Malaysia

Fast Facts

Location: Southeast Asia

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Population: 32.3 million (2020)

Government Type: Elective Constitutional Monarchy

Language(s): Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

Climate: Humid Tropical

GDP: USD $337.31 billion (2020)

Human Development Index Ranking: 0.810 (High, 2019)

Overview

Despite being divided in two by a space of water 500 kilometers wide and expelling Singapore - which would go on to become one of the world’s leading financial hubs - from its union, Malaysia is a post-colonial success story, the magnitude of which is rarely seen in other regions in the world. Since 1960, or about the time frame of 1 - 2 generations, Malaysia’s life expectancy has grown by an astonishing 16 years, surpassing the current global average in 2001, full primary school enrollment reached in 2010 (though the figure had been hovering around 95% since as early as the 1970s), and in 2015, a mere 0.4% of Malaysians live under the national poverty line of less than USD $4 per day.

However, as with any country, Malaysia is not without its publicly-acknowledged difficulties. A survey conducted across over 1,200 respondents identified corruption, the cost of living, COVID-19, youth employment, and migration as but a few of the most pressing issues facing the country today. While success is never guaranteed, and issues remain across many levels of society, it has certainly been a constant in Malaysia’s history during the past several decades.

History

Credit: Marcus Loke

Although the history of “Malaysia” as we know it technically began in 1400 AD with the foundation of the Sultanate of Malacca, stone tools from the Paleolithic era have been found in Sabah, on the island of Borneo - the oldest of such findings in the region, dated to about 15,000 BCE. By the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, metalworkers settled in modern-day Malaysia, establishing civilisations that would come to be heavily influenced socio-culturally by India and, later, Buddhism. The area would then become controlled by the Srivijaya Empire, based in modern-day Indonesia, linking the region by trade and diplomacy to the great powers of India and China. Srivijaya’s power declined following attacks by Indian and other Indonesian kingdoms, namely the Chola and Singosari (respectively).

The Sultanate of Malacca, perhaps Malaysia’s most significant pre-colonial kingdom, was founded during the decline of the Srivijayans, and eventually even came to replace and surpass it as a regional power. Malacca’s key contributions to Malaysian history include the introduction of Islam, assistance to Chinese explorers, and a major strategic trading port between the Spice Islands due to its geographic position. Its survival can be largely credited towards a friendship with China, which deterred Siamese aggression from the north.

Malaysia’s colonial period began with the arrival of, and colonial claims by, Portuguese sailors in the early 16th century, before being pushed out by Dutch territorial claims. The British would eventually push the Dutch out by establishing lines of control between modern-day Malaysia (owned by the British) and Indonesia (owned by the Dutch). During the 1920s and 1930s, many Malaysians received increased quality of education, both at home and (mainly) the Middle East. The newly-educated class fostered a sense of nationalism and self-rule in Malaysia, attempting to drive out the British using the media and proliferation of ideology. This was put on pause in the early 1940s, however, as Japanese forces conducted successful invasions to secure the economic and natural resources of Malaysia from the British.

Malaysia’s immediate security threats were not fully eliminated following the end of the Second World War, however. As soon as the 1950s, communist insurgencies broke out throughout the country, demanding an end to British colonial rule. Since this was their demand, it was universally agreed that in order for peace to remain in Malaysia, the British would have to allow for full national sovereignty. Independence was ultimately granted in the early 1960s. Although ethnic tensions in Malaysia have been present since independence, the country remains relatively politically stable.

Economy

As one of the most open economies in the world, Malaysia’s willingness to trade has taken its economy from a commodity- to manufacturing-based structure, a clear sign of robust economic development. GDP growth since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1998 has averaged approximately 5.4%, and in early 2022, reported a staggeringly impressive 8.9% after opening its borders following the pandemic. Malaysia’s main exports include electrical products, chemicals, and machinery. Much like its neighbour, Indonesia, Malaysia’s natural resource commodities also include fossil fuels, rubber, and palm oil. Primary imports include special purpose ships, broadcasting equipment, and integrated circuitry.

The majority of Malaysia’s economic challenges appear to be acute reactions to current global trends. Global growth is slowing due to fading post-pandemic demand, the conflict in Ukraine, and relatively high rates of inflation worldwide. Slowing industrial and economic activity in China is also impacting regional growth, as well as an uneven distribution of development across Malaysia itself. The OECD further identifies that many transitions need to take place to further modernise Malaysia’s economy - including a growth in the use of e-commerce and telecommunications, and a further transformation towards a greener economy, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19’s gradual decline.

What is an Elective Monarchy?

Credit: WIO News

Malaysia’s monarchy is a highly unusual one.

Known formally as the Yang-di Pertuan Agong, the “King” of Malaysia is a five-year tenured position as head of state, nominated not by bloodline, but by the many royal families of the country, to uphold Malay and Islamic values. Other duties are predominantly ceremonial, but also include the promotion of democracy and swearing in prime ministers.

The order of succession is pre-meditated, voted upon, and shared between the Malay states of Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, and Terangganu. This system was founded on the assembly of these nine states, whereby the monarchy sits at the apex of a class-based hierarchy. Although the Agong must approve legislation before it can become law, he does not directly interfere with politics.

The current Agong of Malaysia is Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, who was nominated Agong in 2019.

Trivia

-The Greco-Roman geographer Ptolemy was aware of Malaysia’s existence in 150 AD, naming it Aurea Chersonesus, or “The Peninsula of Gold”.

-Malaysia is home to the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, which is an estimated 130 million years old. Travelers must obtain a special entry permit from the government in order to visit.

-Malaysia’s total highway length is longer than the circumference of the Earth’s surface, by a margin of roughly 25,000 kilometers.

-A Malay astronaut named Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was the first Muslim to observe the practice of fasting during Ramadan for the entire month during a mission in outer space.