Simple directory > Regional > Malaysia

Country :Malaysia Official name: Persekutuan Tanah Malaysia (Federation of Malaysia) Head of State: Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail (since Dec 2001; formally took office 25 Apr 2002) Head of government: Datuk Seri (Prime Minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (appointed 31 Oct 2003) Ruling party: Barisan Nasional (BN) (National Front) multi-racial coalition of 10 parties, the dominant party being Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (United Malays National Organisation) (UMNO) (re-elected Mar 2004) Area: 330,434 square km Population: 24.65 million (2004) Capital: Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya (administrative capital) Official language: Bahasa Malaysia Currency: Ringgit (also known as Malaysian dollar) (M$) = 100 sen Exchange rate: M$3.80 per US$ (Nov 2004) (pegged since 1999) GDP per capita: US$4,042 (2003) GDP real growth: 5.20% (2003) Labour force: 9.90 million (2003) Unemployment: 4.00% (2003) Inflation: 1.70% (2003) Oil production: 875,000 bpd (2003) Balance of trade: US$21.38 billion (2003) Foreign debt: US$47.50 billion (2003) Visitor numbers: 10.00 million (annually)* * estimated figure

Historical profile

1511 The Portuguese took control of Malaysia's south-western state, Malacca, as part of their plans to monopolise the South-East Asian spice trade.

1641 Control of Malacca fell to the Dutch who came to control the entire spice trade.

1786 A port was established in Malacca as part of the British East India Company.

1795 The British took full control of Malacca.

1824 The Anglo-Dutch treaty peacefully divided rule of the Peninsula between the Dutch and the British, with the British in control of Malacca.

1826 The states on Malacca, Penang and Singapore were combined to form the Straits Settlements.

1870's Britain brought the Malay states under direct rule. The Pangkor agreement signed with Malay leaders gave the British more control of the territory.

1896 The Malay states were grouped together under a British general. During British control, public services, rubber and tin production were developed. The British brought Indian and Chinese labourers to the country to help with construction projects, altering the country's ethnic make-up.

1939–45 Malaysia was overrun by the Japanese. After their defeat, the British resumed control, but the Straits Settlements were abolished.

1948 The Federation of Malaya, comprising the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia, was formed.

1951 Pressured by strong Malay nationalism, the British were forced to introduce elections.

1955 The first federal elections were held.

1957 Malaya was granted independence from the British. It remained part of the Commonwealth.

1963 The state changed its name to Malaysia, when Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined the federation.

1965 Singapore seceded from Malaysia.

1977 Expulsion of the chief minister of Kelantan from the Parti Islam se Malaysia (PAS) (Islamic Party of Malaysia) resulted in violent demonstrations, the imposition of direct rule in Kelantan and the expulsion of PAS from the ruling Barisan National (BN) coalition.

1981 Dr Mahathir Mohamad succeeded Hussein Onn as leader of the BN party and was formally elected as prime minister.

1986 Mahathir Mohamad was re-elected in the general election, despite internal party conflict caused by the resignation of the deputy prime minister, Musa Hitam.

1988 Constitutional amendments limiting the power of the judiciary to interpret laws were approved. The Security Law was introduced removing the right of persons detained under the Internal Security Act to have recourse to the courts.

1990 Mahathir Mohamad was re-elected.

1995 Mahathir Mohamad was elected for a third term.

1997–98 Severe worldwide financial volatility caused massive capital flight from Malaysia and the ringgit plunged. The authorities imposed capital controls and a selective exchange rate regime against the advice of the IMF. Mahathir sacked his chosen successor, finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, after disagreements regarding economic management and political manoeuvring by some of Anwar's supporters. Anwar was arrested for corruption and sexual misconduct.

1999 Anwar was imprisoned. General elections returned the Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (UMNO) (United Malay National Front)-controlled BN to power and brought Mahathir Mohamad's fourth election as prime minister, avowedly his last.

2001 The new federal territory of Putrajaya was created. Malaysian King, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah of Selangor, one of nine hereditary rulers, died. The Conference of Rulers chose Syed Sirajuddin, the Raja of Perlis state, as the new King.

2002 King Syed Sirajuddin formally took office. Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines signed a pact to counter terrorism and to stop a network that is believed to be trying to turn all three into a single Islamic state.

2003 Mahathir Mohamad, who had been prime minister for 22 years, retired on 31 October. The deputy prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was immediately appointed to be his successor.

2004 The ruling BN coalition was re-elected in the 21 March parliamentary elections. Although Malaysia lies close to the epicentre of the 26 December earthquake, it was shielded by Sumatra, Indonesia; many people were swept from beaches near the northern island of Penang.

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