View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1999 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

8.08 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

international service good domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2,550,957 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

27 (of which 26 are government-owned and one is independent and has 15 high-power repeater stations to relay its programs) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

2 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

Peninsular Malaysia?rubber, palm oil, rice; Sabah--subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak--rubber, pepper; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$39.8 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$125 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the Malaysian economy--severely hit by the regional financial crisis--declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment. Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its weakened banking sector.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

47.977 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

174 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

151 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

48 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 83.33% hydro: 16.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

ringgits (M$) per US$1--3.8000 (January 1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$74.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$215.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 13% industry: 46% services: 41% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

-7% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.9% (1989)

Imports [time series]

$59.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

14.4% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.3% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

8.398 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

manufacturing 25%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)

Population below poverty line [time series]

15.5% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.6% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than New Mexico

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Irrigated land [time series]

2,941 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 68% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding, landslides

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular--negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular--wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan* note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable

Capital [time series]

Kuala Lumpur

Constitution [time series]

31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 8 January 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman elected paramount ruler; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount ruler

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states--hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah--holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak--holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government

Independence [time series]

31 August 1957 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives--last held 24-25 April 1995 (next to be held by April 2000) election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party--National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6; note--subsequent to the election there was a change in the distribution of seats, the current distribution is--National Front 168, DAP 8, PAS 8, PBS 5, independents 3

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 31 August (1957)

Peninsular Malaysia [time series]

National Front (a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization or UMNO

Sarawak [time series]

National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$2.1 billion (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.1% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,526,555 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,349,066 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 183,928 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (male 3,879,012; female 3,680,895) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,478,910; female 6,482,909) 65 years and over: 4% (male 369,639; female 484,701) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%, Indian 7%, others 9%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malalalam, Panjabi, Thai; note--in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.67 years male: 67.62 years female: 73.9 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.5% male: 89.1% female: 78.1% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: does not include illegal immigrants--large numbers from Indonesia and smaller numbers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Burma, China, and India

Population [time series]

21,376,066 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.08% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note--in addition, Shamanism is practiced on East Malaysia

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah State; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit point for some illicit drugs going to Western markets; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

Transportation

Airports [time series]

115 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 74 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 94,500 km paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 378 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,059,272 GRT/7,428,623 DWT ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 30, container 58, liquefied gas tanker 19, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 1,798 km narrow gauge: 1,798 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (1998 est.)

Waterways [time series]

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