Malaysia is in central South-East Asia, it borders with Thailand in the north, Singapore and Indonesia to the south, the Philippines to the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo.
Peninsular Malaysia is a region of forested mountain ranges running north to south on either side of which are low-lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1900km or 1200 miles. The west coast consists of mudflat's and mangrove swamps, that separate into bays and inlets. The plains in the west have been cleared and cultivated, while the unsheltered east coast consists of quiet beaches backed by dense jungle.
Sarawak has swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating the jungle-covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow coastal plain that gives way to the mountains and jungles. Mount Kinabalu standing at 4094m or 13,432ft is the highest peak in Malaysia.
The larger islands are Langkawi (a group of 99 islands), Penang, Pangkor, Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast.

Head of State: King Syed Sirrajuddin ibni al-Marhum Syed Putra Jamalullail since 2001.

Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohammad since 1981.