Malaysia was colonized by the British and gained her independence on the 31st of August, 1957. Its capital city Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is the largest city in the country.
The official language of the country is Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) and the second official language is English. Islam is the main religion of Malaysia, although other religions like Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism are also practiced in the country.
Malaysia offers free education to Malaysian citizens in public schools up to secondary level and subsidizes tertiary education in the public universities. Also, healthcare services are subsidized and are free for school children, pregnant women, and disabled persons.
About 20% of the world’s animal species are in Malaysia as it is a home to numerous species of birds, frogs, insects, reptiles, mammals etc. Its waters are a biodiversity hotspot as it has about 1200 fish species.
Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers of Tin, Rubber, and palm oil. Manufacturing, international trade, tourism, export of natural and agricultural resources as well as petroleum, make up the country’s economy.
Malaysia ranks 19th country in the world with the best roads. There is a modern and effective railway transportation, buses, ferries, and airplanes which makes movement in the country easier. The country has about 118 airports of which the national airline is the Malaysia Airline.
Malaysia’s weather is hot and humid all year. The wet season on the east coast is from November to February, which is when the west coast experiences sunny, dry weather. In contrast, the wettest months on the west coast are April to October, which are the driest months on the east coast. The best time to visit is from November to March.
Many cultures in Malaysia and its surrounding areas have highly influenced the dishes of the country. Rice is a very popular food in the country. Nasi lemak, a popular dish in which rice is steamed with coconut milk and pandan leaves to give it a rich fragrance. It is frequently referred to as the national dish of the country.
Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a common holiday celebrated in the country on the 31st of August. Other holidays include: The main religion’s public holidays, Labour Day (1st May), the king’s birthday (first Saturday in June), New Year, Chinese New Year etc.
There are so many tourist attractions in the country some of which are;
- Mulu Caves: It is located in the Gulung Nationsl Park and it is a very wide cave. Bats live in the cave and moves out every evening in search of food.
- Sepilok Rehabilitation Center: This is where young Orangutans that were rescued and are now being trained to live in the wild reside.
- Perhentian Islands: This is a must-go place for tourists as the island has the best beaches and good diving spots. It also has accommodation that is very cheap and affordable.
The country recorded about 25.9 million tourist visits in 2018. There are about 420 hotels in the country where one can stay during visits the bulk of which are in the capital city and Johor.
