Economics

Did you know- From an economical perspective, Malaysia is one of the most industrialized countries on the continent of Asia. By the 1970s and 1980s, the economy was highly developed and Malaysia boasted one of the highest economic growth rates on the planet. By that time, it expanded its educational system very fast. Unlike Latin America, from Cuba, Peru and Venezuela to Bolivia and Argentina, the education, industry and minerals have transformed Malaysia into a middle-income country. Malaysia is one of Asia's richest places in minerals: tin, oil, gas, and iron, as well as copper, and bauxite. Tourism is growing rapidly since the mid-1990s. In fact, Malaysia is a perfect place for different types of tourism in Asia:ideal climate, isolated beaches, amazing islands,marine biodiversity, rich history, scenic landscapes, beautiful architecture, tropical biodiversity, and a modern capital city with luxury accommodations. Finally, Malaysia has three World Heritage Sites:

-Gunung Mulu National Park

-Kinabalu Park

-Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Independence

Did you know- Malaysia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1957. At the same time, it became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Geography

Did you know-Malaysia is located in southeast Asia, between the Kingdom of Thailand and Indonesia. It has an area of 127300 square miles ( 330442 square kilometers). The nation is about the size of Austria (32,378 sq. mi.), Bulgaria (42,800 sq. mi.), Lithuania (25,200 sq. mi.), Slovakia (18,859 sq. mi.), and the Netherlands (16,033 sq. mi.) combined. There are mountains - covers about half of the country's entire territory-valleys, islands, and tropical rainforests. These jungles are filled with wild animals such as tigers, primates, orangutans and exotic birds. The major rivers include: the Sungai Pahang, the Rajang and the Kinabatangan. This land has about 23 million people. Kuala Lumpur is home to the country's capital. The English is the official language, but it has a large non-English speaking population.

Sports

Did you know- The most popular sports are: soccer, badminton, basketball, golf, field hockey, and swimming. On the other hand, the 1998 Commonwealth Games were held in Malaysia, an Asian country renowned for its sports facilities. Over 3,600 athletes from 70 countries and dependencies participated in the Commonwealth Games, including Wales, Isle of Man, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The national team won 63 medals ( 10 gold, 14 silver, and 12 bronze) and finished fourth in the medal count. The best athletes were: Wong Choong Hann (badminton), Sapok Biki (boxing), Thye Chee Kiot (gymnastics), Bibiana Ng Pei Chin (shooting), Lee Wan (badminton), Rosli Effandy (road bicycle racing), Matin Guntali (weightlifting) and Zainal Abidin Md Zain (shooting).

Human Development

Did you know- Malaysia has a good quality of life. In the mid-1990s, the Asian country was ranked 57th out of 174 nations and territories in the UN' s Human Development Index. Two years on, Malaysia had finished 60. Once upon a time, it was one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia & Miss Universe

Did you know- On July 14, 1962 Malaysia made its Miss Universe debut when Sarah Alhabshee Abdullah participated in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. From 1962 to 2009, the Asian nation has sent up to 44 delegates to Miss Universe. By 1970, the nation's contestant Josephine Lena Wang Jaw Leng was one of the 15 semi-finalists. In addition, Josephine was named among the 10 best in swimsuit, along with Kristina Hanazalova (Czechoslovakia), Debbie Shelton (USA), Jun Shimada (Japan) and other delegates. In the next decades, Michelle McLean, MU 1992, and Chelsy Smith, Miss USA and MU 1995, visited Kuala Lumpur, one of the most exciting metropolises in Asia.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans".