World Factbook

Malaysia

Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)

Flag

description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has a yellow crescent and a 14-pointed yellow star meaning: the flag is often called Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status of the 13 member states and the federal government; the points on the star represent the unity among these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people, and yellow is the royal color

note: the design is based on the US flag

Capital

name

Kuala Lumpur

note

note: nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not as the capital; the legislature meets in Kuala Lumpur

etymology

the name means "muddy river junction," referring to the city's location on the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers; it comes from the Malay words kuala (river junction or estuary) and lumpur (mud)

time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

3 10 N, 101 42 E

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia

dual citizenship recognized

residency requirement for naturalization

10 out 12 years preceding application

Constitution

history

previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957

amendment process

proposed as a bill by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in the bill’s second and third readings; a number of constitutional sections are excluded from amendment or repeal

Country name

former

British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya

etymology

devised in the early 19th century by British geographers; the suffix - sia was added to the name of the Malay people to form a classical-style name; the name Malay may come from the Tamil word malai , meaning "mountain"

local long form

none

local short form

Malaysia

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Malaysia

Independence

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (sharia), and customary law; the Federal Court can review legislative acts at the request of the supreme head of the federation

Government type

federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

note: all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka (Malacca) and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

Judicial branch

note

note: Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts

highest court(s)

Federal Court (consists of the chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, chief justice of the High Court of Malaya, chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, 8 judges, and 1 "additional" judge)

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court

judge selection and term of office

Federal Court justices appointed by the monarch on advice of the prime minister; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 66 with the possibility of a single 6-month extension

Executive branch

note

note: the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king

chief of state

King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024)

head of government

Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)

most recent election date

24 October 2023

election/appointment process

king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term; election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states; prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who has support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister

expected date of next election

October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029

National holiday

Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

National color(s)

gold, black

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Melaka (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c); The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex (c); Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (c)

Political parties

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan Cina Malaysia) or MCA Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC United Malays National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebansaan Melayu Bersatu) or UMNO United Sabah People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu) or UPKO National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional) or PN: Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia) or GERAKAN or PGRM Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM or BERSATU Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) or PAS Sabah People's Alliance (Gabungan Rakya Sabah) or GRS: Homeland Solidarity Party (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) or STAR Love Sabah Party (Parti Cinta Sabah) or PCS Sabah People's Ideas Party (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah) or GAGASAN or PGRS Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS: Progressive Democratic Party (Parti Demokratik Progresif) or PDP Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak) or SUPP United Bumiputera Heritage Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB Homeland Movement/Party (Gerakan Tanah Air) or GTA Homeland Fighter's Party (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air) or PEJUANG Perkasa Bumiputera Party of Malaysia (Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia) All-Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah Front (Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia) National All India Muslim Alliance Party (Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional) others: Malaysian Nation Party (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) or PBM Heritage Party (Parti Warisan) or WARISAN Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia) or MUDA United Sarawak Party (PSB)

Legislative branch

legislature name

Parliament (Parlimen)

legislative structure

bicameral

National anthem(s)

title

"Negaraku" (My Country)

history

adopted 1957; full version only performed in the king's presence,  the shorter version performed for the queen and lesser officials

lyrics/music

collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER

National symbol(s)

tiger, hibiscus

Administrative divisions

13 states ( negeri-negeri , singular - negeri ); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with 3 components, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

term in office

5 years

number of seats

223 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

most recent election date

11/19/2022

expected date of next election

November 2027

percentage of women in chamber

13.5%

parties elected and seats per party

Pakatan Harapan (PH) (76); National Alliance (PN) (52); National Front (BN) (30); Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) (23); Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (22); Other (19)

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Dewan Negara)

number of seats

70 (26 indirectly elected; 44 appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

16.1%

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX

[1] (202) 572-9882

chancery

3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 572-9700

chief of mission

Ambassador Tan Sri Muhammad SHAHRUL Ikram bin Yaakob (since 24 July 2025)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX

[60] (3) 2142-2207

embassy

376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

telephone

[60] (3) 2168-5000

mailing address

4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC  20521-4210

chief of mission

Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024)

email address and website

KLACS@state.gov https://my.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt