Malaysia is composed of the Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The total land area is 330 252 square kilometres. Peninsular Malaysia shares borders with Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south. Controlled land border crossing via road and rail are available at both these north and south borders.
Malaysia has a warm and humid climate. The level of humidity is about 80% all year round and temperatures range from 21°C to 32°C. The climate is affected by the north-east and south-west monsoons, tropical wind that alternate during the course of the year. The north-east monsoon blows from November to March, and the south-west monsoon from May to September. The periods between the monsoons are marked by heavy rainfall.
Much of Malaysia is mountainous. Its mountains include two of the highest in South-East Asia: Gunung Tahan, which rises 2190 metres above the central spine of the Titiwangsa mountain range in Peninsular Malaysia, and Gunung Kinabalu, 4100 metres high, in Sabah. There are dramatic limestone outcrops, fascinating caves and spectacular waterfalls in mountains of Malaysia.
About four-fifths of Malaysia is covered by tropical rainforest, one of the most complex and rich ecosystems in the world. It is home to about 15 000 species of flowering plants and tress, 600 species of birds and 210 species of mammals. The Malaysian Government has set aside more than 1.49 million hectares to protect them from development and has enacted legislation to save Malaysia’s precious rainforest and its rare wildlife. Malaysia is richly endowed with natural resources. It has the world’s largest tin deposits and extensive reserves of oil and gas. Its forests contain valuable tropical hardwood tress.
