Malaysia-at-a-glance

Geographically, Malaysia can be divided into two distinct areas. West Malaysia, which occupies the Malaysian Peninsular, extends south of Thailand, with the Straits of Malacca to the southwest separating it from Indonesia, the South China Sea to the northeast and the island city state of Singapore bounding its southern limit. It contains 11 of the 13 states of the Malaysian federation.

Around 1,000 km away to the east of the Malaysian Peninsular, East Malaysia is located on the northern side of the island of Borneo, comprising the states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the island of Labuan.

West Malaysia is the country's economic and political heart, containing most of its major cities. These include the buzzing metropolitan area and capital, Kuala Lumpur – also known as KL, the administrative centre of Putrajaya, the historic city of Malacca, and George Town on the island of Penang. Penang combines old colonial charms with a vibrant modern city and wonderful beaches.

However, it is not just about urban sophistication, as exemplified by KL's magnificent 1,486 ft Petronas Towers. Around the coast are beautiful beaches and tropical islands, such as the west coast's Langkawi with its luxury resorts, and the east coast's Tioman Island, described by Time magazine as one of the world's most beautiful. Located in the centre, are the Cameron Highlands, a lush, cool, beautiful and popular destination close to KL.

East Malaysia is home to some of the Earth's most important rain forests, complete with their inhabitants ranging from orangutans to exotic butterflies. It also boasts Gunung Kinabalu, which at 4,100 metres is South-East Asia