Malaysia

Malaysia is a South Asian country partly on the mainland and partly on islands. The majority of the population is Muslim and there is also a large, economically powerful Chinese community.

It is one of the largest exporters of electronic equipment and appliances. "Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital, anchors the new Multimedia Super Corridor, Asia's equivalent of the U.S.'s Silicon Valley."

The BBC says of the media, "Malaysia has some of the toughest censorship laws in the world. The authorities exert substantial control over the media and can impose restrictions in the name of national security."

History

 * 1300s - Conversion to Islam begins.
 * 1826 - British influence is increasing.
 * 1942-45 - Japanese occupy Malaysia.
 * 1948 - British-ruled Malayan territories unified under Federation of Malaya.
 * 1948-60 - Government fights local communist insurgency.
 * 1957 - Federation of Malaya gains independence from Britain.
 * 1989-1990 - Local communist insurgents sign peace accords with government.
 * Source:

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