Malaysia
geography
Area 330,434 sq.km. Two distinct parts; Peninsular (West) Malaysia on the Kra peninsula of mainland Asia (PM), and East Malaysia (EM) consisting of the territories of Sarawak and Sabah on the northern third of the island of Borneo.
Well-watered; tropical rain forest.
population
2000 22,244,062
2010 25,919,134
2025 30,968,453
capital
Kuala Lumpur 2,150,000
Urbanites 57% Chinese and Indians are largely urban.
people
The Malay population is increasing at the expense of the Chinese and Indian populations.
religion
Sunni Islam is the official and favoured religion in PM, and there is continual pressure to apply the same in EM, where Islam is a minority.
In the 1980's, limitations on religious freedom were introduced. In 1999 the government relaxed some restrictions, such as on places of worship, the issue of missionary visas, public meetings and publications.
It is illegal to proselytize Muslims, but considerable effort is expended to induce animistic tribal people and Chinese to become Muslim.
Religions
Muslim
Buddhist/Chinese
Christian
Hindu
Non-Religious/other
Traditional Ethnic
Baha'I
Sikh |
Population %
58
21.59
9.21
5
4.50
1.20
0.40
1.10 |
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Country profiles supplied courtesy of Operation World. http://www.gmi.org/ow/
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