Travel destinations: Malaysia – Part 1

As a tourist destination, it is unfortunate that Malaysia has not been getting the attention it deserves. She is actually one of the best tourist destinations for tourists of all ’sizes and shapes’ meaning tourists of all budgets and interests. It is alas, less well-known compared to its neighbours Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. It is a shame that many tour agencies in developed countries (chiefly in North America, UK and Europe) are not made aware of this gem.

Geopolitics and History:

Geographically, Malaysia is divided into two distinct regions, East and West Malaysia which are separated by the South China Sea. If you are from UK, you probably have heard of Borneo ( sometimes still called by its nostalgic name of British Borneo and if you are a biologist, you might learn that Alfred R Wallace, co-founder of the Theory of Evolution, visited Borneo island in the 19th Century). North Borneo, with the exception of the Kingdom of Brunei, is what is present day East Malaysia which consists of two States- Sabah and Sarawak.( South Borneo is now part of Indonesia ) West Malaysia is part of a peninsula, with Southern Thailand fringing its borders at the North and Singapore at the South.

Malaysia lies in South-east Asia, close to the Equator and it therefore enjoys many sunny days though there is the Monsoon season starting from about Oct through December of the year. The days can be very hot and humid though, so the Western tourists should take note of that. There are also days when torrential downpour is the norm, especially in the ‘interior’ of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak and the west coast of West Malaysia during the Monsoon seasons.

The States, consisting of 11 West Malaysian and 2 East Malaysian States, together with two other demarcated areas collectively known as ‘Federal Territory’ constitute the nation known as Malaysia. Because of its recent history (from early 19th Century to early 20th Malaysia was known as Malaya and it was ruled by the British Colonialists until it achieved independence in 1957), Malaysia adopts the UK, Westminster system of Parliamentary Democracy as well as maintaining a Constitutional Monarchy.

The present population of the country is about 20 over million. Malaysia can rightfully claim to be a multiracial or multiethnic nation. With about two-thirds of her people being ‘Malays’, about a quarter of the population ethnic Chinese, approximately 10% ethnic Indians, and the rest a