Malaysia
Addison D. 7 th
Malaysia Introduction
Malaysia is a great country! The Straight of Malaysia provides a great waterway for trading! Also Malaysia is one of the World’s leaders in exporting rubber, palm oil, and large amounts of wood. We are rich in minerals such as tin, iron ore, copper, bauxite, even some oil, and natural gas. Here there are many jobs in factories where they produce, consumer goods, and high-technology which they trade in the Straight of Malaysia. Malaysia has some of the coolest site seeings including, the tallest buildings in the world that is located in the capital Kuala Lumpur, and even the oldest forest!!! Malaysia has an area of 329,758 square kilometers. (About the size of New Mexico located in the U.S.) In Malaysia people speak Malay, Chinese, Tamil, and even English, and many different cultures like, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist.
Malaysia's flag
Malaysia's flag, was finalized in 1963. Its 14 red and white stripes and 14 pointed gold star in the top left corner symbolize Malaysia's original 14 states. The blue rectangle represents unity of the Malaysian people. The yellow crescent and star, yellow is the royal color of the Malaysian rulers.
Malaysia location
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand in the north, Indonesia in the south, and the Philippines in the east. It is located along the Strait of Malacca,a major trade rough from Far East to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Malaysia's sky scrapers
(Shown in the Picture) The Petronas Towers are the worlds largest twin towers that are around 1,483 feet!!! They are located in Kuala Lumpur. (Malaysia's capital)
"Land to start over and better opportunities."
Malaysia's Geography and Climate!
Malaysia is close to the equator which makes the climate very hot which is great for a good tan, B.B.Q, and provides great sunlight to grow crops! They have many tropical rain forests that cover over than 1/2 of Malaysia, which provide fresh water to drink and for agriculture. It rains about 76 inches-101 inchesper year. The Straight of Malaysia is in the west part of Malaysia on the Malaysian peninsula, which provides trading, between the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea. The average temperature year round is 70-90 degrees and shorts and a Te-shirt is allays better than long underwear, jeans, long Te-shirt and a big puffy jacket. :)
Malaysia's rainforest
The Malaysian rainforest provide clean water for plants, animals, and even humans. Also the rainforests are great sites that you have to see!! They are full of some of the oldest trees, most exotic animals, and cool plants.
Straight of Malaysia
The straight provides a great trade rough from the Andaman Sea to the South China Sea. It is 500 miles long and 40 miles in width. It is in the shape of a funnel.
Malaysia's rain!!!
It rains so much in Malaysia which is good for plans, humans, some animals, and the rainforest. When it rains hard for a continues of days it could cause a major flood.
Malaysia's People and Culture
Most people who live in Rural Areas fish or farm. Rural Malays live in villages called kampongs. Their houses are built on stick like stilts with wooden or bamboo walls and floors, and palm roofs, so when it foods them and their house will survive without having to build a new house. The family grow their own rice and catch their own fish. In Sabah and in Sarawak people live in longhouses, they eat vegetables, fish, edible plants that they find in forest and even hunt.
People move to city's to get jobs which bumped up the Urban Growth. Kuala Lumpur has many tall sky scrapers. Mostly people in Malaysia live in apartments or town homes. Anyone can eat rice, vegetables, fish, meat, mainly lamb, mutton, or chicken but American influence has opened up pizza places, and hamburger place, and Tea and Coffee are just some of the popular drinks there. Many adults fly kites and spin tops "skills" they also play Conkak a traditional Malay game. They also do martial arts with hands, knifes, and sticks. They also play Soccer and badminton. They have Muslim mosques, Christian churches, and Hindu and Buddhist temples stand side by side in urban areas.
Most kids start to go to "Primary" school at the age of 6 and remain in "Primary" school for 6 years, and then move on to "Secondary" school. Which are both free. The kids learn in Bahasa or English but can also speak in Chinese or Tamil.
Malaysia's kampongs
Kampongs, are homes of Rural Villages, they look like houses but on sticks that try to prevent drowning the house in a flood. In these villages there is a lot of fishing and farming. In the villages they have compounds which has the bathroom, and where most people play and talk.
Sabah and in Sarawak
They are 2 out of the 14 states of Malaysia. Sabah is the easternmost state which touches Sarawak. Sarawak is the largest Malaysian state which borders Brunei.
Malaysian Longhouses
Longhouses are what the Sabah and Sarawak live in. They feel spiritually connected to the forest, so their longhouses are mostly closest to the forests. Up to 100 people can live under one roof of a longhouse.
Kuala Lumpur
This is Malaysia's capital, it is the most populated city in Malaysia, with a population of around 1.6 million people. Most people move there for new jobs and a better life. Kuala Lumpur hold the tallest twin towers, the Petronas Towers, which are 1,483 feet tall and have 88 floors.
Malay Muslims
Malay Muslims are about 1/2 of the population of Muslims in Malaysia. They believe that there are parts of the body that should not be shown. Woman- From the hair and neck all the way to the ankles, and from their shoulders to their wrists. Men- waist to knees and their heads. (Sometimes even a songkok a Muslim hat.)
Mak Yong
Is a Malay is a form of traditional drama, the performers sing, dance, and tell historic tales about princesses. Most of the time gamelan plays, they are an orchestra which mainly plays metal percussion, including drums, gongs, and xylophones.
Malaysia's Government and Citizenship
The federal goverment is in charge of the three territory's, including Kuala Luper, Putrajaya, and Labrun. A prime minister and a Parliament run the federal government. The Parliament has two houses the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara. Dewan Rakyat has 222 people and have more power when it comes down to laws. The 222 people are elected and serve for 5 years. The Prime Minister is the leader of the Political Party with the most votes. The Prime Minister chooses the cabinet. The Dewan Negara is made up of 70 people who serve for 3 years.
They have individual rights. If a child does not have a birth right they can not attend public or privet schools, they inherit their parents citizenship, but if you can not prove that your parents were married or from different religions than you are considered stateless. Women can not disobey their husbands. Men can have multiple wife's and employs can go on strike but there are many laws about going on strike that you can not disobey so if is basically imposable to go on strike.Department of Islamic Development Malaysia or JAKIM have the right to enter privet premises with out a warrant if they think that Muslims are gambling.
Dewan Rakyat
All bills are passed to the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara before going in front of the King. There are 222 members of the Dewan Rakyat which the people choose and they serve for 5 years.
Dewan Negara
Made up of 70 senators 26 senators are elected by the state legislates 2 senators for each state in the Federation, the 44 others are appointed by the king. They also review the laws before the laws are passed to go in front of the House of parliaments.
Child Act (2001)
When a child commits a murder, their parents or guardian has maximum of 14 days to bail their kid out before them and their kid have to go to court and the court for children will decide the punishment for the kid but it can not be death.
Malaysia's economy
Malaysia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies in the late 1900s, and grew at an average annual rate of over 5%. Now Malaysia’s economy is based mostly on rich natural resources and a variety of economic activities. In the mid-1900’s, Malaysia was mainly an exporter of raw materials such as timber, rubber, tin, and palm oil.
Malaysia still produces those materials today, but they play a much smaller role in their economy. The country’s main way of gaining wealth now is by producing manufacturing, consumer goods, and high-technology. They are one of the world’s leading exporters of rubber and palm oil, and still have many resources such as, tin, iron ore, copper, and bauxite. Malaysia ports are important trade centers.
Palm Oil
Malaysia is the worlds leading producer of Palm Oil. Is a vegetable oil made from palm tree nuts. People use it for cooking and for soap.
Natural Rubber
Malaysia is the third largest producer of Natural Rubber. 1st and 2nd are Thailand and Indonesia. Most of the Palm Oil and Natural Rubber is raised on large plantations that will be exported.
Malaysian Farms
Farmers grow rice, which is Malaysia main crop, on small farms through the country. They also grow, tropical fruit, including banana's, mango's, pineapples, some small farms even produce, cacao, (seeds that make chocolate) coconuts, and vegetables. There is not just food but many different animals.