Part 456

Religions: Peninsular Malaysia: Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians) Sabah: Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45% Sarawak: tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

Languages: Peninsular Malaysia: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil Sabah: English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and Hakka dialects predominate) Sarawak: English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 83.5% male: 89.1% female: 78.1%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union

Data code: MY

Type of government: constitutional monarchy note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994) were elected for five-year terms by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981) was appointed by the paramount ruler; Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993) cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the paramount ruler from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) Senate (Dewan Negara): elected members serve six-year terms; elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (58 total, 32 appointed by the paramount ruler and 26 elected by the state legislatures) seats by party NA House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat): members elected for five-year terms; elections last held NA April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - National Front 63%, other 37%; seats - (192 total) National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Semangat'46 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler

Political parties and leaders: Peninsular Malaysia: National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU; Spirit of '46 (Semangat '46), Tengku Tan Sri RAZALEIGH, president Sabah: National Front, SALLEH Said Keruak, Sabah Chief Minister, Sakaran DANDAI, head of Sabah State; United Sabah National Organizaton (USNO), leader NA; Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah, PBS), Datuk Seri Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan Sarawak: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud; Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai; Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties are Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador DALI Mahmud Hashim chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-2700 FAX: (202) 483-7661 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John R. MALOTT embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152 telephone: (3) 2489011 FAX: (3) 2422207

Flag: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and public management, has posted a remarkable record of 9% average annual growth in 1988-95. The official growth target for 1996 is 8.3%. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Manufactured goods exports expanded rapidly, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $193.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 9.5% (1995)

GDP per capita: $9,800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 25% services: 67%