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Malaysia Facts & Worksheets

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country known for its delicious food and coastal tourism. The country’s capital is Kuala Lumpur.

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Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country known for its delicious food and coastal tourism. The country’s capital is Kuala Lumpur. The whole country is divided into East Malaysia and West Malaysia.

See the fact file below for more information on the Malaysia or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Malaysia worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The country’s name is a combination of the word Malay and the Latin-Greek suffix sia.
  • In Malay, the word melayu may have been derived from the Tamil words malai (which means mountain) and ur (which means land).
  • Indian traders during the ancient times used to say “Malaya Dvipa” when talking about the Malay Peninsula.
  • “Melayu” is also a term used to describe a strong current, which is evident in the Sumatran river Melayu.
  • In the book of Ptolemy Geographia, Malaysia was referred to as Aurea Chersonesus meaning “peninsula of gold.”

GEOGRAPHY

  • In terms of land area, Malaysia is the 66th largest country.
  • It’s total land area is 329,613 square kilometers.
  • Malaysia consists of two regions: West Malaysia, also known as Peninsular Malaysia located on the Malay Peninsula, and East Malaysia, also referred to as Malaysia Timur), located on Borneo.
  • The two regions are separated by the South China Sea.
  • West Malaysia is bordered by Thailand while East Malaysia is bordered by Brunei and Indonesia.
  • Malaysia is connected via a causeway to Singapore.
  • Malaysia has maritime boundaries with Philippines and Vietnam.

HISTORY

  • Proof of humans inhabiting Malaysia, who are known as Negritos, dates back to 40,000 years ago.
  • As early as the first century AD, Chinese and Indian traders arrived.
  • Trading ports were built in the next two centuries.
  • This is why there have been Indian and Chinese influences on cultures in coastal areas.
  • Hinduism and Buddhism were adopted by the Malay people.
  • From the second century to the 15th century, the Kingdom of Langkasuka reigned in the northern Malay peninsula.
  • From the 7th century to the 13th century, the Srivijayan empire ruled the southern Malay peninsula.
  • By the 14th century, the Majapahit Empire took control over most of the Malay archipelago.
  • It was also in the 14th century that Malays adopted Islam.
  • In the 15th century, the Malacca Sultanate was founded by Parameswara, a former king.
  • Malacca became a commercial and trade centre at the time.
  • Malacca was conquered by the Portuguese in 1511; by the Dutch in 1641; then by the British in 1824.
  • For three years, during World War II, the Japanese occupied the peninsula, but the British seized its rule again afterwards.
  • The Malayan Union, which consisted of all the British colonies in the Malay Peninsula, was founded in 1946.
  • It was immediately replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948.
  • In 1948, communist forces waged a guerilla war, which came to an end in 1960.
  • Accelerated economic growth and urbanization took place in the 1980s.

CULTURE

  • Malaysia is a melting pot of people with various ethnic backgrounds, who speak various languages, and hold various cultural values.
  • The government made a “National Cultural Policy” in 1971.
  • The policy states that Malaysian culture is primarily based on the indigenous cultures of Malaysia, must incorporate Islam in some way, and may be mixed with elements from other cultures.
  • The policy also promoted the use of the Malay language above other languages.
  • Malaysia shares a similar cultural background with Indonesia, but the two countries differ in terms of how strong they cling onto their national heritage – Malaysia being a bit more lenient.

LANGUAGES

  • Bahasa Malaysia (or Malaysian), the standardized version of the Malay language, is the official language of Malaysia.
  • It is also referred to as Bahasa Melayu.
  • English is the second national language.
  • Malaysian English is a world english derived from British English.
  • Over 130 different languages are spoken in Malaysia.

CLIMATE

  • The climate experienced in the highland, lowland, and coastal areas vary somewhat.
  • Overall, the climate is equatorial, meaning the climate is dependent on the northeast (October to February) and southwest (April to October) monsoons.
  • The surrounding oceans moderate the temperature on land.
  • It is usually humid in Malaysia.
  • The climates of the West and the East are also different.
  • The climate on the West is dependent on the winds from the mainland.
  • The climate on the East is dependent on maritime weather.

RELIGION

  • According to the Constitution, Malaysia is a secular state.
  • Islam is declared the official religion of the Federation.
  • The majority of the population practice Islam.
  • Next to that top rank is Buddhism, then followed by Christianity.

MORE FACTS

  • The Malaysian flag is composed of four colors: red, blue, yellow, and white.
  • The Malaysian flag is called the Jalur Gemilang.
  • Malaysia is called The Land of Beautiful Islands.
  • Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak of Malaysia.
  • The world’s biggest roundabout is found in Malaysia: the Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
  • The largest underground cave chamber in the world is found in Malaysia.

Malaysia Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Malaysia across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Malaysia worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Malaysia which is a Southeast Asian country known for its delicious food and coastal tourism. The country’s capital is Kuala Lumpur. The whole country is divided into East Malaysia and West Malaysia.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Malaysia Facts
  • Land of Beautiful Islands
  • Truly or Falsely Asia
  • Conquest After Conquest
  • Map of Malaysia
  • Cities of Malaysia
  • Flag Remodel
  • Kuala Lumpur Landmarks
  • Fact Sketch
  • Malaysia Acrostics
  • Visit Malaysia!

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Link will appear as Malaysia Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 23, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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