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Introduction - Malaysia
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.
Geography - Malaysia
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: 66
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:
Current Weather
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 (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
580 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu 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 - Malaysia
Population:
26,160,256 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 4,175,140/female 3,934,037)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 8,389,007/female 8,315,518)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 592,924/female 753,630) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.1 years
male: 24.5 years
female: 25.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.704% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Birth rate:
22.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Net migration rate:
NA
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from
other countries in the region (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 17.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.55 years
country comparison to the world: 111
male: 70.81 years
female: 76.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
80,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
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)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 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)
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
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 (2005)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 37
Government - Malaysia
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,
and 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/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended many times the latest in 2007
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to
Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
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)
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
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 [S. Samy VELLU]; 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)
other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, 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, MONUC, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDDIN 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert G. RAPSON
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
Economy - Malaysia
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. After coming to
office in 2003, former Prime Minister ABDULLAH tried to move the economy farther
up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in high technology
industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals, an effort that continues
under current Prime Minister NAJIB. The NAJIB administration also is continuing
efforts to boost domestic demand and to wean the economy off of its dependence
on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics - 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 to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to
lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas, which supplies 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 began showing signs of recovery late in
the year. In June 2010 NAJIB will introduce the Tenth Malaysia Plan, outlining
new reforms. NAJIB already has introduced several reforms in the services sector
in a bid to attract direct foreign investment, which has stagnated in recent
years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$381.1 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$389.7 billion (2008 est.)
$372.6 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$209.8 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
4.6% (2008 est.)
6.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$15,400 (2008 est.)
$15,000 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.4%
industry: 40.9%
services: 49.7% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
11.38 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 36%
services: 51% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
3.3% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
5.1% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2005 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.1 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 36
49.2 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Budget:
revenues: $45.01 billion
expenditures: $58.46 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
53.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
41.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
5.4% (2008 est.)
note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.08% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
6.41% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$51.51 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
$49.41 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$200.9 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
$187.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$246.7 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
$220 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$263.4 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
$187.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$325.7 billion (31 December 2007)
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% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - production:
103.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - consumption:
99.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - exports:
2.268 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
693,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - consumption:
536,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - exports:
511,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - imports:
314,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - proved reserves:
4 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - production:
57.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - consumption:
26.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - exports:
31.03 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Current account balance:
$30.46 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$38.91 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$157.6 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$199.7 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood
products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Singapore 14.94%, US 12.4%, China 10.19%, Japan 9.13%, Thailand 4.93%, Hong Kong
4.75% (2009)
Imports:
$119.3 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$148.5 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel
products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 20.16%, China 12.31%, Japan 11.02%, US 9.41%, Thailand 6.15%, South
Korea 4.21% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$95.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$91.21 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$48.26 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$75.33 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$88.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$84.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$79.96 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$73.38 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 3.55 (2009), 3.33 (2008), 3.46 (2007), 3.6683
(2006), 3.8 (2005)
Communications - Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.292 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
Telephones - mobile cellular:
27.125 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system featuring good intercity service on Peninsular
Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radio relay and an adequate intercity
microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei;
international service excellent
domestic: domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line
and mobile-cellular teledensity 125 per 100 persons
international: country code - 60; landing point for several major international
submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and
Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
(2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
88 (mainland Malaysia 51, Sabah 16, and Sarawak 21) (2006)
Internet country code:
.my
Internet hosts:
362,968 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Internet users:
16.903 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
Transportation - Malaysia
Airports:
118 (2009)
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 80
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 73 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 3 km; gas 1,965 km; oil 31 km; refined products 114 km (2009)
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) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 98,721 km
country comparison to the world: 44
paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)
Waterways:
7,200 km
country comparison to the world: 20
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 306
country comparison to the world: 30
by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 97, carrier 1, chemical tanker 34, container 46,
liquefied gas 33, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 71, roll on/roll off 3,
vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 40 (Germany 1, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, Russia 2, Singapore 16,
Sweden 3)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 13, Marshall Islands 3, Norway 1,
Panama 12, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Singapore 27, Thailand 3,
Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Labuan, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port
Klang), Tanjung Pelepas
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in
the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed
robbery against ships; numerous 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 in 2009 resulted in significantly reduced
numbers of incidents
Military - Malaysia
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: 6,692,438
females age 16-49: 6,494,413 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,612,642
females age 16-49: 5,501,129 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 267,646
female: 253,529 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Transnational Issues - Malaysia
Disputes - international:
Malaysia is involved in a complex dispute with Brunei, China, Philippines,
Taiwan, and Vietnam over claims to part or all of the Spratly Islands; 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; Brunei and Malaysia agreed
in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume
hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims along their land
boundary; 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 South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are
subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the
domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors; to a
lesser extent, some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are
trafficked abroad for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Malaysia does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so, despite some progress in enforcing the 2007
comprehensive anti-trafficking law; it has yet to fully address labor
trafficking in Malaysia; there are credible allegations of involvement of
Malaysian immigration officials in trafficking and extorting Burmese refugees;
the government did not develop mechanisms to effectively screen victims of
trafficking in vulnerable groups and condones the confiscation of passports of
migrant workers by employers (2009)
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
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