Malaysia guide

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s most exotic yet most comfortable countries to visit. In many ways this diverse republic of 23 million people is unique, but also seems to be a composite of surrounding influences. Strongly Islamic since the 13th century, Malaysia grew to its present form under the British who left in 1957. The influx of Chinese and Indian radically altered the ethnic mix, and descendants of these communities now account for almost half of the population.
Malaysia is basically divided into two regions. The busier peninsula dangles from the heels of Thailand, culminating at Johor Bahru next to the city state of Singapore. Malaysia’s larger buy relatively remoter section – made up of the states of Sarawak and Sabah – occupies roughly the top third of the island Borneo. The two regions differ substantially, and indeed where only united after World War II. You still need your passport when traveling from the peninsula to Borneo as Sarawak and Sabah still have a high degree of autonomy.
For the tourist, Malaysia is one of the more beautiful and appealing destinations in the region. With rapid economic progress, good infrastructure and English widely spoken it has also become one of the most safe and accessible places to visit. The modern capital Kuala Lumpur has seen heavy investment and is emerging as a world-class city. Its dining and shopping can now compete alongside the likes of Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. Entertainment is picking up too, although it will probably never match the carefree nightlife of other Asian countries. And ‘KL’, as it is known, has staked a name for itself globally with the completion of the iconic Petronas Towers, at 452 metres the world’s tallest buildings.