General
Area : 330 435 sq km
Capital city : Kuala Lumpur
Currency : Ringgit Malaysia
Time zone : GMT + 8 hours
Achieved independence on : 31st August 1957
People
Population : 19.7 million
Distribution urban/rural : 40% / 60% as of 1990
Growth rate : 2.5% ( 425 000 persons a year )
Ethnic groups : Malay 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian 8%, others 1%
Religions : Muslim 53%, Buddhist 17.3%, Confucian and Taoist 11.6%, Hindu 7%,
others 6.5%, Christian 2.6%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages : Bahasa Melayu, English, Tamil, Mandarin and Hakka dialects, local
dialects
Geography
Physical features : Coastal plains rise to mountainous
interior, 75% tropical rainforests
Climate : Tropical rain monsoon
Government
Political system : Parliamentary monarchy
Head of the country : Yang Di-Pertuan Agong--Paramount ruler / King
Head of the government : Prime Minister