--- title: Malaysia — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 4 description: Wikipedia's «Malaysia», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/4/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Malaysia # Malaysia · page 4 From Wikipedia, [«Malaysia»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/5/) The [Malaysian government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_government) aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection, but has been accused of favouring big business over the environment.[\[211\]](../../page/5/#ref-211 "note 211")[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") Some state governments are now trying to counter the environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;[\[209\]](../../page/5/#ref-209 "note 209") and the federal government is trying to cut logging by 10% each year.[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") A total of [28 national parks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_Malaysia) have been established, 23 in East Malaysia and five in the peninsula.[\[211\]](../../page/5/#ref-211 "note 211")[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as the island of Sipadan.[\[215\]](../../page/5/#ref-215 "note 215")[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") [Wildlife trafficking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_trafficking) is a large issue, and the Malaysian government has held talks with the governments of [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Brunei) and [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indonesia) to standardise anti-trafficking laws.[\[216\]](../../page/5/#ref-216 "note 216")[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Economy Main article: [Economy of Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Malaysia) Malaysia is a relatively [open](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_economy) state-oriented and [newly industrialised](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newly_industrialised_country) [market economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_economy).[\[217\]](../../page/5/#ref-217 "note 217")[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") It has the world's [34th-largest economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29) by nominal GDP and the [28th-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29) by [PPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity).[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2017, the large [service sector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_sector) contributed to 53.6% of total [GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP), the industrial sector 37.6%, and the small agricultural sector roughly 8.8%.[\[218\]](../../page/5/#ref-218 "note 218")[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia has a low official [unemployment rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_unemployment_rate) of 3.4% as of 2024.[\[219\]](../../page/5/#ref-219 "note 219")[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") Its foreign exchange reserves are the world's [24th-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_foreign-exchange_reserves).[\[220\]](../../page/5/#ref-220 "note 220")[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") It has a labour force of about 15 million, which is the world's [34th-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_labour_force).[\[221\]](../../page/5/#ref-221 "note 221")[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia's large [automotive industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Malaysia) ranks as the world's [22nd-largest by production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_motor_vehicle_production).[\[222\]](../../page/5/#ref-222 "note 222")[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia is the world's 23rd-largest [exporter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports) and 25th-largest [importer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_imports).[\[223\]](../../page/5/#ref-223 "note 223")[\[224\]](../../page/5/#ref-224 "note 224")[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") However, economic inequalities exist between different ethnic groups.[\[225\]](../../page/5/#ref-225 "note 225")[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") The Chinese make up about one-quarter of the population, but account for 70% of the country's market capitalisation.[\[226\]](../../page/5/#ref-226 "note 226")[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") Chinese businesses in Malaysia are part of the larger [bamboo network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_network), a network of [overseas Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinese) businesses in the Southeast Asian market sharing common family and cultural ties.[\[227\]](../../page/5/#ref-227 "note 227")[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") International trade, facilitated by the shipping route in adjacent [Strait of Malacca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca), and manufacturing are the key sectors.[\[228\]](../../page/5/#ref-228 "note 228")[\[229\]](../../page/5/#ref-229 "note 229")[\[186\]](../../page/5/#ref-186 "note 186")[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, and petroleum is a major export.[\[55\]](../../page/5/#ref-55 "note 55")[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia is member of the [OPEC+](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC) [cartel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartel).[\[230\]](../../page/5/#ref-230 "note 230")[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia has once been the largest producer of [tin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin),[\[231\]](../../page/5/#ref-231 "note 231") [rubber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber) and [palm oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_oil) in the world.[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy,[\[229\]](../../page/5/#ref-229 "note 229") although Malaysia's economic structure has been moving away from it.[\[232\]](../../page/5/#ref-232 "note 232")[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.[\[233\]](../../page/5/#ref-233 "note 233")[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") [Tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Malaysia) is the third-largest contributor to Malaysia's GDP, after the manufacturing and commodities sectors.[\[234\]](../../page/5/#ref-234 "note 234")[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2019, the sector contributed about 15.9% to the total GDP.[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") According to the [World Tourism Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_Organization), Malaysia was the fourteenth-most visited country in the world, and the fourth-most visited country in Asia in 2019, with over 26.1 million visits.[\[235\]](../../page/5/#ref-235 "note 235")[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia was ranked 38th in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019.[\[236\]](../../page/5/#ref-236 "note 236")[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") Its international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $19.8 billion.[\[235\]](../../page/5/#ref-235 "note 235")[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") The country has developed into a centre of [Islamic banking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking) and has the highest number of female workers in that industry.[\[237\]](../../page/5/#ref-237 "note 237")[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") Knowledge-based services are also expanding.[\[232\]](../../page/5/#ref-232 "note 232")[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2020, Malaysia exported high-tech products worth $92.1 billion, the second-highest in ASEAN, after Singapore.[\[238\]](../../page/5/#ref-238 "note 238")[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia was ranked 34th in the [Global Innovation Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index) in 2025,[\[239\]](../../page/5/#ref-239 "note 239")[\[240\]](../../page/5/#ref-240 "note 240") and 32nd in the [Global Competitiveness Report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Competitiveness_Report) in 2022.[\[241\]](../../page/5/#ref-241 "note 241")[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Infrastructure See also: [Transport in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Malaysia) [Railway transport in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Malaysia) is state-run, and spans some 2783 km.[\[242\]](../../page/5/#ref-242 "note 242") as of 2016, Malaysia has the world's [26th-largest road network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_road_network_size), with some 238823 km of [roads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road).[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia's inland [waterways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterway) are the world's [22nd-longest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_waterways_length), and total 7200 km.[\[243\]](../../page/5/#ref-243 "note 243")[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") Among [Malaysia's 114 airports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Malaysia),[\[244\]](../../page/5/#ref-244 "note 244") the [busiest one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Malaysia) is [Kuala Lumpur International Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur_International_Airport) (KLIA), located in the [Sepang District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepang_District); it is also the [12th-busiest airport in Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Asia).[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the seven federal [ports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port), the major one is [Port Klang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Klang),[\[245\]](../../page/5/#ref-245 "note 245") which is the [13th-busiest container port](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_container_ports).[\[246\]](../../page/5/#ref-246 "note 246")[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia's [flag carrier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_carrier) is [Malaysia Airlines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines), providing international and domestic air services.[\[247\]](../../page/5/#ref-247 "note 247")[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") [Malaysia's telecommunications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Malaysia) network is second only to [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Singapore)'s in [Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia), with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers.[\[248\]](../../page/5/#ref-248 "note 248")[\[249\]](../../page/5/#ref-249 "note 249")[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") There are 200 [industrial parks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_park) along with specialised parks such as [Technology Park Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_Park_Malaysia) and [Kulim Hi-Tech Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulim_Hi-Tech_Park).[\[250\]](../../page/5/#ref-250 "note 250")[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") [Fresh water](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_water) is available to over 95% of the population, with [groundwater](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater) accounting for 90% of the freshwater resources.[\[251\]](../../page/5/#ref-251 "note 251")[\[252\]](../../page/5/#ref-252 "note 252")[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag behind areas such as the West Coast of [Peninsular Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_Malaysia).[\[253\]](../../page/5/#ref-253 "note 253")[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") The [telecommunication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunication) network, although strong in [urban areas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_area), is less available to the [rural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural) population.[\[248\]](../../page/5/#ref-248 "note 248")[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") [Malaysia's energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_Malaysia) infrastructure sector is largely dominated by [Tenaga Nasional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenaga_Nasional), the largest [electric utility](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_utility) company in Southeast Asia.[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") Customers in Peninsular Malaysia are connected to electricity through the [National Grid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grid_%28Malaysia%29).[\[254\]](../../page/5/#ref-254 "note 254")[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") The other two electric utility companies in the country are [Sarawak Energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak_Energy) and [Sabah Electricity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabah_Electricity).[\[255\]](../../page/5/#ref-255 "note 255")[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2013, Malaysia's total power generation capacity was over 29,728 [megawatts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megawatts).[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") Total electricity generation was 140,985.01 [GWh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWh) and total electricity consumption was 116,087.51 GWh.[\[256\]](../../page/5/#ref-256 "note 256")[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") [Energy production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Malaysia) in Malaysia is largely based on oil and natural gas, owing to Malaysia's oil and natural gas reserves, which are the fourth largest in the [Asia-Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific) region.[\[257\]](../../page/5/#ref-257 "note 257")[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Demographics Main article: [Demographics of Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Malaysia) According to the [Malaysian Department of Statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Statistics_Malaysia), the country's population was 32,447,385 in 2020,[\[15\]](../../page/5/#ref-15 "note 15") making it the [42nd-most populated country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_in_2010).[331](../../331/ "tree and pragmatics") According to a 2012 estimate, the population is increasing by 1.54% per year.[332](../../332/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia has an average [population density](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density) of 96 people per km2, ranking it [116th in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_population_density) for population density.[333](../../333/ "tree and pragmatics") People within the 15–64 [age group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_group) constitute 70.3% of the total population; the 0–14 age group corresponds to 21.5%; while senior citizens aged 65 years or older make up 8.1%.[\[7\]](../../page/5/#ref-7 "note 7")[334](../../334/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1960, when the first official census was recorded in Malaysia, the population was 8.11 million.[335](../../335/ "tree and pragmatics") 90.1% of the population are [Malaysian citizens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysians).[\[7\]](../../page/5/#ref-7 "note 7")[336](../../336/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysian citizens are divided along local ethnic lines, with 70.6% considered [bumiputera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumiputera_%28Malaysia%29).[\[7\]](../../page/5/#ref-7 "note 7")[337](../../337/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest group of bumiputera are [Malays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malays_%28ethnic_group%29), who are defined in the constitution as [Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims) who practise Malay customs and culture.[338](../../338/ "tree and pragmatics") They play a dominant role politically.[\[258\]](../../page/5/#ref-258 "note 258")[339](../../339/ "tree and pragmatics") Bumiputera status is also accorded to the non-Malay indigenous groups of Sabah and Sarawak: which includes [Dayaks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayaks) ([Iban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iban_people), [Bidayuh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidayuh), [Orang Ulu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Ulu)), [Kadazan-Dusun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadazan-Dusun), [Melanau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanau), [Bajau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajau) and others.[340](../../340/ "tree and pragmatics") Non-Malay bumiputeras make up more than half of [Sarawak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak)'s population and over two-thirds of [Sabah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabah)'s population.[\[259\]](../../page/5/#ref-259 "note 259")[\[260\]](../../page/5/#ref-260 "note 260")[341](../../341/ "tree and pragmatics") There are also indigenous or aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsula, where they are collectively known as the [Orang Asli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Asli).[\[261\]](../../page/5/#ref-261 "note 261")[342](../../342/ "tree and pragmatics") Laws over who receives bumiputera status vary between states.[\[262\]](../../page/5/#ref-262 "note 262")[343](../../343/ "tree and pragmatics") There are also two other non-Bumiputera local ethnic groups.[344](../../344/ "tree and pragmatics") 22.1% of the population are [Malaysian Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Chinese), while 6.5% are [Malaysian Indian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Indian).[\[7\]](../../page/5/#ref-7 "note 7")[345](../../345/ "tree and pragmatics") The local Chinese have historically been more dominant in the business community.[346](../../346/ "tree and pragmatics") Local Indians are mostly of [Tamil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_people) descent.[\[263\]](../../page/5/#ref-263 "note 263")[\[264\]](../../page/5/#ref-264 "note 264")[347](../../347/ "tree and pragmatics") [Malaysian citizenship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_citizenship) is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia.[348](../../348/ "tree and pragmatics") [Dual citizenship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_citizenship) is not permitted.[\[265\]](../../page/5/#ref-265 "note 265")[349](../../349/ "tree and pragmatics") Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in [Malaysian Borneo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Borneo) are distinct from citizenship in [Peninsular Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_Malaysia) for immigration purposes.[350](../../350/ "tree and pragmatics") Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip [identity card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_card) known as [MyKad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyKad) at the age of 12 and must carry the card at all times.[\[266\]](../../page/5/#ref-266 "note 266")[351](../../351/ "tree and pragmatics") The population is concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia,[\[267\]](../../page/5/#ref-267 "note 267") where about 80 percent of Malaysia's population live.[\[21\]](../../page/5/#ref-21 "note 21")[352](../../352/ "tree and pragmatics") 75.1% of the population is urban.[\[15\]](../../page/5/#ref-15 "note 15")[353](../../353/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to the rise in labour-intensive industries,[\[268\]](../../page/5/#ref-268 "note 268") the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10% of the population.[\[269\]](../../page/5/#ref-269 "note 269")[354](../../354/ "tree and pragmatics") Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.[\[270\]](../../page/5/#ref-270 "note 270")[355](../../355/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 171,500.[356](../../356/ "tree and pragmatics") Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from [Myanmar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar) [corpus](../../../Myanmar/ "in our corpus"), 72,400 from the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines) [corpus](../../../Philippines/ "in our corpus"), and 17,700 from [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia) [corpus](../../../Indonesia/ "in our corpus").[357](../../357/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and Malaysia employs [RELA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RELA_Corps), a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law.[\[271\]](../../page/5/#ref-271 "note 271")[358](../../358/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Religion Main article: [Religion in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Malaysia) The constitution grants freedom of religion, while establishing [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Malaysia) as the "religion of the Federation".[\[272\]](../../page/5/#ref-272 "note 272")[\[273\]](../../page/5/#ref-273 "note 273")[359](../../359/ "tree and pragmatics") The freedom to change or leave a religion is limited for Muslims.[\[274\]](../../page/5/#ref-274 "note 274")[360](../../360/ "tree and pragmatics") According to the Population and Housing Census 2020 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly.[361](../../361/ "tree and pragmatics") Approximately 63.5% of the population practise Islam, 18.7% practise [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Malaysia), 9.1% [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Malaysia), 6.1% [Hinduism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Malaysia) and 1.3% practise [Confucianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism), [Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism) and other traditional [Chinese religions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_folk_religion).[362](../../362/ "tree and pragmatics") 2.7% declared no religion or practised other religions or did not provide any information.[\[15\]](../../page/5/#ref-15 "note 15")[363](../../363/ "tree and pragmatics") The states of [Sarawak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak) and [Penang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penang), as well as the federal territory of [Kuala Lumpur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur) [corpus](../../../Kuala_Lumpur/ "in our corpus") have non-Muslim majorities.[\[275\]](../../page/5/#ref-275 "note 275")[\[276\]](../../page/5/#ref-276 "note 276")[364](../../364/ "tree and pragmatics") [Sunni Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islam) of the [Shafi'i](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shafi%27i) school of [jurisprudence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurisprudence) is the dominant branch of [Islam in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Malaysia),[\[277\]](../../page/5/#ref-277 "note 277")[\[278\]](../../page/5/#ref-278 "note 278") while 18% are [nondenominational Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondenominational_Muslims).[\[279\]](../../page/5/#ref-279 "note 279")[365](../../365/ "tree and pragmatics") The Malaysian constitution strictly defines what makes a "Malay", defining Malays as those who are Muslim, speak Malay regularly, practise Malay customs, and lived in or have ancestors from [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Brunei), Malaysia and [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Singapore).[\[185\]](../../page/5/#ref-185 "note 185")[366](../../366/ "tree and pragmatics") Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and Christianity (11.1%), along with small Muslim populations in areas like Penang.[367](../../367/ "tree and pragmatics") The majority of the Indian population follows Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%).[368](../../368/ "tree and pragmatics") Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputera community (46.5%), while 40.4% identify as Muslims.[\[15\]](../../page/5/#ref-15 "note 15")[369](../../369/ "tree and pragmatics") [Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims) are obliged to follow the decisions of [Syariah Courts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syariah_Court) (i.e. Shariah courts) in matters concerning their religion.[370](../../370/ "tree and pragmatics") The Islamic judges are expected to follow the Shafi'i legal school of Islam, which is the main [madhhab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhhab) ('school of thought') of Malaysia.[\[277\]](../../page/5/#ref-277 "note 277")[371](../../371/ "tree and pragmatics") The jurisdiction of Syariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as [marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage), [inheritance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance), [divorce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce), [apostasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy), [religious conversion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_conversion), custody, and limited Islamic criminal law.[372](../../372/ "tree and pragmatics") No other criminal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the [civil courts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courts_of_Malaysia).[373](../../373/ "tree and pragmatics") The civil courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.[\[280\]](../../page/5/#ref-280 "note 280")[374](../../374/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Languages Main article: [Languages of Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Malaysia) The official and national language of Malaysia is [Malaysian Malay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Malay),[\[21\]](../../page/5/#ref-21 "note 21") a standardised form of the [Malay language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_language).[\[281\]](../../page/5/#ref-281 "note 281")[375](../../375/ "tree and pragmatics") The previous official terminology was Bahasa Malaysia (lit.[376](../../376/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Malaysian language’)[\[282\]](../../page/5/#ref-282 "note 282")[\[283\]](../../page/5/#ref-283 "note 283")[\[284\]](../../page/5/#ref-284 "note 284") but now government policy uses Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) to refer to the official language[\[285\]](../../page/5/#ref-285 "note 285") and both terms remain in use.[\[286\]](../../page/5/#ref-286 "note 286")[\[287\]](../../page/5/#ref-287 "note 287")[377](../../377/ "tree and pragmatics") The National Language Act 1967 specifies the [Latin (Rumi) script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_alphabet) as the official [script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_system) of the national language, but does not prohibit the use of the traditional [Jawi script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawi_script).[\[288\]](../../page/5/#ref-288 "note 288")[378](../../378/ "tree and pragmatics") [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language) remains an active [second language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_language), with its use allowed for some official purposes under the National Language Act of 1967.[\[288\]](../../page/5/#ref-288 "note 288")[379](../../379/ "tree and pragmatics") In [Sarawak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak), English is an official state language alongside Malay.[\[289\]](../../page/5/#ref-289 "note 289")[\[290\]](../../page/5/#ref-290 "note 290")[\[291\]](../../page/5/#ref-291 "note 291")[380](../../380/ "tree and pragmatics") Historically, English was the de facto administrative language; Malay became predominant after the 1969 race riots ([13 May incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_May_incident)).[\[292\]](../../page/5/#ref-292 "note 292")[381](../../381/ "tree and pragmatics") [Malaysian English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_English), also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from [British English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English).[382](../../382/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with [Manglish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manglish), which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language), and [Tamil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) influences.[383](../../383/ "tree and pragmatics") The government discourages the use of non-standard Malay but has no power to issue compounds or fines to those who use what is perceived as improper Malay on their advertisements.[\[293\]](../../page/5/#ref-293 "note 293")[\[294\]](../../page/5/#ref-294 "note 294")[384](../../384/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia is also home to [111 living indigenous languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Malaysia).[\[295\]](../../page/5/#ref-295 "note 295")[385](../../385/ "tree and pragmatics") Some Orang Asli languages are now extinct, such the Low Country [Semang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semang) dialects once spoken in Penang.[\[296\]](../../page/5/#ref-296 "note 296")[386](../../386/ "tree and pragmatics") Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages.[\[297\]](../../page/5/#ref-297 "note 297")[387](../../387/ "tree and pragmatics") [Peninsular Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_Malaysia) contains speakers of 41 of these languages.[\[298\]](../../page/5/#ref-298 "note 298")[388](../../388/ "tree and pragmatics") The native tribes of [East Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Malaysia) have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay.[389](../../389/ "tree and pragmatics") [Iban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iban_language) is the main tribal language in Sarawak while [Dusunic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusunic_languages) and [Kadazan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_Kadazan_language) languages are spoken by the natives in [Sabah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabah).[\[299\]](../../page/5/#ref-299 "note 299")[390](../../390/ "tree and pragmatics") [Chinese Malaysians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Malaysians) predominantly speak Chinese dialects from the [southern part](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China) of [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China) [corpus](../../../China/ "in our corpus").[391](../../391/ "tree and pragmatics") The more common [Chinese varieties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_varieties) in the country are [Mandarin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_Chinese), [Cantonese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese), [Hokkien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkien), and so on.[\[300\]](../../page/5/#ref-300 "note 300")[392](../../392/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Tamil language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) is used predominantly by the majority of [Malaysian Indians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Indians).[\[301\]](../../page/5/#ref-301 "note 301")[393](../../393/ "tree and pragmatics") A small number of Malaysians have [European ancestry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_Europe) and speak [creole languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creole_language), such as the Portuguese-based [Malaccan Creoles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese-based_creole_languages#Southeast_Asia),[\[302\]](../../page/5/#ref-302 "note 302") and the Spanish-based [Chavacano language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavacano_language).[\[303\]](../../page/5/#ref-303 "note 303")[394](../../394/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Health Main article: [Health in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Malaysia), [Healthcare in Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Malaysia) Malaysia operates an efficient and widespread [two-tier healthcare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-tier_healthcare) system, consisting of a [universal healthcare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcare) system and a co-existing private healthcare system; provided by highly subsidised healthcare through its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.[\[304\]](../../page/5/#ref-304 "note 304")[395](../../395/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Ministry of Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Health_%28Malaysia%29) is the main provider of healthcare services to the country's population.[\[305\]](../../page/5/#ref-305 "note 305")[396](../../396/ "tree and pragmatics") Malaysia's healthcare system is considered to be among the most developed in [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_systems_by_country#Asia), which contributes to its thriving [medical tourism industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_tourism_in_Malaysia).[\[306\]](../../page/5/#ref-306 "note 306")[397](../../397/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/5/) - ← previous: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/3/) - next →: [page 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Malaysia/page/5/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)