Malaysian Geography Grade 9

Malaysia is a country located in Southeast Asia, consisting of two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and East
Malaysia. It shares borders with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and is separated by the South China Sea from
Vietnam and the Philippines.
Peninsular Malaysia extends south for 800 kilometers from Thailand’s Isthmus of Kra to Singapore and the
Indonesian Archipelago. Sabah and Sarawak, the States of East Malaysia lie 600 kilometers to the east across
the South China Sea. These two States, former British colonies on the northeast coast of Borneo, stretch for
1,000 kilometers to the southern islands of the Philippines.
A central mountain range with peaks rising to 2,100 meters divides Peninsular Malaysia. Scenic coastal plains
lie on either side of the mountains; most of the population lives in the plains and foothills of the western coast
along the Straits of Malacca. The eastern coast, along the South China Sea, has beautiful white, sandy beaches,
but fewer people. Between the two coasts lie the mountains and an often-impenetrable jungle. Primary forest
covers 60% of Malaysia and contains a variety of flowering plants and immense, but now diminishing, timber
reserves. Vegetation, even in the cities, is lush and tropical. Forest wildlife includes gibbons; tigers; elephants;
mouse deer; countless species of birds, monkeys and insects; and, in Sabah and Sarawak, the orangutan.

HISTORY
Little is known about Malaysia’s prehistory, or the period of time before the invention of writing. The first
known Malay kingdoms appeared around the year A.D. 200, when Indian traders introduced the South Asian
concepts of religion, government, and art to Malay natives. These kingdoms remained relatively small,
however, because the Malaysian terrain couldn’t support widespread agriculture. Instead, Malays were known
for their ocean navigation and shipping skills.
The modern Malay culture began to develop during the 15th century, when Islam arrived to the country. During
this time, the port of Melaka grew to become one of the world’s great port cities. When the Portuguese sailed
into Melaka in the 16th century, they became the first Europeans to arrive in Malaysia.
In 1786, Great Britain bought Malaysia’s Penang island in an attempt to increase trade with China. Over the
next century, British influence in Malaysia grew, and by 1915, Great Britain had acquired several additional
Malaysian states.
During World War II, Malaysia was occupied by the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The end of the war brought a
desire for independence throughout the country, with Malays wanting to create a Bangsa Melayu, or Malay
nation. British officials promised independence to the nation and began working with Malay leaders to create an
independent Malaysia. On August 31, 1957, the independent Federation of Malaya was formed, with Tunku
Abdul Rahman as its first prime minister.
Malaysia was recognized as a country in 1963; at the time, it included Singapore. Singapore separated from
Malaysia in 1965.
The history of Sabah can be traced back to about 23–30,000 years ago when evidence suggests the earliest
human settlement in the region existed. The history is interwoven with the history of Brunei and the history of
Malaysia, which Sabah was previously part of and is currently part of respectively. The earliest recorded history
of Sabah being part of any organised civilisation began in the early 15th century during the thriving era of the
Sultanate of Brunei.[1] Prior to this, early inhabitants of the land lived in predominantly tribal societies,
although such tribal societies had continued to exist until the 1900s.[2] The eastern part of Sabah was ceded to
the Sultan of Sulu by the Sultan of Brunei in 1658 for the former helping a victory over Brunei enemies, but
many sources stated it had not been ceded at all.[3] By the late 19th century, both territories previously owned
by Sultan of Brunei and Sultan of Sulu was granted to British syndicate and later emerged as British North
Borneo under the management of the North Borneo Chartered Company.[4] Sabah became a protectorate of the
United Kingdom in 1888 and subsequently became a Crown colony from 1946 until 1963, during which time it
was known as Crown Colony of North Borneo. On 16 September 1963, Sabah merged with Malaya, Sarawak
and Singapore (left in 1965) to form Malaysia.
The History of Sarawak can be traced as far as 40,000 years ago to the paleolithic period where the earliest
evidence of human settlement is found in the Niah caves. A series of Chinese ceramics dated from the 8th to
13th century AD was uncovered at the archeological site of Santubong. The coastal regions of Sarawak came
under the influence of the Bruneian Empire in the 16th century. In 1839, James Brooke, a British explorer, first
arrived in Sarawak. Sarawak was later governed by the Brooke family between 1841 and 1946. During World
War II, it was occupied by the Japanese for three years. After the war, the last White Rajah, Charles Vyner
Brooke, ceded Sarawak to Britain, and in 1946 it became a British Crown Colony. On 22 July 1963, Sarawak
was granted self-government by the British. Following this, it became one of the founding members of the
Federation of Malaysia, established on 16 September 1963. However, the federation was opposed by Indonesia,
and this led to the three-year Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. From 1960 to 1990, Sarawak experienced a
communist insurgency.
Peninsular Malaysia (Bahasa Malaysia: Semenanjung Malaysia) occupies all of the Malay Peninsula between
Thailand and Singapore, and is also known as West Malaysia (Malaysia Barat) or the slightly archaic Malaya
(Tanah Melayu). It is home to the bulk of Malaysia's population, its capital and largest city Kuala Lumpur, and
is generally more economically developed. Within Peninsular Malaysia, the West Coast is more developed and
urbanised and separated from the more rural East Coast by a mountain range - the Titiwangsa.

The terrain consists of coastal plains rising to hills and mountains. Peninsular Malaysia consists of plains on
both the East and West coasts, separated from each other by a mountain range known as the Barisan Titiwangsa
which runs from North to South.

East Malaysia: This region comprises the states of Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo. It
shares borders with Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Brunei. The landscape is characterized by dense rainforests,
mountain ranges, and rivers. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest peak in Malaysia, standing at 4,095 meters
(13,435 feet)., It is Partly covered in impenetrable jungle where headhunters roam (on GSM networks if nothing
else), East Malaysia is rich in natural resources but very much Malaysia's hinterland for industry, and focused
more on mass than individual tourism. Both East and West Malaysia have been subjected to vast logging
activities in the last decades, however, and much of its rainforests have been transformed into palm oil
plantations, especially in the flatter areas. Areas with pristine rainforest do remain, though, especially inland
where the terrain is more mountainous.
Islands: Malaysia is known for its beautiful islands and coastal areas. Some popular islands include Langkawi,
Penang, Perhentian Islands, Tioman Island, Redang Island, and Borneo's offshore islands like Sipadan and
Mabul. These islands offer stunning beaches, coral reefs, and diverse marine life.

Rivers: Malaysia has several major rivers, including the Rajang River and Kinabatangan River in Borneo, and
the Pahang River, which is the longest river on the peninsula. These rivers play a crucial role in the country's
ecosystem, providing water sources, transportation, and supporting diverse wildlife.
Climate: Malaysia has a tropical climate characterized by high humidity and temperatures throughout the year.
The country experiences two monsoon seasons: the Southwest Monsoon (May to September) and the Northeast
Monsoon (November to March). Rainfall is abundant, especially in the eastern coastal areas.

The weather in Kuala Lumpur varies little throughout the year. Daily minimum and maximum temperatures
remain fairly constant averaging 27°C (80°F) and 38°C (100°F). With the heat, there is high humidity as the
average annual rainfall is 250 centimeters.

Although Kuala Lumpur is not subject to typhoons or cyclones, brief rainy seasons occur each year and bring
scattered flooding. About 1-2 months of relatively dry weather usually precede the rainy seasons, although
afternoon and evening thundershowers occur regularly throughout the year. The east coast and East Malaysia
experience longer rainy seasons, and more widespread flooding as a result.

Biodiversity: Malaysia is recognized as one of the world's megadiverse countries, boasting rich biodiversity. Its
rainforests are home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including endangered species like
orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinoceroses.
National Parks: Malaysia has numerous national parks and protected areas, preserving its natural treasures.
Some notable parks include Taman Negara, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Bako National Park,
and Endau-Rompin National Park.

Urban Centers: Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, is situated in Peninsular Malaysia. Other major cities include
George Town (in Penang), Johor Bahru (near Singapore), Ipoh, and Malacca. These cities are hubs of culture,
commerce, and tourism.