Malaysia's Introduction and geography

Malaysia in a South-East Asia Context
Malaysia - Introduction
Malaysia was created in 1963 through the merger of Malaya (independent in 1957) and the former British Singapore, both of which formed West Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo which comprise East Malaysia.  Singapore separated from the union in 1965.
Malaysia - Geography
Location	Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam.
Geographic Coordinates	2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map References	Southeast Asia
Area	Total: 329, 750 sq km Land: 328, 550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km
Land boundaries	Total : 2,669km
Border countries	Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km.
Coastline	4, 675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068km, East Malaysia 2,607km)
Maritime claims	Continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea Exclusive Economic Zone : 200 NM Territorial Sea : 12 NM
Climate	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 4,100m
Natural resources	Tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use	Arable land: 3% Permanent crops: 12% Permanent pastures : 0% Forests and woodland: 68% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land	2,941 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards	Flooding, landslides.
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, desertification, endangered species, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, marine life conservation, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, tropical timber 83, tropical timber 94, wetlands. Signed but not ratified: Climate change - Kyoto Protocol
Biodiversity	One of the 12 megacity centers in the world
Administrative capital	Putra Jaya
Largest city	Kuala Lumpur
Geographic note	Strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea