.63 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 13%
industry:36%
services:51% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 3.7% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

3.6% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%:34.7% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

46.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34 49.2 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Budget

revenues: $49.56 billion
expenditures:$63 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Public debt

53.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 53.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 0.6% (2009 est.)
note:approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled

Central bank discount rate

2.83% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 108 2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.05% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164 4.83% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$72.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37 $58.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$358.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 $319.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$328.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 $273 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$410.5 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 26 $256 billion (31 December 2009)
$187.1 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

Peninsular Malaysia – rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice

Sabah – subsistence crops, coconuts, rice

rubber, timber

Sarawak – rubber, timber

pepper

Industries

Peninsular Malaysia – rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing

Sabah – logging, petroleum production

Sarawak – agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity – production

101.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity – consumption

93.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity – exports

91.7 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

664,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Oil – consumption

561,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Oil – exports

644,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Oil – imports

355,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Oil – proved reserves

4 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas – production

58.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas – consumption

29.07 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas – exports

30.79 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas – imports

1.269 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas – proved reserves

2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Current account balance

$34.14 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $31.8 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$197 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 $157.7 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports – partners

Singapore 13.4%, China 12.6%, Japan 10.4%, US 9.5%, Thailand 5.3%, Hong Kong 5.1% (2010 est.)

Imports

$152.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 $117.4 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports – partners

China 12.6%, Japan 12.6%, Singapore 11.4%, US 10.7%, Thailand 6.2%, Indonesia 5.6% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$106.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19 $96.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$79.12 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 $70.18 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$77.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 $74.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$82.65 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 $75.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -
3.04 (2010)
3.52 (2009)
3.33 (2008)
3.46 (2007)
3.6683 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

118 (2010)
country comparison to the world:51

Airports – with paved runways

total: 38
over 3,047 m:7
2,438 to 3,047 m:10
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:8
under 914 m:7 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 80
914 to 1,523 m:7
under 914 m:73 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 3 km

gas 1,757 km

liquid petroleum gas 155 km

oil 30 km

refined products 114 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,849 km
country comparison to the world: 75 standard gauge:57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge:1,792 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 98,721 km
country comparison to the world: 43 paved:80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved:18,441 km (2004)

Waterways

7,200 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km

Sabah 1,500 km

Sarawak 2,500 km) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 20

Merchant marine

total: 321
country comparison to the world: 30 by type:bulk carrier 9, cargo 97, carrier 2, chemical tanker 45, container 44, liquefied gas 35, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 79, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned:35 (Denmark 1, Hong Kong 8, Japan 4, Nigeria 1, Russia 2, Singapore 19)
registered in other countries:79 (Bahamas 13, India 1, Indonesia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 11, Panama 12, Papua New Guinea 1, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 27, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas

Transportation – note

the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships

in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway

hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia

crews have been murdered or cast adrift

increased naval patrols since 2005 in the Strait of Malacca resulted in no reported incidents in 2010

Military

Military branches

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 7,501,518
females age 16-49:7,315,999 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,247,306
females age 16-49:6,175,274 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 265,008
female:254,812 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

while the 2002 “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea” has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding “code of conduct” sought by some parties

Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore’s land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits

in 2008, ICJ awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but does not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge

ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute

separatist violence in Thailand’s predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities

Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia’s Sabah State in northern Borneo

Per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei’s sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei

piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia)

21,544 (Burma) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and men, women, and children for forced labor

Malaysia is mainly a destination country for men, women, and children who migrate willingly from countries including Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Burma, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam to work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors

a small number of Malaysian citizens were reportedly trafficked internally and abroad to Singapore, China, and Japan for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the Government of Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

however, it is making significant efforts to do so

while the government increased the number of convictions obtained under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act during the year and continued public awareness efforts on trafficking, it did not effectively investigate and prosecute labor trafficking cases, and failed to address problems of government complicity in trafficking and lack of effective victim care and counseling by authorities (2011)

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong

continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market