Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It’s known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers.

Interesting Facts:

• The country declared independence from the British Empire in 1957.
• The national currency is the ringgit, which is a dated term for “jagged” in the Malay language and refers to the serrated edges of silver Spanish dollars widely used in the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Ethnic Malays account for roughly half of Malaysia’s estimated 31 million people. Other significant groups include Chinese, Indians and various indigenous peoples.
• Malaysia has a unique rotating monarchy system, in which nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns as king for five-year terms.
• The country is made up of two main landmasses, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. They are separated by the South China Sea.
• The Sarawak Cave Chamber is the largest known cave chamber in the world. It is located in GunungMulu National Park, on the island of Borneo.
• Shoe designer Jimmy Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia. Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Order of the British Empire in 2003.