Malaysia

Peter Bright

Geography

• Malaysia is a two part country that is located at the Equator in the Atlantic Ocean.

• It measures 329,847 Kilometers and borders Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei.

• Mild Tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 68-86 degrees F. The country is mainly jungle.

• Capital is Kuala Lampur.• Harbors over 1,000 different species of wildlife.

Society

• Total population is 28,728,607 (July 2011 Census) 44th most populated country in the world. 51% male, 49% female.

• Islam is the official state religion, but Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and even some Confucians and Taoists are found in Malaysia.

• Freedom of Religion.• Official language is Bahasa Malaysia, but script

uses the Latin Alphabet. English is also used for some situations.

Education

• Total literacy rate is 88.7%. Male=92%, Female=85.4%

• Literacy= age fifteen and over that can read and write.

• 4.1% of GDP is spent on education.

• USA spends 5.5% of GDP on education.

Health

• Infant Mortality- 15.02 deaths/1000 live births. USA = 6.06/1000.

• Average life expectancy for males is 71, for females 76.

Government

• Malaysia is a Constitutional Monarchy, which means the king is bound to follow the constitution of the country.

• King Sultan Mizan Zanial Abidin is the king now (11/29), but Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shar has been elected to serve the next 5 year term as king starting on 12/13/2011.

• The Monarchy is somewhat stable, the last controversies were in 2007, but they were the largest political rallies since 1998.

Economy

• Income per capita is $13,315 in Malaysia and is ranked 56th in the world. USA is $47,200 which is a substantial difference.

• Malaysia exports and processes rubber and palm oil, and manufactures pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics, and tin (smelting and mining).

Relations with The United States

• Between 1981 and 2003 when Mahathir bin Mohamad ruled, the US was Malaysia’s biggest and most successful trading partner, although Mohamad criticized foreign policies set up by the US.

• The tension dispersed during the next rule of Malaysia and now the Malaysia is pushing the Trans- Pacific trade partnership with the US.

Sharia

• Malaysia uses a unique law system, half based on Sharia and half on Secular laws. Secular law concerns criminal and civil rights while Sharia takes government and punishments.

• Sharia is causing a problem with fairness to all women and children in the country. Recently a Malaysian women applied for divorce, and the Sharia government turned her away without hearing her case.

Human Rights- Political

• The legal system in Malaysia allows some inconsistent punishment, like pronouncing guilty without hearing a case.

• A charge is sometimes not given at the time of arrest, and the individual is kept in detention until the government posts bail.

• Laws are often made by the king on a knee-slap reaction, like a specific problem.

Human Rights- Torture

• There have been proven cases of caning, or beatings with a meter-long cane, in the prison facilities of Malaysia. The cane is swung at full speed with both hands and can cause broken bones, tissue damage, and permanent psychological and physical scars.

• Reports suggest that officers are being trained to use a cane to beat prisoners harshly.

Human Rights- Women

• Women are treated unequally, along with immigrants, and some children.

• Women are normally beaten and sometimes convicted unfairly for the husband’s crime. When a case of rape reaches the court, it is far more likely for the women to be convicted than the male who committed the crime.

Current Events

• Malaysia is about to start a new term with a new king that lasts five years on December 13th, 2011. Shar, the new king, plans to strengthen the relationship with the US and increase trade between the two countries.

• So what does this mean to the average American? Instead of “made in China” printed on everthing, it will be “made in Malaysia.”

King Abidin

Bibliography• "CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the

CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/>.

• “Malaysia." U.S. Department of State. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm>.

• "Malaysia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia>.