Malaysia comprises of two main regions in South East Asia: the peninsular West with borders to Thailand to the North and Singapore to the South; and the Western section which makes up the Northern part of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia in the South and almost encircling Brunei in the North. Malaysia is a country of many different aspects, not least of which it’s geography, which stretches from coastal flatlands all the way through lush forests up to huge mountain peaks, unspoilt by the touch of man. This juxtaposition continues with Malaysian cities, with the capital Kuala Lumpur offering modern, fast, high-tech life, and countless other towns and cities through the country offering little more than a hut to sleep in, technology-wise.

The history of the Malay people stretches back nearly 10,000 years, when the Orang Asli peoples moved in on the area from South Western China, but the country didn’t begin to show up in recorded history until around the seventh and eighth centuries when it was under the control of different Indonesian and Thai empires. By the 1400s the Chinese arrived, and around the same time so did Islam – thanks in no small part to the trade routes established between India and Malaysia. The prosperity of the country soon attracted the Europeans and their colonising ways, and by 1511 the Portuguese had the region under their control – by 1641 the Dutch were in charge and by 1795 the British had moved in and made Malaysia their own, shockingly enough not through military force, but through economic pressure thanks to the Empire’s monopoly on the tin trade in the region. The region remained under British rule, and during this time the Federated Malay States were formally created in 1895 – the region fell under Japanese control from 1942 to 1945, but at the end of the Second World War the British took the States back under their protectorate, and by 1948 the Federation of Malaya was formed. Around the same time Communist guerrillas that had been fighting the Japanese occupancy instigated an uprising with the goal of an independent Malay region – there was fighting for a number of years, but the British soon enough gave up their grasp on the region and the country gained its independence in 1957. In 1963 Malay, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined together under the banner of Malaysia, though Singapore seceded in 1965. From 1974 the United Malays National Organisation has been the dominant political entity in the country, with former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepping down after nearly 20 years at the helm, a strong Malaysian economy and a string of controversy in 2003. Since then the country has gone on to further establish itself as a tourist hotspot, as well as a centre for Asian commerce and a voice in international politics. In December of 2004 the country was hit by the Asian Tsunami, but as the main wave hit the island of Sumatra first, Malaysia was hit by the ‘shadow wave’ and saw far less destruction than many other countries in the region – nevertheless there was over $25 million in damage and the loss of at least 68 lives.

Malaysia is a wonderful example of South East Asia and offers anyone who visits a massive range of things to do and see – from the ultra-modern capital to the massive, beautiful jungle treks there is enough in the country for anyone. Potential off plan investors in the area can look forward to a country that is constantly on the up, with a government that has put a heavy impetus on making Malaysia the country that everyone wants to go to.

The standards of healthcare in Malaysia are of a very good standard in major towns and cities, and most smaller towns should have smaller clinics. Nevertheless, private health insurance is highly recommended.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across most of the country, though quality of connection cannot be guaranteed in other areas. Landlines are widely available in towns and cities and lines are of a decent standard, though sometimes erratic. Internet cafes are available the majority of towns and cities and from a number of service providers.