Some facts about Malaysia

 

Why did we choose Malaysia in Asia for studying abroad? At first we would say thank you to the SRH – School of Applied Science in Heidelberg for giving us the possibility to study in Malaysia and our cooperation university UiTM in Shah Alam. This is a very good friendship and a valuable international cooperation. It is a win-win situation for the students of UiTM and for the students of SRH. Continuing with such a sustainable exchange program would give all parties enormous advantages in all cases.

Returning to the question – why did we choose Malaysia? An immense growing Asian market with a more and more importance for the world economy makes Asia really interesting for us. Additionally Malaysia itself becomes a leading part in the economic recovery in the ASEAN world. Moreover nowhere you can find more various people, cultures and religions living together in one country in whole Asia.

The picture shows the coat of arms of Malaysia with two lions and a banner with a quotation on it - "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu". That means “Unity Is Strenght” and it is a traditional motto of Malaysia.

Malaysia retains its cross-cultural stamp with the sharp spices of its Indian markets, its red Buddhist temples and the prayer call of the muezzin echoing from mosques. Malaysia is known for the exotic ethnic mix of the people. You find Malays (51 %), Chinese (24 %), Indians (8 %) and indigenous tribes (11 %) and a rest of 6 %. On the whole, Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual society. The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion and makes Islam the official religion at the same time. Approximately 61% of the population practice Islam; 20 % Buddhism; 9 % Christianity; 6 % Hinduism and 4 % practice other traditional Chinese religions.

Malaysia is sandwiched between Singapore to the south, the island of Sumatra to the west and Thailand to the north. Malaysia consists of two Islands the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. Most of the 28 Million people live on the Malay Peninsula in the western regions.

The climate in Kuala Lumpur is reliably consistent with warm days, pleasant evenings, and occasional rain showers in the afternoon. The city, our destination, is located in the western region of the country. The climate is an equatorial climate that is characterized by humidity and plenty of rainfall. Although temperatures can range from 30°C to 34°C in the daytime and they drop after a rain shower.  Monsoon season begins around September and continues through April, with October to January seeing some of the heaviest rain.  By contrast, May, June, and July tend to be the driest months in the year. The weather is definitely different to Europe and you need a plenty of time to adapt the weather.

This picture shows the current “King”, the federal head of state, of Malaysia his name is Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al Wathiqu Billah, Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Al-Haj. Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy and one of the last of the world.

Since its independence 45 years ago Malaysia has been transformed from a poor exploited and undeveloped British colony to a self-confident industrializing nation with a burgeoning middle class, a sophisticated economy an elected leader of state. Malaysia is often called the lucky country of Asia because it is richly endowed with natural resources like tin deposits, oil and gas reserves and rainforest hardwoods. In the 1990s a sudden explosion of industrial growth changed the complexion of Malaysia’s economy beyond recognition. It is now one of the world’s biggest producers of computer disk drives and boasts with their own car, the “Proton”. Malaysia is a founding member of ASEAN and actually and newly industrializing country. The permanently economic growth is a positive development in the last years and the result is a growing industrial power in Asia.