Malaysia in brief

Malaysia, with its rich culture and history, is a 'must visit' tourist destination. Endowed with magnificent scenic wonders and a colourful thriving cosmopolitan elegance, the country is indeed the jewel of Southeast Asia, a destination unrivalled by any other.

Rainforests dating back 130 million years still retain their ancient splendours while bustling cities and towns boast of modern day sophistication. Hovering contentedly on the fringes of this 'time' escape are charming villages where rural life enchants all who stop to savour its gentle charms.

Malaysia lies within longitudes 100 and 119 East and latitude 7 north. Neighbouring countries are Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south. The country consists of two land masses with a total area of 330,434 square kilometres.

Peninsula Malaysia is located south of Thailand, while East Malaysia, comprising the states of Sabah and Sarawak, stretches along the northen region of Borneo. The two land masses are separated by the South China Sea.

The Federation of Malaysia is comprises of 13 states and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia is centrally located along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwhich Mean Time (GMT) and 16 hours ahead of United States Pacific Standard Time. It enjoys a perpetual summer with high humidity, the only variation being its dry and wet seasons.