Sandwiched between immense stretches of the South China Sea are the twin regions of Malaysia, with one peninsula bordering Thailand and Singapore in the east, and the other half neighboring Indonesia and Brunei.

One of Asia’s most vibrant economies, Malaysia’s 26.6 million populace is dominated by ethnic Malay who make up 60% of the population. The Chinese, one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, comprise around 23% of the population, with Indians forming a tinier section.

History

A tumultuous history

Most likely, Malays arrived on the peninsula in the first millennium BC. Their first cultural contact was with sea-faring Indians who left behind a permanent footprint on the country’s shores. Centuries of Hindu-dominated Indian rule followed. Later, Indians also brought with them the religion of Islam, which remains the dominant religion in this officially Islamic country.

The nation then was juggled by a series of colonial hands, with the Portuguese, Dutch and later the English staking claims on the riches of Malaysia. During the initial British rule, a large number of Indians and Pakistanis were brought over to work in Malaysia’s tin industry and plantations. Chinese migrants from southern China also arrived in droves to work in the tin mines of Perak and Selangor. Occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and then taken over by the British again, Malaysia finally claimed its independence in August 1957. The path to independence was not easy, although the nation has made rapid strides in improving the economic and social status of its people. War with Indonesia, coupled with the secession of Singapore, has caused teething pains for a growing nation.

With a constitutional monarchy, Malaysia’s current head of state is Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who became the country’s 13th king in 2006. However, real authority is vested with the prime minister, who at present is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The successor to one of Asia’s longest-serving and controversial leaders, Mahathir Mohamad Badawi unveiled Vision 2020, an ambitious plan calling for the globalization of Malaysia. With a goal to put Malaysia on the developed nation map, the plan envisions a Malaysian economy eightfold stronger than that of the early 1990s.

Culture

An ethnic divide

Indeed, Malaysia’s tumultuous history has created an ethnically fractured society. With the Chinese long viewed as the wealthier community, unrest has sparked among the more deprived Malays and indigenous peoples. Clashes between the Malay and Chinese reached their zenith in 1969, which witnessed large-scale rioting.

Today, the country’s ethnic fusion of Chinese and South Asians has created a colorful and diverse culture. A rich kaleidoscope of Chinatowns, Little Indias, Confucian temples, and Mariamma temples stand amidst the mosques that dot this officially Islamic nation. On the surface, these communities exist in relative harmony, but racial undertones still smolder. The latest uprising by Indians earlier this year (2008) is a vivid reminder that diversity and harmony are often separated by a thin borderline.

Although English is one of the official languages, Chinese, Tamil, Malay and Malayalam are widely spoken.

The Leong San Tong Kongsi Temple in Penang is a beautifully ornamented Chinese clan house built in 1906.

Economy

Tin and rubber giant diversifies

Described as a small and open economy, Malaysia grew to fame as a major producer of tin and rubber. The discovery of large deposits of tin in the 1840s led to Malaysia being responsible for nearly half of the world’s tin output. The early 20^th century saw the booming of the country’s agricultural sector, with rubber replacing tin as Malaysia’s main export product.

The country has long since overthrown its dependence on these commodities and has diversified into an industrialized nation, with a gross domestic product (GDP) that has grown at a rate of almost 8% to 9% from 1991 to 1997. The post-war period saw the production of consumer items such as batteries, paints, tires, and pharmaceuticals. A range of industries emerged, from textiles, rubber and food products, chemicals, and telecommunications equipment, to electrical and electronic machinery/appliances, car assembly and some heavy industries, such as iron and steel.

Today, Malaysia is one of the biggest exporters of semiconductors and electronic goods and devices. The semiconductor industry contributes about 30% of Malaysia's total manufacturing sector output and there are 40 semiconductor companies currently operating in Malaysia. International multi-national companies have set up assembly and testing units in Malaysia.

Significant reserves of oil and gas have also been found, with current oil reserves estimated at around three million barrels. Oil production occurs near Peninsular Malaysia as well as the regions of Sabah in east Malaysia and Sarawak. Natural gas production has been steadily rising, with a number of companies engaged in its production.

Malaysia’s main trading partners are the U.S, Japan and Singapore. The industries and services sector, which contributed around 51.6% and 40.1% of the country’s GDP in 2006, remain the driving forces of the economy.

Moving into knowledge economy

After its transformation from an agricultural to an industrial economy, the country is now poised to embrace the “knowledge economy.” Keen to establish itself as the regional center of excellence in areas like information technology, insurance, tourism, and health and education, the Malaysian government is taking steps to develop the basis for a knowledge economy. Skilled labor, excellent infrastructure, strong science and technology, as well as a R&D base are laying the foundation to further this ambition.

A Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) was launched in 1996 as a global IT hub for the global information and communication technology industry. Renamed MSC Malaysia in 2006, the corridor is a government-designated zone, originally an area of 15 by 50 square kilometers, which boasts of the latest technology in the information and knowledge age. It has now expanded to Malaysia's commercial capital, Klang Valley, and is targeted to cover the whole country by 2020.

The country has developed into a shared services and outsourcing (SSO) hub with several IT companies setting up their regional and global operations there. Home to more than 250 call centers, around 83 SSO companies operate in the MSC region.

Emerging Asian power seeks global status

Today, Malaysia is an active participant in Southeast Asia. Well-endowed with natural resources, its rich tropical forests, endless beaches, and cultural diversity attract a wide number of tourists from around the world. Penang, Langkawi, Borneo and Kota Kinabalu remain prime destinations. Geographically, the country lies close to major world trade routes, bringing early exposure to a burgeoning global economy. Malaysian plantations cultivate cocoa, timber, pepper, pineapple and sugar cane, while rice paddies dot the northern reaches.

Its indigenous labor workforce has been supplemented by immigrants who continue to contribute to Malaysia’s growth. The economy has always been exceptionally open to external influences such as globalization. Foreign capital has played a major role throughout.

The Ringgit was unpegged from the U.S. dollar in 2005 leading to the currency appreciating by 6% against the dollar in 2006. The country’s GDP is projected to grow at 5.6% in 2008. Short-term foreign debt remains low, although reserves remain adequate. Low inflation persists.

As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices recently. Yet, the slowdown in the U.S. economy is bound to have some ripple effects here too. Historically, Malaysia’s economy has always been dependent on a limited range of products. Unfortunately, if the trend continues, the Malaysian economy will remain heavily dependent on electronic exports ($60.2 billion or 62% of total exports). Slower demand for electronic goods in particular and the possibility of further global financial market turbulence may be of some concern to Malaysia going forward.

Politically, the climate remains steady with elections due in 2009, but sustaining this stability will be one of the country’s challenges in the years to come. Badawi’s dream is to switch emphasis from high-cost projects to smaller, less-expensive infrastructure projects with priority given to the domestic manufacturing sector.

Vision 2020 foresees a strong and confident Malaysia – powerful in the ASEAN region already, but embracing the world stage – the towering Petronas Twin Towers that loom over Kuala Lumpur an accurate symbol of this vision.