COUNTRY DESCRIPTION

Malaysia has 13 states: 11 on the Malayan Peninsula (West Malaysia) and two, Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo (East Malaysia). Malaysia's capital city is Kuala Lumpur. The new administrative center is in Putrajaya, which is approximately a 30-minutes drive from the capital.


GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Malaysia lies at 7° North of the Equator and consists of West and East Malaysia. West Malaysia is bordered by Thailand to the north, Singapore to the south, South China Sea to the east, and Straits of Malacca to the west. East Malaysia shares its southern border with Indonesia, and is cradled by the South China Sea to the west and north, and the Sulu Sea to the northeast. Although Malaysia is not an large country in terms of actual land area (roughly 127,316 sq miles), but it has an enormously great deal to offer.


CLIMATE

Malaysia is pampered with a warm tropical climate, with general temperatures ranging from 70° F to 90° F. The weather is very strongly influenced by the Northeast and the Southwest Monsoon. The period of May to September is usually a drier period. The East Coast of West Malaysia and the states in East Malaysia normally have their rainy seasons between November and February.