Special Report on Malaysia Part II

By Ibrahim Hamid Alkali - EuroAfrica Magazine Special Correspondent for Asia/Oceania

Contemporary History- Malaysia used to be known as Malaya before 16th September 1963, when it came to be known as Malaysia. This is the date in which the country was formally created and formed as Malaysia. In Malaysia's first federal elections held in 1955, the three party alliance of then three major political parties of Malaya won a unanimous majority victory. The head of the alliance, Tunku Abdul Rahman, was appointed the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya.

Malaya subsequently became independent from British rule on 31st August 1957. Singapore was formally part of Malaya/Malaysia, until 1965, when it chose to be an independent nation. Malaysia's second Prime Minister was Tunku Abdul Razaq (the father of the current incumbent Prime Minister) who succeeded the first Prime Minister in 1970. Upon the death of the second Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn took over the leadership in 1976, as the third Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad subsequently became the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia in1981. During his long, eventful, dynamic, strong, and successful leadership and administration of about 22 years, Dr. Mahathir initiated and executed many bold and progressive policies of rapid industrialization (including establishment of the National Motor Car Manufacturing Companies, Oil Refineries, and the Steel Industry, among others) as well as very assertive foreign policy initiatives for the World's undeveloped South vis-a-vis the developed North.

Land Area and States
Malaysia has a total land area of about 329,758 Square Kilometers. The country is composed of thirteen States, namely, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu.

Infrastructure
Malaysia has generally good infrastructure , with the whole country being well-linked with comfortable, affordable, efficient, and functional air, road, rail, and sea transportation systems; and public transportation for both intra and inter-city trains, buses, and taxis. There are also many tourist attractions in Malaysia.

Industrialisation
Malaysia has been manufacturing its own brands and models of cars, automobiles, and motor vehicles --- not just mere assembly of their Completely Knocked Down (CKD) components as is the case with countries like Nigeria (which has been doing so for almost forty years now without upgrading into actual manufacture) --- since with effect from July 9th 1985. Malaysia has its own National Petroleum Corporation, known as "Petronas", an acronym derived from "Petroleum Nasional", i.e. National Petroleum. Malaysia also manufactures its own engines for automobiles; as well as motorcycles and trucks which are locally designed and produced based on stringent international standards.

For many years, until recently, the 88 floors, 451.9 Meters high Petronas Twin Towers has been the tallest building in the World. Furthermore, Malaysia's premier International Airport, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, 75 Kilometres South of Kuala Lumpur, has been the World's best Airport for a long time. The Airport has a total land area of 100 square kilometers.

Malaysia's capital city is Kuala Lumpur, which is still the current "Wilayah Persekutuan" which means Federal Capital Territory in the Malay Language of "Bahasa Melayu"/"Bahasa Malaysia". However, a new Federal Capital Territory or "Wilayah Persekutuan" befitting a first class status as in some world modern cities of the developed world, is on stream, and continues to be developed at Putra Jaya for many years now. It may take over from Kuala Lumpur as the Federal Capital City of Malaysia, sooner now than later. In fact some government Ministries, Departments, and Offices, have already moved and others continue to gradually move there.

Climate and Weather
Malaysia is within the equatorial zone. As a tropical country, the average temperatures throughout the year is 26 Degrees Centigrade, with regular constant rains of one or more times per week on the average, throughout the year. Rainfall is mostly moderate --- being neither too light nor too heavy, but usually light, with occasional heavy rains. But the total annual rainfall is heavy, at 2500 mm; with usually high humidity of about 80%. This is due to the general high temperature and high evaporation rate. The Malaysian weather is generally warm and pleasant.

Cuisine
There are a variety of affordable international and local cuisine in all classes and types of restaurants, to suit different tastes and interests everywhere in Malaysia, especially in Kuala Lumpur and other cities and towns all over the Country. There are also seemingly inexhaustible blend of varieties of exotic tropical fruits and vegetables.

Peace, Security, and Polity
Malaysia can be regarded as one of the most peaceful, safe,stable, and secure countries in the world! The country has a relatively low crime rate compared to most counties of the world, thus making it one of the safest.

Malaysia has a stable government and polity, which is comparatively more stable than that of most countries. It also has a generally constantly growing economy (in spite of the world-wide economic recession and financial down turn, especially in the developed world of Europe and America) thus making the country more secure for investment opportunities than most developing countries. The incumbent political party in government is acknowledged as the world's longest-serving, freely-elected government.

Standard of Living
Malaysia is among Asian countries with the highest standards of living in Asia as a whole in general, and the South East Asia Region in particular. The cost of living in Malaysia is also among the lowest in Asia. This is mainly due to the fact that the Malaysian government specifically tries its best to constantly maintain low prices of goods and services, and generally manage the economy efficiently, thereby ensuring that inflation is always kept at a minimum.

Conclusion
Conclusively, I hereby seize this opportunity to welcome you to Malaysia. And in case you are thinking or wondering whether I am a Malaysian, the answer is "no, I am not a Malaysian, I am an African --- a Nigerian resident in Malaysia". But having lived in Malaysia for many years now, I am sure that my Malaysian hosts will not mind me welcoming you to Malaysia on their behalf. You are warmly welcome to Malaysia!