Malaysia country guide

Malaysia is in fact truly Asia. A country of contrasts, Malaysia is the worlds leading example of genuine multiculturalism. Here, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Muslims live side by side in the towns, villages and islands of this rich country. Malaysia covers 2 land masses - there is what’s known as West Malaysia, which borders Thailand to the North and Singapore to the South, and then there is Malaysian Borneo which is the huge land mass to the east, which is broken down into two main provinces, Sabah and Sarawak.

The vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur can easily compete on the world stage with its high tech infrastructure and designer shopping malls, and yet Malaysia’s beaches and islands are some of the regions most unspoilt and naturally beautiful.

Malaysia was colonized by the British until 1947, and so English is widely spoken and the constitution is based on English Law. This has helped Malaysia become a dynamic country, which is now economically one of Asia’s top performers. It is a country rich in natural resources, with a young population of highly educated academics and workers and so is both politically and economically stable. Because of the ethnic diversity, eating out in Malaysia is nothing short of an amazing experience of sights, sounds and tastes and when one has tired of the city or village, there is a staggering 4,675km of palm fringed, white sandy coastline to enjoy.

As an investment location, a place to take a holiday or a place to retire, Malaysia is hard to beat.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Land size: 329,750 km2 Population: 24,800,000

Climate: tropical, average temperature year round 31.5 degrees C

Economics: Average GDP rate for 2004 – 2006: 6.15%

Tenure for foreign property purchasers: Leasehold, 99 years renewable, direct from the Government

Availability of finance for foreign property purchasers: Up to 70% mortgages, maximum lending term is 15 years