Country
The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsula Malaysia, the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo (also known as East Malaysia), and deep-sea anchorage Labuan.
Population
27.17 million (1.4 million within Kuala Lumpur city) (7.2 million within Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley)
People
Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group. Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups make up the rest.
Language
Bahasa Malaysia is the national language and English is widely spoken. Most Malaysians can speak at least three languages including Mandarin and Tamil. The ethnic groups also speak various languages and dialects.
Climate
Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures in the lowlands range from 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F). The highlands are cooler, where temperatures range between 15°C (59° F) to 25°C (77°F). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.
Currency
The unit of currency is Malaysian Ringgit, indicated as ‘RM’. Foreign Exchange Booths are common and clearly state the exchange rate for all major currencies.
Time
Eight hours ahead (+8) of GMT and 16 hours ahead (+16) of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.
Electricity
Voltage is 220 – 240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets:
Accommodation
Malaysia has a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates. Five-star, medium range, budget hotels, youth hostels, beach chalets, resorts and timeshare apartments are just some of the types of accommodation available.
Visa
Visitors to Malaysia must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the period of stay. Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits within certain period.
For more information visit http://www.imi.gov.my