MALAYSIA FACTS AND FIGURES

Area: 329,758 km2

Population: 20.1 million (1995 estimate)

Population Growth: 2.0% (1995 estimate)

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Official Name: Federation of Malaysia

System of Government: Federated Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State: HM Sultan Shah, King

Prime Minister: Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Key Government Ministers: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry; Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Finance.

Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national language although English is widely spoken.

Literacy Rate: 78%

Ethnic Background: The Malaysian population includes "Bumiputera" (Malay) which comprises 58.4% of the population, Chinese: 26.5% of the population, Indian: 7.4% and other Malaysian ethnic groups which combine to account for 3.3% of the population. The remaining 4.4% of the population of Malaysia includes strictly non-Malaysian minority groups. (1994 figures)

Religion: While Islam is the established religion of Malaysia, freedom of religious practice is guaranteed. According to the 1985 Census, 53% of the population is Muslim, 19% Buddhist, and 7% Christian. Other practised religions include Confucianism, Daoism and Sikhism.

Currency: Malaysian Dollar or Ringgit=100 Sen
C$ 1.00=M$ 1.83 (average, week ending June 7, 1996)

For more information on Malaysia, visit these websites:

Prime Minister's Office Website

All Malaysian Websphere

If you ever get the chance to do business in Malaysia, here are a few helpful hints...

• Shaking hands is cool, although it is not as common for women to shake hands as it is for men. Wait until the man offers to shake your hand. If he doesn't, just flash him a big smile. This is just as good as a handshake!
  
  
• If you want to avoid being rude, do not point the soles of your shoes at anyone. The head is considered the most important part of the body, so please, do not touch anyone's head or hair...even if they do have really nice hair!
  
  
• Before your meeting begins, try to find out the names of all the people you'll be meeting, it is polite and it will make you look smart!
  
  
• Don't point fingers! Come on now, we all know that this is rude! Also, do not use your left hand to eat or to touch someone!
  
  
• Don't disagree or be critical of another person. Loudness and "P.D.of A" is not recommended.
  
  
• Elderly people are treated with a lot of respect. Smoking should not be done in front of older people unless they say it is okay. Also, do not cross your legs when sitting...it is thought to be rude.
  
  
• Always make an appointment and, of course, BE ON TIME!
  
  
• If is cool to talk about your personal life before "getting down to business." Feel free to talk about your family and friends. People actually do want to hear about it!
  
  
• If someone takes you out to dinner, don't offer to pay the bill..(you got it, a free meal!) But, if you take someone out to dinner, be prepared to hand over the credit card.
  
  
• When going to someone's house, take off your shoes (would you want mud on your carpets?) Small presents can be brought as long as they are not wrapped in blue, white or black because these are the colours associated with funerals.

Some of this information was taken from the Information Series published by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. It is available in print format.