Malaysia

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with an elected federal parliamentary government. The country comprises 13 states, 11 on the Malay Peninsula and two, Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. There are also three federally administered territories: the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the administrative center of Putrajaya, and the island of Labuan. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country of 27 million people. Malays form the predominant ethnic group; the two other large ethnic groups are Chinese and Indians. Islam is the official religion and is practiced by approximately 60 percent of the population. Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, although English is widely spoken. Travelers to Malaysia may access information on areas of interest through the Malaysian government’s website and Tourism Malaysia’s website. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Malaysia for additional information on U.S.- Malaysia relations.