Gallo Rice
Part 1: Overview General Information Malaysia is located in the heart of Southeast Asia, slightly north of the Equator. Consisting of 127,000 sq. miles (330,200 sq. km), Malaysia is divided into two main regions: Peninsular Malaysia, which lies just south of Thailand, and East Malaysia, which can be found north of Indonesia on the island of Borneo. These two regions are divided into thirteen states and federal territories. Although East Malaysia occupies the larger portion of Malaysia’s total area, it is primarily comprised of undeveloped land and jungles. Malaysia is a land of fascinating sights and attractions. Rich in color and contrasts, her multi-faceted charm provides intriguing images that leave visitors to the country in awe. The natural warmth of Malaysians is legendary; wherever one goes the friendliness and hospitality of the people would prove to be a very special experience. Malaysia is paradise, its sun-drenched beaches, enchanting islands, diverse flora and fauna; forest retreats and magnificent mountains are among the best in this region. With temperatures that fluctuate little throughout the year, travel in Malaysia is a pleasure. Average temperature is between 21 to 32 degrees Celsius. Humidity is high. Rain tends to occur between November to February on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, on western Sarawak, and northeastern Sabah. On the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia the rainy seasons is April to May and October to November. People and Culture Malaysia has a combined population of over 18 million people. Because of its central location, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travelers from both East and West. As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business, and the English language is a compulsory subject in all schools. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great diversity of religions is existent throughout Malaysia. Although the official religion is Islam, freedom of worship is practiced. One may often find temples, mosques and churches in the same area because of the diversity of religions. The breakdown of religions/ethnicity is as follows: Ethnic Groups: 59% Malay and other indigenous, 32% Chinese and 9% Indian. Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka dialects, Cantonese, Tamil and numerous tribal languages. Religion: 50 % Muslim (primarily Malays), 30% Buddhism (Chinese), 7% Hindu (Indians), 6% Christianity, 4% other organized religions (Confucianism, Taoism and tribal religions) Economy : Malaysia has remarkable resources and land, a well-educated work force, well-built infrastructure, and a fairly stable political environment. The Malaysian economy consists of private enterprises and public management and its average growth in past ten years has been remarkably 9%. Due to this growth the poverty has reduced dramatically and the real wages have faced a substantial rise. Manufacturing plays the biggest role in the Malaysian economy. Electrical, electronics and machinery products are the most well-organized and largest industries, other are wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, real estate and business services and agriculture. Malaysia is the biggest exporter of semi-conductor components to the United States. (Capacitors, telephones, stereo equipment, copiers, electronic components…), and it is also the world’s biggest producer and exporters of natural rubber. Visas and Passport Information Visitors must be in possession of a current passport or other internationally recognized travel document. They must be endorsed for traveling to Malaysia and have a period of validity of at least six months beyond the time of stay allowed in Malaysia. No visas are required for citizens of United States (for social, business or academic purposes only). No visas are required for stays not exceeding three-month for citizens of United States. Part 2: Culture Malaysians are very warm people and can be defined as a culture that always smiles. Meeting people from other countries is a pleasure for them and they will make you feel very welcomed. Due to the many nationalities in Malaysia, Malaysians are very tolerant of the behavior of others.