MALAYSIA

THE COUNTRY 

Malaysia gained independence in 1957 from British colonial rule. Malaysia consists of two distinct territories separated by the South China Sea into West Malaysia and East Malaysia. West Malaysia, also referred to as Peninsula Malaysia, is situated north of the island of Singapore and shares a common mainland boundary with Thailand. East Malaysia, consisting of the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak is situated on the island of Borneo, which they share with the sovereign state of Brunei and Kalimantan, a territory of Indonesia. 

Malaysia is divided into 13 states and 3 Federal Territories.

The three Federal Territories of Wilayah Persekutuan, Putrajaya and Labuan are all governed directly by the Federal government of Malaysia. Wilayah Persekutuan comprises the whole of Kuala Lumpur and is also the capital of the country. Putrajaya is the administrative center of the country. Labuan, a small island off the state of Sabah in East Malaysia, is an offshore financial center.