Official Country Name: Malaysia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur (Note: Putrajaya is referred to as the administrative centre and Parliament convenes in Kuala Lumpur)
Population: Over 25 million
Telephone Code: 60
Area codes
Kuala Lumpur & Selangor: 3
Johor: 7
Kedah, Penang & Perlis: 4
Kelantan, Terengganu & Pahang: 9
Malacca & Negeri Sembilan: 6
Perak: 5
Sabah: 88 (Kota Kinabalu)
Sarawak: 82 (Kuching), 85 (Miri)
Time Zone: GMT +8
Area: 329,750 sq km
Languages: Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Melayu is the national language, but many speak English, especially in cities. However, Many locals are also able to speak their native mother tongue and dialect (Chinese dialects - Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow; Indian languages spoken - Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi; in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan.)
Ethnic Groups: Malays form the majority (over 50 per cent). Chinese (about 33 per cent) and Indian (about 9 per cent) minorities are the two largest minority groups in the peninsular, but indigenous groups form the largest minority population in East Malaysia, including Kadazan, Iban, Dayak, etc.
Highest Mountain: Mount Kinabalu, in Sabah at 4,101 meters (13,455 feet) reputedly the highest in the Southeast Asia region
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: Yang Di-pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail
Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Currency: Ringgit and sen (RM1 = 100 sen)
Exchange Rate: US$1=RM3.80 or RM1=US$0.26. (Note: As of July 21, 2005, the ringgit peg to the US dollar has been removed and its value is rising.)
Health Risks: Dengue fever is present in certain areas and the Government is keeping close watch against the bird flu making its way here
Weights & Measures: Metric system
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