alaysia, country of Southeast Asia, lying just north of the Equator, that is composed of two

noncontiguous regions: Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia), also called West Malaysia
(Malaysia Barat), which is on the Malay Peninsula, and East Malaysia (Malaysia Timur), which is on the
island of Borneo. The Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, lies in the western part of the peninsula, about
25 miles (40 km) from the coast; the administrative centre, Putrajaya, is located about 16 miles (25 km)
south of the capital.

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Malaysia, a member of the Commonwealth, represents the political marriage of territories that were
formerly under British rule. When it was established on September 16, 1963, Malaysia comprised the
territories of Malaya (now Peninsular Malaysia), the island of Singapore, and the colonies
of Sarawak and Sabah in northern Borneo. In August 1965 Singapore seceded from the federation and
became an independent republic.