Everything you need to know about Malaysia: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Since the beginning of the world trade the Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Malaysia peninsula is the most important shipping lane in the world. Malaysians living in the coastal regions had developed strong contacts with Chinese and Indians seafaring traders. The impact of Hinduism soon mixed up with the local beliefs. When the Muslims conquered India they spread Islam to Malaysia, which soon dominated the Malaysian ethos and daily life. In the beginning of 18th century the Dutch and British developed trading relationship with Malaysia and in the second half British colonialised Malaysia. After the World War II growing sense of nationalism forced British to establish the semiautonomous Federation of Malaya in 1948 and Malaysia became an independent state in 1963. Malaysia Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures ? National Name: Federation of Malaysia ? Capital: Kuala Lumpur ? Total area: 329,847 sq km (127,355 sq miles) ? Population: 27 million (UN, 2008) ? Currency: Ringgit ? Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai ? Ethnicity/ Races: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.) ? Religion: 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) ? GDP (Per Capita): $15,700 (2008 est.) ? Life Expectancy: Male: 70.32 years, Female: 75.94 years (2008 est.) ? Literacy Rate: Male: 92%, Female: 85.4% (2000 census) Geographical Information on Malaysia: Malaysia is situated on the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is divided into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo separated by the South China Sea. Malaysia is bordered by the Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. The climate of Malaysia is equatorial in nature. Malaysia receives annual southwest monsoon during April to October and annual northeast monsoon during October to February. Culture and Cuisine of Malaysia: Malaysia is the multi-cultural and multi-racial land. The fine blend of traditional cultural ethos along with cosmopolitan lifestyle is a showcase of this Islamic country. There are three main races in the country. The Malays who are Muslims and form the majority while the other two main ethnic groups are the Chinese who are mostly Buddhists and the Indians who are mainly Tamils. The cuisine of Malaysia is a fusion of Chinese, Thai, Arabic and Indian cuisines. The spices like chilly, pepper, cloves, and turmeric etc. holds prominent place in the Malaysian cuisine preparations. The staple diet of the Malayans consists of rice, noodles and seafood like prawns, shrimps, squids and fishes.
Mumbai, May 18 (IANS) While shooting a TV commercial in Kuala Lumpur, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar constantly feared 'Don' might emerge out of somewhere. He reminisced the days when he shot his 2006 film "Don" in the city.
Singapore, May 18 (IANS) A Malaysian Indian politician of the Democratic Action party (DAP) has asked the party's Chinese-origin secretary-general to apologise to the Indian members of the party.
Thrissur (Kerala), May 18 (IANS) The festivities and fireworks at the Thrissur Pooram festival have stunned two US-based filmmakers who are making a movie on pyrotechnics across the globe. They have termed it as one of the most amazing display they have ever witnessed.
Singapore, May 17 (IANS) Singapore's non-oil domestic exports, a key gauge of the trade hub's export performance, fell by 1 percent year-on-year in April, trade promotion agency International Enterprise Singapore said Friday.
Singapore, May 16 (IANS) Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has come in for appreciation from the Indian community in that country for including more members from the ethnic Indian community in his new cabinet, a media report said.
Mumbai, May 15 (ANI-Business Wire India): LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, today announced its India member base has crossed the 20 million mark, gaining the critical mass significant enough to represent a world-class city full of professionals and students.
Singapore, May 15 (IANS) A. Sakthivel, a 43-year-old chemical engineer, has been appointed the new secretary general of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) after Datuk S. Murugesan resigned from the post Tuesday.
Singapore, May 13 (IANS) The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) will hold its organisational elections, postponed due to the country's general elections May 5, later this year.
Chennai, May 13 (IANS) India's largest tyre manufacturer MRF has joined forces with Czech car maker Skoda to enter a two-car team in the six-round 2013 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
London, May 13 (ANI): Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson got dressed up as an air stewardess in fishnet tights and red lipstick after losing a bet to Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes.
Kolkata, May 11 (IANS) Malaysian pilot James Anthony Tan, a dyslexia patient attempting to fly half-way around the world in a single-engined aircraft, touched down here Saturday after completing nearly 36,400 km of solo flying.
Beijing, May 11 (IANS) Chinese badminton team head coach Li Yongbo said their aim is to win the Sudirman Cup for the fifth consecutive time.
Singapore, May 11 (IANS) An Indian-origin man was shot dead in Alor Setar, the capital of the Malaysian state of Kedah.
New York, May 11 (ANI): France is the world's most popular tourist destination, according to a new survey.
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) The Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) nominated TTFI chief P.C. Chaturvedi as its president, while inducting Ganeshan Neelakanta Iyer, the chief referee at the championships here, as full-member of its technical committee during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) here.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Soumyajit Ghosh and Mouma Das secured a silver in the mixed doubles at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here Thursday, a day on which India made sure of at least six other medals.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Soumyajit Ghosh and Mouma Das made the mixed doubles final at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here Thursday, a day on which India made sure of at least seven medals in the individual competitions.
Singapore, May 9 (IANS) The leadership of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has been asked to take responsibility for the party's dismal performance in the country's general elections held May 5.
Singapore, May 9 (IANS) Two Indian-origin leaders have been appointed for the first time to the state executive committee of the Malaysian state of Penang.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu retained their women's singles rankings in the list released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Thursday.
Singapore, May 8 (IANS) The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has appealed to Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), partner in the country's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, to reconsider its decision to stay out of government positions following the May 5 general elections.
New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) Indian men cruised into the semifinals of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here Monday while the women entered the last four after giving a scare to mighty Singapore.
Singapore, May 6 (IANS) The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) failed to increase its tally of parliamentary seats in general elections in the southeast Asian country held Sunday.
Kuala Lumpur, May 6 (ANI): Malaysia's defeated opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said Pakatan Rakyat will not accept the results of the polls until the Election Commission (EC) explains the alleged instances of irregularities in the electoral process.
Kuala Lumpur, May 6 (IANS) Malaysia's ruling coalition won a fiercely contested general election with a comparatively slimmer majority, polling results showed early Monday. The opposition declined to accept the result citing electoral fraud allegations.
New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta congratulated P.V. Sindhu for clinching her maiden Grand Prix Gold title at the $120,000 Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur Saturday.
Singapore, May 4 (IANS) Sikhs in Malaysia are angry at members of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) for shaving their heads ahead of the country's May 5 general elections in protest against what they called money politics.
Singapore, May 4 (IANS) MGR campaigning for Malaysia's ruling coalition ahead of general elections? Not quite!
Kuala Lumpur, May 4 (IANS) India's P.V. Sindhu lived up to her top billing by winning her maiden Grand Prix Gold title beating Singaporean fifth seed Juan Gu in the women's singles final of the $120,000 Malaysia Open badminton here Saturday.
Kuala Lumpur, May 4 (IANS) Top seed P.V. Sindhu won her maiden tier three tournament as she beat Juan Gu of Singapore in the final of the $120,000 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold Saturday.
Kuala Lumpur, May 3 (IANS) Top seed P.V. Sindhu of India stormed into the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold final defeating Thailand's Sapsiree Taerattanachai at the Juara Indoor Stadium here Friday.
Singapore, May 3 (IANS) As Malaysia goes to polls May 5, a major Hindu rights group has appreciated Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's efforts to help the Indian community in that southeast Asian nation.
Kuala Lumpur, May 2 (IANS) Top seed P.V. Sindhu reached the women's singles semi-finals of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold here at the Juara Indoor Stadium by winning both her second round and quarter-final matches Thursday.
Singapore, May 2 (IANS) Ahead of the general elections in Malaysia, Sikhs in a town in the country's state of Perak have come out in support of their sitting Chinese-origin member of parliament.
Singapore, May 2 (IANS) Five members of an Indian origin family were killed and one was seriously injured when the car they were travelling in rammed into the iron pillar of a signpost on the North-South Expressway in the Malaysian state of Johor.
Kuala Lumpur, May 1 (IANS) It was a mixed day for Indians at the Malaysian Open Grand Prix badminton here with women's top seed P.V. Sindhu, men's 11th seed R.M.V. Gurusaidutt, Sameer Verma and K. Srikanth winning their second-round matches.
Singapore, May 1 (IANS) Ahead of the general elections in Malayasia, many Malaysian Indians have come out in support of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the country.
Singapore, May 1 (IANS) A Hindu rights group in Malaysia has come out in support of the country's ruling coalition ahead of the country's May 5 general elections.
Singapore, April 29 (IANS) Ahead of the general elections in the country May 5, a Malaysian court Monday issued an arrest warrant against a Hindu rights group leader in a sedition case.
Kuala Lumpur, April 29 (IANS) Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu will be vying for her maiden level three title at the $120,000 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold where she is seeded no.1 in women's singles.
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Rising shuttler P.V. Sindhu has been seeded No.1 in the women's singles at the upcoming $120,000 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Tuesday.
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber says he and Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel share a great camaraderie despite what happened at the controversial Malaysian Grand Prix.
Singapore, April 27 (IANS) There is dissension within a major Hindu rights group in Malaysia, ahead of that country's general elections next month.
Singapore, April 27 (IANS) A 29-year-old Indian origin man was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants while he was driving his car in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
Singapore, April 26 (IANS) A 39-year-old Indian origin man was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants in the Malaysian town of Seremban while he was driving on a busy road.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) After causing the upset of the day by beating former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, H.S. Prannoy Thursday said he had learned how to play badminton by watching the Indonesian since his childhood.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Top Indian squash players, including Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal, have cited security risks as the main reason for not taking part in the Asian Championships beginning May 1 in Islamabad.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Free passage between Hong Kong and Shenzhen - crucial growth epicentres of China - will empower the youth and provide them greater opportunities for employment and cultural exchange, it was announced here Wednesday.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Top Indian squash players including Dipilka Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal have cited security risk as the main reason for not taking part in the Asian Championships beginning May 1 in Islamabad.
Singapore, April 24 (IANS) An Indian origin taxi driver in Malaysia was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while having dinner with his family.
Singapore, April 24 (IANS) An Indian origin man in London is fighting to have his name removed from the electoral roll of Malaysia, which is going for general elections next month.
Melbourne, Apr 24 (ANI): Passengers on flights carry out some of the most annoying habits, with rude seat reclining undoubtedly the worst.
Pune, April 23 (IANS) The US office furniture giant Steelcase Inc. has started a manufacturing unit at Chakan near here, hoping to further consolidate its position in the Indian markets, an official said here Tuesday.
New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the CBI to wrap up its probe in the Aircel-Maxis telecom deal saying that it could not go on forever.
Kuala Lumpur, April 17 (IANS) Badminton is set to introduce technology to review disputed line-calls.
Hanoi, April 17 (IANS) Vietnam sent 32 karate martial artists to the Philippines for the second Southeast Asian Karatedo Championships to be held in Pampanga April 18-21.
London, April 15 (ANI): Scientists have stressed the need for novel measures to tackle malaria hotspots in countries with low levels of the disease.
Shanghai, April 14 (IANS) Fernando Alonso's confidence has been boosted after claiming a comfortable first victory of the season for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix here at the Shanghai International Circuit Sunday.
New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) The Planning Commission will on Friday launch a unique initiative to help promote coordination and improve the delivery of various services in the country to the people.
Shanghai, April 14 (IANS) Fernando Alonso took Ferrari's first victory of the season here Sunday at the Chinese Grand Prix, the third race of this year's Formula 1 World Championship, having it comfortably sewn up with a big lead of 10.1 seconds ahead of a close battle for second place between three other drivers.
London, Apr 14 (ANI): Ferrari ace Fernando Alonso made up for his crash out from Sepang, Malaysia by scoring a winner at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.
London, Apr 13 (ANI): Formula One team Red Bull has admitted that they are unable to control their warring drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, and have largely abandoned the concept of team orders ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hyderabad, Apr 12 (ANI): The Conference on Sustainable Tourism of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) will begin in Hyderabad today.
Sydney, Apr 12 (ANI): In a revelation which has created shock waves across the racing community, Red Bull star Sebastian Vettel has admitted that his decision to overtake his teammate Mark Webber for victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix had been an act of pure retribution.
Kuala Lumpur, April 11 (IANS) Malaysian badminton team and media are keeping a close eye on the return of Chinese star shuttler Lin Dan, who has crashed the Malaysian dream of winning the country's first Olympic gold medal twice.
Shanghai, April 11 (IANS) Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta are fine with team orders in Formula 1.
Yangon, April 10 (IANS) Myanmar's finance and revenue ministry Wednesday appointed two foreign companies as sponsorship management consultant for upcoming 27th Southeast Asian Games to be held in Myanmar later this year.
London, Apr 10 (ANI): Red Bull ace Sebastian Vettel has been urged by racing greats to apologise to Formula One for breaking his word and stealing victory in Malaysia from the hands of his team-mate Mark Webber.
London, Apr 10 (ANI): Former Formula One driver Allan McNish has said that Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton deserves to be the lead driver in his team as compared to his team-mate Nico Rosberg.
Putrajaya, April 10 (IANS) Malaysia will hold its 13th general election May 5, the election commission announced Wednesday.
Maranello (Italy), April 9 (IANS) Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has no doubt that Ferrari is a title contender despite not winning either of the first two races of the season so far.
Sepang (Malaysia), April 9 (IANS) Delhi based Keshav Gattani finished 10th in Heat 2 of seniors category in the Asia Rotax Max Championship.
Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 9 (ANI): Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has said the Indian community in the country can be the determining force in the upcoming general election although it does not form the majority in any parliamentary seats or state constituencies.
Shanghai, April 8 (IANS) Sahara Force India team principal Vijay Mallya Monday said his team has overcome the wheel nut issue ahead of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.
Kuala Lumpur, April 7 (Xinhua-ANI): The Malaysian government on Sunday urged all parties on the Korean Peninsula to exercise self-restraint to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Panaji, April 5 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa Friday said it would be "proud" to host Pope Francis I if he decided to visit the 2014 exposition of Spanish Jesuit St. Francis Xavier.
Kuala Lumpur, April 4 (Xinhua-ANI): A grandmother aged 94 on Thursday became the first person to request for a nomination form in Malaysia's Terengganu state to run for parliamentary elections for the second time.
Kuala Lumpur, April 4 (IANS) A 94-year-old woman Thursday became the first person to request for a nomination form in Malaysia's Terengganu state to run for parliament for a second time.
New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Has Sebastian Vettel's act of defying team orders in Malaysia diminished the accomplishments of the youngest Formula 1 triple world champion?
New Delhi, Apr 4 (ANI): United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) commission's conference on sustainable tourism development and 25th joint meeting of the UNWTO commission for East Asia, Pacific and South Asia will be held in Hyderabad from April 12.
New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Has Sebastian Vettel's act of defying team orders in Malaysia diminished the accomplishments of the youngest Formula 1 triple world champion?
London, Apr 4 (ANI): Bickering Red Bull teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have been urged by their team management to battle the opposition rather than each other.
Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 4 (ANI): Indians will be the deciding factor in some 50 parliamentary constituencies in the upcoming general election in Malaysia.
Yangon, April 3 (IANS) Myanmar and Indonesia are making efforts to promote the trade volume, which is targeted to reach up to $1 billion in 2016, official media reported Wednesday.
London, Apr 3 (ANI): Force India driver Paul Di Resta he is confident that he and teammate Adrian Sutil can repeat their strong showing at Formua One's opener in Australia in the double header in China and Bahrain even though he hopes for a trouble-free wheelnut system.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Men's singles World No.1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and India's own women's World No.2 Saina Nehwal will return to action at the Siri Fort Indoor Complex for the India Open Super Series April 23-28.
London, Apr 2 (ANI): McLaren ace Jenson Button has insisted that he can still win the Formula One title this year, adding that it is too early to write him off in the race for the 2013 world drivers' championship, despite scoring just two points in two races.
Panaji, April 2 (IANS) Pope Francis could visit Goa for the 2014 exposition of pioneering Jesuit St. Francis Xavier, said a priest of the church where the mortal remains of one of the first Christian missionaries to India are kept.
Panaji, April 2 (IANS) With the future of the multi-million dollar mining industry uncertain, Goa is now looking to Malaysia for inspiration and revival of its fiscal fortunes. The manner in which Malaysia converted adversity in the form of a fading tin mining industry more than 30 years ago and transformed into a tourism giant is a model which Goa tourism now seeks to emulate.
Jakarta, March 29 (IANS) Shireenjit Kaur is Miss India Indonesia. She will now represent Indonesia in the Miss India Worldwide contest to be held in Malaysia April 27.
Wellington, Mar 29 (ANI): Red Bull team principle Christian Horner has revealed Sebastian Vettel has personally apologized to fellow driver Mark Webber and the team staff for ignoring team orders during Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix win.
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) India's Olympic medal-winning shuttler Saina Nehwal has been nominated for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Female Player of the Year.
Langkawi (Malaysia), March 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi and the Malaysian defence ministry have signed a $100-million contract for the technical maintenance of Malaysia's fleet of Su-30MKM fighters, said a spokesman for the organising committee of the LIMA-2013 aerospace exhibition.
Langkawi (Malaysia), March 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers on $1 billion credit from Russia, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.
Abu Dhabi, March 27 (IANS/WAM) Engineering students in the UAE will build a fuel-efficient "made-in-the-UAE" car to compete at a challenge in Malaysia in July.
London, Mar 26 (ANI): Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has lashed out at Red Bull for giving preferential treatment to defending world champion Sebastian Vettel over Mark Webber, saying that Red Bull's pandering to Vettel has caused problems within the team.
Kuala Lumpur, Mar. 26 (ANI): Indian nationals living in Malaysia are the top drug smugglers, overtaking Iranian and Nigerian syndicates.
Sepang (Malaysia), March 24 (IANS) The 2013 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix turned out to be a forgettable experience for Sahara Force India whose drivers had to retire mid-way through the race Sunday owing to faulty wheel nuts.
Kuala Lumpur, March 24 (ANI): Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan has helped raised RM3mil ($1.8m ) from the auction of two Richard Mille watches and a painting during SM Chong Hwa's fund-raising dinner and concert on Saturday.
Sepang (Malaysia), March 23 (IANS) Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull will start the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix on pole position after becoming the fastest driver in qualifying Saturday for the second consecutive time this season.
