Malaysia

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Malaysia
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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 a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with 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.
   Geography    Malaysia
Location:
Definition Field Listing 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
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing 3,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing 580 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
   People    Malaysia
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 25,274,132 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: 31.8% (male 4,135,013/female 3,898,761)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,026,755/female 7,965,332)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 548,970/female 699,302) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 24.6 years
male: 24 years
female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 1.742% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 22.44 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 16.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 73.03 years
male: 70.32 years
female: 75.94 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 52,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 6.2% of GDP (2004)
   Government    Malaysia
Country name:
Definition Field Listing conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaya
Government type:
Definition Field Listing constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak has 31 seats
Capital:
Definition Field Listing name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:
Definition Field Listing 31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing 31 August 1957 (amended many times, latest in 2007)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 7 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler
note: position of paramount ruler is primarily ceremonial; in practice, selection is based on principle of rotation among rulers of states
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by paramount ruler, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures; to serve three-year terms with limit of two terms) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN coalition 140, opposition parties 82
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing Civil Courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister); Sharia Courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance, only for Muslims; decisions of Sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consists of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH Tsu Koon - acting]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN])
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition) consists of the following parties:: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing Bersih (electoral reform); Sharia High Court
other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ilango KARUPPANNAN
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador James R. KEITH
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50400
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
   Economy    Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Since coming to office in 2003, Prime Minister ABDULLAH has tried to move the economy farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in high technology industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The Government of Malaysia is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand to wean the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency appreciated 6% per year against the dollar in 2006-07. Although this has helped to hold down the price of imports, inflationary pressures began to build in 2007. Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term similar to the one in 1997. The government presented its five-year national development agenda in April 2006 through the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the allocation of the national budget from 2006-10. With national elections expected within the year, ABDULLAH has unveiled a series of ambitious development schemes for several regions that have had trouble attracting business investment. Real GDP growth has averaged about 6% per year under ABDULLAH, but regions outside of Kuala Lumpur and the manufacturing hub Penang have not fared as well.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $361.2 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $186.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 6.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $14,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 9.9%
industry: 45.3%
services: 44.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10.94 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 13%
industry: 36%
services: 51% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.2% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing 5.1% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing 46.1 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2%
note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $40.69 billion
expenditures: $46.7 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 41.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 82.36 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 78.72 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 757,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 501,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 611,200 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 278,600 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3 billion bbl (1 January 2007 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 60.9 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 31.84 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 29.06 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.037 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $28.93 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $176.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing US 15.6%, Singapore 14.6%, Japan 9.1%, China 8.8%, Thailand 5%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $139.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Japan 13%, China 12.9%, Singapore 11.5%, US 10.8%, Taiwan 5.7%, Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 4.9%, Germany 4.6%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $31.6 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $101.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $53.09 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $86.16 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $42.55 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $235.4 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing ringgit (MYR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing ringgits per US dollar - 3.46 (2007), 3.6683 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.35 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 23.347 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 110 per 100 persons
international: country code - 60; landing point for several major international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 88 (mainland Malaysia 51, Sabah 16, and Sarawak 21) (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .my
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 337,674 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 15.868 million (2007)
   Transportation    Malaysia
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 116 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 36
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 72 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing 2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing condensate 282 km; gas 5,273 km; oil 1,750 km; oil/gas/water 19 km; refined products 114 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 1,890 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 98,721 km
paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 307 ships (1000 GRT or over) 6,632,648 GRT/8,998,983 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 99, carrier 1, chemical tanker 34, container 45, liquefied gas 33, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 71, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 42 (Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, Russia 2, Singapore 17, Sweden 3)
registered in other countries: 65 (Bahamas 12, Kiribati 1, Marshall Islands 3, Panama 12, Philippines 1, Singapore 26, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 3, unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Labuan, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
   Military    Malaysia
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 6,440,338
females age 16-49: 6,280,826 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 5,374,006
females age 16-49: 5,316,865 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 260,725
female: 247,309 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Malaysia
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration and renounce any territorial claims on land; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a destination country for men, women, and children who migrate willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia improved from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007; the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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