Malaysia is divided into two distinct parts: Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo. The two regions are 650km (403mi) apart, separated by the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia shares borders with Thailand and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak border Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo), and Sarawak surrounds the tiny enclave of Brunei. The Andaman Sea is on the west coast of the peninsula. The east coast of the peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak all adjoin the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia accounts for 40 percent of the country's land mass. Several mountain ranges run north-south along the spine of the peninsula. There is a wide, fertile plain on the west coast, and a narrow coastal plain on the east. Sabah and Sarawak are covered by dense jungles and have large river systems. Mt Kinabalu (4101m/13,450ft) in Sabah is one of the highest peaks in South-East Asia.
More than 60 per cent of the country is still rainforest, but a government plan to build a huge hydroelectric dam in Sarawak is expected to decimate 27,600ha (69,000ac) of forest, which does not augur well for the future. There are 8000 species of flowering plants in Peninsular Malaysia alone, including 2000 tree species, 800 different orchids and 200 types of palm. Fauna includes elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, tapirs, sun bears, orangutans and gibbons. East Malaysia has one of the most abundant and varied bird populations in the world.
Malaysia is hot and humid all year. Temperatures are usually between 20-30°C (68-86°F); humidity is usually 90 per cent. The region has a monsoonal climate, but only the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia has a real rainy season. The wettest season on the west coast of the peninsula is between September and December; on the east coast and in Sabah and Sarawak it's between October and February. Rain, when it comes, generally interrupts the sunshine only briefly; most of it falls in short, strong bursts.
Population
24.4 million (UN, 2003)
Area
329,733 sq km
Ethnicity/ Race
Malay:49.0%, Chinese:25.0%, Other Indigenous:11.0%, Other:8.0%, Indian:7.0%
Major Languages
Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
WITM 2012 InCoMTHU Conference will feature quality and world renown speakers not only from Malaysia but from around the globe. In its 6th Year, the WITM InCoMTHU Conference 2012 will have speakers from as far away as the United States of America.
YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was the Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour for the 5th InCoMTHU Conference in 2011. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak has been invited to grace WITM 2012 as the Guest of Honour and to deliver the Keynote Address. WITM 2012 will have YB Dato Mukhriz Mahathir as one of its distinguished speakers on the subject of Arab Spring Uprising – Impact on Tourism.
Listen to Ybhg Dato’ Azizan Noordin, the knowledgeable Director General of Tourism Malaysia talk about key issues affecting the tourism industry. Share the insights on the high-flying Air Asia X CEO, Mr. Azran Osman Rani on the airline perspective on Muslim Tourism and Tourism as a whole. Get the latest on Syariah Compliance in the Hotel Industry from the President of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Ybhg Datuk Mohd Ilyas. Find out about Islamic heritage in Malaysia from the President of Heritage Trust of Malaysia, YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji. Understand how to Eradicate Islamophobia in order to Enhance Tourism from Ms Tayyibah Taylor from USA.
Whatever your preference, be sure not to miss listening, learning and sharing with these distinguished panel of speakers at WITM 2012 InCoMTHU Conference on 31st May 2012 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
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