Malaysia Stock Market

In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur (+8 GMT)
Chief of State: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi
Currency: Ringgit
Main Cities: Penang, Ipoh, Malacca
Major Languages: Bahasa Melayu, English
Calling Code: 60
Voltage: 110/220V
Stock Exchanges: Bursa Malaysia
Primary Religions: Islam, Buddhism
Main Airports
Kota Kinabalu (BKI), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) (Sepang), Kuching (KCH)
U.S. Embassy
376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpurtel. 60-3-2168-5000http://malaysia.usembassy.gov/
Statistics
GDP: purchasing power parity:
$290.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:
12,100 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
10.67 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$147.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners:
US 19.8%, Singapore 15.6%, China 11.5%, Japan 8.4%, Thailand 4.6%, Hong Kong 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
$118.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners:
Singapore 27.9%, Japan 11.6%, China 9.7%, US 9.6%, Thailand 5.2%, South Korea 4.2% (2005)
Population:
24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (2006 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line:
8% (1998 est.)
Major Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Employing Workers: 38*
Registering Property: 66*
Enforcing Contracts: 81*
Closing a Business: 51*
*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries