Peninsular Malaysia (Malay: Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), historically known as Malaya (Malay: Tanah Melayu; Jawi: تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, is the part of Malaysia that occupies the southern half of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia and the nearby islands.[1] Its area totals 132,490 km2 (51,150 sq mi), which is nearly 40% of the total area of the country; the other 60% is in East Malaysia. It shares a land border with Thailand to the north [2] and a maritime border with Singapore to the south.
Landsat false-colour mosaic of Peninsular Malaysia
Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra, and across the South China Sea to the east lie the Natuna Islands of Indonesia. At its southern tip, across the Strait of Johor, lies the island country of Singapore. Peninsular Malaysia accounts for the majority (roughly 81.3%) of Malaysia's population and economy; as of 2017, its population was roughly 26 million (82% of the total population).[citation needed]
Peninsular Malaysia consists of 11 out of the 13 states, and two out of the three federal territories of Malaysia, which includes the national capital of Kuala Lumpur. The states are listed as the following:
Originally comprising the states and territories of the Federation of Malaya, the then Federation merged with the self-governing State of Singapore and the British Colonies of North Borneo (now known as Sabah) and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement as the States of Malaya, the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak, and the State of Singapore of the new Federation called Malaysia. The merger was initially proposed in order to reunify Singapore with its hinterland in the Federation as they were originally associated under British Malaya but later separated with the formation of the Malayan Union. Even when the Malayan Union transformed into the Federation of Malaya, Singapore was still left out. Although politically distinct, Malaya was still seen geographically as comprising the States of the Federation of Malaya in the Peninsula and Singapore. In order to facilitate merger, the Borneo States (which initially included Brunei) were brought in as it was believed that with the inclusion of the various ethnic groups in Borneo, the racial arithmetic would be offset such that the influx of chinese from Singapore would not politically overwhelm Malaya. Ultimately, Singapore opted not to have complete merger with Malaya so as to gain autonomy in labour, education and health unlike the other states in the Federation of Malaya. In exchange, Singapore received underproportioned representation in the House of Representatives of Parliament. Singapore was seen as having a special status (similar to Northern Ireland in the scheme of the United Kingdom) and was thus not grouped with the other states in the Peninsula. Legally, Malaya geographically comprises of the States of Malaya and Singapore. Although Singapore left the Federation 2 years later in 1965, the Interpretation Act 1965 of the Parliament of Singapore still defines Malaya as comprising the States of Malaya and Singapore.[3] Today, the States of Malaya are colloquially referred to as Peninsular Malaysia and West Malaysia.
The majority of people on Peninsular Malaysia are ethnic Malays, predominantly Muslim.[4] Large Chinese and Indian populations exist. The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia; they number around 140,000 and mostly live in inland parts of the region.[citation needed]
The term East Coast (Malay: Pantai Timur; Jawi: ڤنتاي تيمور) is particularly used in Malaysia to describe the following states in Peninsular Malaysia facing the South China Sea, a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean:
The term West Coast (Malay: Pantai Barat; Jawi: ڤنتاي بارت) refers informally to a collection of states in Peninsular Malaysia situated towards the western coast generally facing the Strait of Malacca which is a component of the Indian Ocean, as opposed to the East Coast. Unlike the East Coast, the West Coast is partitioned further into three regions (as seen in #States and territories), including:
Even though Johor has a coastline facing the South China Sea on the Pacific Ocean, it is not generally regarded as an East Coast state, since the main coastline of the state is located on the Straits of Johor of the Indian Ocean.
West and East Malaysia
The distinction between West and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) goes beyond the sphere of geography. Being separate regions administratively before the formation of the Malaysia, there exists more autonomy than the original States of Malaya, e.g. in having a different judicial court structure and separate immigration regulations. These rights were granted as part of Sarawak's 18-point agreement and Sabah's 20-point agreement with the Federation of Malaya during the formation of expanded federation.
^Siddique, Sharon (1981). "Some Aspects of Malay-Muslim Ethnicity in Peninsular Malaysia". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 3 (1): 76–87. doi:10.1355/CS3-1E. JSTOR 25797648.
^. The Star Online. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
External links
Media related to Peninsular Malaysia at Wikimedia Commons
Peninsular Malaysia travel guide from Wikivoyage
March 30, 2023
peninsular, malaysia, confused, with, malay, peninsula, coordinates, malay, semenanjung, malaysia, jawi, سمننجڠ, مليسيا, historically, known, malaya, malay, tanah, melayu, jawi, تانه, ملايو, also, known, west, malaysia, malaysian, peninsula, part, malaysia, th. Not to be confused with Malay Peninsula Coordinates 4 0 N 102 30 E 4 000 N 102 500 E 4 000 102 500 Peninsular Malaysia Malay Semenanjung Malaysia Jawi سمننجڠ مليسيا historically known as Malaya Malay Tanah Melayu Jawi تانه ملايو also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula is the part of Malaysia that occupies the southern half of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia and the nearby islands 1 Its area totals 132 490 km2 51 150 sq mi which is nearly 40 of the total area of the country the other 60 is in East Malaysia It shares a land border with Thailand to the north 2 and a maritime border with Singapore to the south Landsat false colour mosaic of Peninsular Malaysia Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra and across the South China Sea to the east lie the Natuna Islands of Indonesia At its southern tip across the Strait of Johor lies the island country of Singapore Peninsular Malaysia accounts for the majority roughly 81 3 of Malaysia s population and economy as of 2017 its population was roughly 26 million 82 of the total population citation needed Contents 1 States and territories 2 Etymology 3 Terminology 4 Demographics 5 Economy 6 Other features 6 1 East Coast and West Coast 6 2 West and East Malaysia 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksStates and territories Edit A map of Malaya Peninsular Malaysia consists of 11 out of the 13 states and two out of the three federal territories of Malaysia which includes the national capital of Kuala Lumpur The states are listed as the following Perlis Kedah Penang Perak Selangor Negeri Sembilan Malacca Johor Pahang Terengganu KelantanTwo federal territories are embedded within Selangor which are Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur Etymology EditSee also Malaysia EtymologyOriginally comprising the states and territories of the Federation of Malaya the then Federation merged with the self governing State of Singapore and the British Colonies of North Borneo now known as Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement as the States of Malaya the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak and the State of Singapore of the new Federation called Malaysia The merger was initially proposed in order to reunify Singapore with its hinterland in the Federation as they were originally associated under British Malaya but later separated with the formation of the Malayan Union Even when the Malayan Union transformed into the Federation of Malaya Singapore was still left out Although politically distinct Malaya was still seen geographically as comprising the States of the Federation of Malaya in the Peninsula and Singapore In order to facilitate merger the Borneo States which initially included Brunei were brought in as it was believed that with the inclusion of the various ethnic groups in Borneo the racial arithmetic would be offset such that the influx of chinese from Singapore would not politically overwhelm Malaya Ultimately Singapore opted not to have complete merger with Malaya so as to gain autonomy in labour education and health unlike the other states in the Federation of Malaya In exchange Singapore received underproportioned representation in the House of Representatives of Parliament Singapore was seen as having a special status similar to Northern Ireland in the scheme of the United Kingdom and was thus not grouped with the other states in the Peninsula Legally Malaya geographically comprises of the States of Malaya and Singapore Although Singapore left the Federation 2 years later in 1965 the Interpretation Act 1965 of the Parliament of Singapore still defines Malaya as comprising the States of Malaya and Singapore 3 Today the States of Malaya are colloquially referred to as Peninsular Malaysia and West Malaysia Terminology EditStates of Malaya Peninsular Malaysia comprises the States of Johor Kedah Kelantan Malacca Negeri Sembilan Pahang Penang Perak Perlis Selangor and Terengganu as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Malaya comprises the States of Malaya and the Republic of Singapore Malay Peninsula comprises the southern tip of Myanmar southern Thailand the States of Malaya and Singapore Demographics EditFurther information Demographics of Malaysia Ethnicity in Peninsular Malaysia 2020 Bumiputera Malay 66 Chinese 24 Indian 9 Indigenous Aslian Non Malay Bumiputera 0 3 Others 0 7 Religion in Peninsular Malaysia 2020 Islam 67 Buddhism 21 4 Hinduism 7 6 Christianity 3 2 Chinese Folk Religion 0 9 Others 1 7 Religion in Peninsular Malaysia 2020 est Religion PercentIslam 67 Buddhism 21 4 Hinduism 7 6 Christianity 3 2 Chinese folk religion 0 9 Others 1 7 The majority of people on Peninsular Malaysia are ethnic Malays predominantly Muslim 4 Large Chinese and Indian populations exist The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia they number around 140 000 and mostly live in inland parts of the region citation needed Economy EditAs of 2012 Peninsular Malaysia oil production stood at 520 000 barrel of oil equivalent per day 5 Other features EditEast Coast and West Coast Edit The term East Coast Malay Pantai Timur Jawi ڤنتاي تيمور is particularly used in Malaysia to describe the following states in Peninsular Malaysia facing the South China Sea a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean Kelantan Pahang TerengganuThe term West Coast Malay Pantai Barat Jawi ڤنتاي بارت refers informally to a collection of states in Peninsular Malaysia situated towards the western coast generally facing the Strait of Malacca which is a component of the Indian Ocean as opposed to the East Coast Unlike the East Coast the West Coast is partitioned further into three regions as seen in States and territories including The Northern Region Perlis Kedah Penang and Perak The Central Region Selangor and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya The Southern Region Negeri Sembilan Melaka and Johor Even though Johor has a coastline facing the South China Sea on the Pacific Ocean it is not generally regarded as an East Coast state since the main coastline of the state is located on the Straits of Johor of the Indian Ocean West and East Malaysia Edit The distinction between West and East Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak goes beyond the sphere of geography Being separate regions administratively before the formation of the Malaysia there exists more autonomy than the original States of Malaya e g in having a different judicial court structure and separate immigration regulations These rights were granted as part of Sarawak s 18 point agreement and Sabah s 20 point agreement with the Federation of Malaya during the formation of expanded federation See also Edit Malaysia portalMalaya disambiguation Golden Chersonese Malayan dollar Geography of MalaysiaReferences Edit Earth from Space Separation by Sea European Space Agency 5 May 2006 Retrieved 15 July 2022 Peninsular Malaysia Travelfish Retrieved 15 July 2022 Interpretation Act 1965 Singapore Statutes Online sso agc gov sg Retrieved 2022 10 07 Siddique Sharon 1981 Some Aspects of Malay Muslim Ethnicity in Peninsular Malaysia Contemporary Southeast Asia 3 1 76 87 doi 10 1355 CS3 1E JSTOR 25797648 Petronas Sees Growth Slowdown until 2014 The Star Online 6 March 2012 Archived from the original on 1 September 2019 Retrieved 1 September 2019 External links Edit Media related to Peninsular Malaysia at Wikimedia Commons Peninsular Malaysia travel guide from Wikivoyage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peninsular Malaysia amp oldid 1133487637, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
