General Overview
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Demographics
Labuan has a population of approximately 78,000 (according to the 2000 census). The indigenous people that now inhabit Labuan are the Kedayans, Brunei and Kadazan. It is not known when the Kedayans first came to Labuan. The Kedayans are a Muslim people and are probably of Sumatran or Javanese origin.
The official language is Bahasa Malaysia. However, English is widely spoken and many documents and publications are available in English.
• Country name: Malaysia
• Capital Name: Kuala Lumpur
• Population: 25,274,133 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Malaysian(s)
• Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
• Ethnic Groups: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Economy
Recognizing Labuan's strategic location and proximity to major shipping routes and offshore oil and gas fields, the Federal Government launched a long-term development program to jump-start Labuan's stagnating economy and to encourage the influx of both domestic and foreign investments.
As Malaysia's only deepwater anchorage, Labuan is a free port, a Federal Territory, and an International Offshore Financial Centre (IOFC). The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM).
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $357.4 billion (2007 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 6.3% (2007 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $13,300 (2007 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1%
• Exports: $181.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
• Imports: $145.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Government
Labuan was ceded to the state of Sabah in 1963. Subsequently, its administration was handed to the Federal Government of Malaysia in 1984.
Malaysia consists of 13 states and the two federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. Malaysia has a complex federal political system, with extensive local power still in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect the head of state (entitled HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) every five years from among their number.
Legislative power in the hands of the bicameral parliament comprising the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives), with 192 members directly elected for a five year term, and the 70-strong Dewan Negara, or Senate, of whom 40 members are appointed by the Head of State and 30 members elected by the country's 13 regional assemblies.
• Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
• Legal system: Based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
• Constitution: 31 August 1957 (amended many times, latest in 2007)
• Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)
References
Government of Malaysia - Official Website
Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guide
