Malaysia

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia comprising 13 states and three federal territories, divided by the South China Sea into Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia on Borneo, with Kuala Lumpur as its national capital and largest city and Putrajaya as its federal administrative capital. The Federation of Malaya gained independence on 31 August 1957, and the modern state formed on 16 September 1963 when Malaya united with the British crown colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore, though Singapore separated in August 1965. Malaysia is governed under an elective monarchy: its king, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is elected to a five year term by and from the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states, a position that rotates informally among them, currently held by Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor since January 2024. With more than 34 million people, Malaysia follows the Westminster parliamentary model under a prime minister, and its economy has shifted from agriculture toward services and manufacturing as a newly industrialized nation.