Malaysia, located a few degrees north of the Equator, is surrounded by Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, and comprises both the Malay Peninsula and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, approximately 400 miles east across the South China Sea.

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, presents an interesting combination of colonial architecture, and Moorish inspired buildings, as well as modern skyscrapers. The Petronas Twin Towers, currently the world's tallest building, at 1,483 feet surpasses Chicago's Sears Tower by 29 feet.

Travel Documents
Travellers must possess a national passport or an internationlly recognised travel document endorsed for travel to Malaysia.

Visas
No visa is required for citizens of Commonwealth countries (except India and Sri Lanka), British-protected persons, citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, San Marino, and Liechtenstein.

Visas are not required from citizens of the following nations if their stay does not exceed 3 months:
United States
Germany
France
Czekhoslovakia
Italy
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Belgium
Japan
South Korea
Austria
Finland
Luxembourg
Iceland
Tunisia
Algeria
Jordan
Bahrain
Kuwait
Lebanon
Egypt
North Yemen
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates.

1 months
Citizens of ASEAN countries.

What To Wear
Weather is warm all year round with the rainy season from November to February. Temperatures in the lowlands range from 22 to 32 degrees centigrade while in the highlands they vary between 16 and 23 degrees centigrade. Light summer clothes, comfortable shoes or sandals are sufficient, with a woolen sweater or a jacket thrown over at cooler altitudes.

The People - Ethnic Groups
As Malaysia's name suggests, the Malays are the dominant ethnic group in the country, numbering over half the population of almost 22 million; while those of Chinese ancestry account for one third, followed by those of Indian descent who account for about 10% of the population. The remainder comprises a remarkable diversity of indigenous peoples, the cross-cultural Baba Nyonya from Melaka, and the Portuguese Eurasians who descended from Melaka's Portuguese conquerors of the 16th century.

Language
English is widely used eventhough Bahasa Malaysia is the national language. Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of all Malaysians, although English, Chinese dialects and Tamil are widely spoken. Mixtures of these languages with Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian and Javanese words, to name only a few, is indicative of the mixture of cultural traditions in Malaysia.

Transportation
Taxis, buses, light rail transits are affordable and easily available, and car rentals are available in most cities.

Currency and Tipping
RM3.80 is equivalent to approximately USD$1 and major credit cards are accepted in cities and large towns. Travellers checks and foreign currencies can be exchanged for the Malaysian Ringgit at banks and hotels. Automated teller machines are widely available and cash can be withdrawn with major credit cards.

Tipping is not encouraged as most bills already have a 10% service charge and 5% government tax.

Religion
Islam is the country’s official religion but other major religions like Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity are freely practised in the country.

Others
Water is clean and safe to drink from the tap. But mineral and bottled water are also widely available. Telecommunication facilities are easily available. Faxes can be sent from hotels or telegraph offices while public phones are available in all towns.

Brief History
Malaysia's historical era began in the late 14th century with the founding of Melaka in 1511 with the overthrow of the Malaccan Sultanate by the Portuguese. Subsequently, two other empires claimed control. The Dutch in 1641 and the British in 1795. Independence from the colonial rule was finally declared on August 31, 1957. In 1963, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya (the Malay Peninsula) to form Malaysia. However, after two years, Singapore seceded and became a separate republic.

Government
Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy with a Prime Minister as head of state. Each of the 13 states has its own state government, headed by a Chief Minister. Nine of the states still retain a Sultan who acts as the custodian of Malay culture and religion for his state. The constitution also provides for the appointment of a paramount ruler. One of the Sultans will be elected as the paramount ruler, or king (a ceremonial position), on a rotating basis every five years.

Climate and Topography
As a tropical country, Malaysia is overwhelmingly green. The climate varies little throughout the year, apart from the seasonal shift between the northeast and southwest monsoons. Mangrove and forested wetlands prevail on the Peninsula's west coast, and much of the coastline of Sabah and Sarawak. While the east coast is renowned for its long sandy beaches and offshore islands, such as Tioman and Redang, which boast crystal clear waters and virgin rainforests. Contrasting with this, the mountain ranges of Titiwangsa and Crocker, provide a temperate climate for vacationers, tea plantations and market gardens.