ABSTRACT
Malaysia, a monarchical federation, consists of the nine sultanates of mainland Malaya (with Penang island) and the Borneo states of Sabah (formerly British North Borneo) and Sarawak. Five-sixths of its 20 million inhabitants live on the mainland. About 58% are Malays – who are mostly Muslims – but 31% are Chinese and 9% Indians; in the Borneo states there are other minorities.
