Geography

The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both West and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains, the highest of which is Mount Kinabalu at 4,095 metres (13,435.7 ft) on the island of Borneo. The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.

Putrajaya is the newly created administrative capital for the federal government of Malaysia, aimed in part to ease growing congestion within Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur remains the seat of parliament, as well as the commercial and financial capital of the country. Other major cities include Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Alor Star and Malacca Town.

The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is arguably the most important shipping lane in the world. Tanjung Piai, located in the southern state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia.

Facts and Figures

• Location: 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: 2 30 N, 112 30 E
• Area:
  • Total: 329,750 sq km
  • Land: 328,550 sq km
  • Water: 1,200 sq km
• Land Boundaries: 2,669 km
• Border Countries:
  • Brunei 381 km
  • Indonesia 1,782 km
  • Thailand 506 km
• Coastline:
  • Total: 4,675 km
  • Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km
  • East Malaysia 2,607 km
• Maritime Claims:
  • 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: 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 4,100 m
• Natural resources:
  • Tin
  • Petroleum
  • Timber
  • Copper
  • Iron ore
  • Natural gas
  • Bauxite
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 5.46%
  • Permanent crops: 17.54%
  • Other: 77%
• Irrigated Land: 3,650 sq km
• Natural Hazards:
  • Flooding
  • Landslides
  • Forest fires
• Environmental Issues:
  • Air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions
  • Water pollution from raw sewage
  • Deforestation
  • Smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires