Malaysia's flag

Malaysia's flag looks alot like the United States Flag exept instead of stars there is a moon and sun.

Located

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

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Comparative

Slightly larger than New Mexico.

Total land

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

Environment - current issues

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

Natural hazards

looding, landslides, forest fires

Irrigated land

3,650 sq km

Land use

arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 17%
other: 77%

Elevation extremes

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

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

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 Indonesian efforts to control 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.