Facts, statistics and information about Borneo and Malaysia
Malaysia is an exciting country that offers multicultural experiences and a wonderful nature that, among other things, has the world’s oldest rainforest. Malaysia is divided into two parts, one part located on the Malacca Peninsula and the other part located on Borneo in the east. The peninsula is an extension of Thailand and also borders Singapore.
Malaysia is completely unique when it comes to the diversity of wildlife. It is estimated that 20% of the world’s famous animal species live in this beautiful paradise. No matter what time of year you visit Malaysia, you will have a great nature experience. The peak season for travel to Malaysia runs from February to September.
Main facts about Malaysia
| Capital city: | Kuala Lumpur |
| Area: | 329,760 km2 |
| Population: | 28.33 million (2017) |
| Language: | Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil |
| Religion: | Islam (61.3%), Buddhism (19.8%), Christianity (9.2%), Hinduism (6.3%), Traditional Chinese Religions (3.4%) |
| Currency: | Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 1 DKK = 0.62 MYR |
Flag
According to Watchtutorials.org, the Malaysian flag was officially introduced in 1963. The flag has 14 stripes just like the sun has 14 twigs. These symbolize the federal government as well as the 13 states that are in the union. The colors of the flag are: red, yellow, white and blue.
The red and white color symbolizes the ancient Malaysian colors. The yellow color symbolizes the nine sultans and the blue symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people. Moreover, the crescent and the star are a symbol of Islam.
Geography
| Capital city: | Kuala Lumpur |
| Area: | 329,760 km2 |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Time zone: | Malaysia Time GMT + 8 |
| Limits to: | Singapore and Thailand |
| Largest cities: | Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Ipoh, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya |
Demographics
| Population: | 31.62 million (2017) |
| Population density: | 96 people / km2 |
| Population growth: | 11.4% / year |
| Language: | Malaysian |
| Religion: | Islam (61.3%), Buddhism (19.8%), Christianity (9.2%), Hinduism (6.3%), Traditional Chinese Religions (3.4%) |
Entry
| Currency: | Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 1 DKK = 0.62 MYR |
| Vaccinations: | Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A |
| Passport & Visa: | Visa-free for a maximum of 90 days. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date of entry. It must be possible to show a return ticket or a ticket for onward travel upon entry. |
| Insurance: | Remember travel insurance. Neither yellow nor mere health cards can be used in Malaysia and Borneo. |
| Travel time: | February-September |
Mini-phrasebook
| Hi | Hello |
| Goodbye | Congratulations |
| Yes | Yes |
| No | Tidak |
| Thanks | Thank you |
| Welcome | Nikmati minuman |
| Do you speak English? | Adakah anda bercakap bahasa Inggeris? |
| Excuse me | Maafkan Saya |
When to travel to Malaysia and Borneo?
If you dream of leaving for a hot country, your next trip may be to Malaysia and more specifically, the island of Borneo. In addition to beautiful nature, rich wildlife and delicious beaches, the country offers a wonderful climate. Located near the equator, Malaysia has a tropical climate. In addition, the humidity is very high and is around 80% all year round. Therefore, remember to guard yourself with plenty of water when traveling to Malaysia as one can quickly lose a lot of fluid.
When you travel to Borneo and Malaysia with Tourist Travel you will find that the weather can vary quite a bit from day to day. The weather is actually so changeable that you will rarely experience whole days with rain and sun, respectively. Therefore, it may be a good idea to pack clothes for a holiday with varied weather. We can guarantee that it will be nice and warm, but we also recommend a good rain jacket or a raincoat for the rainy days.
General about climate and weather in Borneo and Malaysia
From the Malaysian mainland to the middle of the Malaysian part of Borneo, there are approximately 1,000 km of bird flight. Temperature and precipitation are therefore different in these two places. Thus, it can be a really good idea to pack your suitcase with shorts, t-shirt and raincoat. One thing is for sure. It will be nice and warm We can not guarantee a holiday in sunshine only. This is because large parts of the country are covered by rainforest, which means that tropical rain occurs all year round.
Furthermore, the weather is very changeable, so there can easily be blazing sunshine and pouring rain in one and the same day. Fortunately, you turn to the changeable weather, partly because you can stay outside regardless of the weather, and partly because there is nothing as cozy as sitting in dry weather and watching the tropical rain stretching far into the jungle.
Northeast Borneo
Here you will find Kota Kinabalu close to the renowned beach of Kanarut. Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah and thus a well-visited city. From July to December it rains a lot, despite a continued high temperature.
On several of Tourist Travel’s trips to Malaysia and Borneo you will experience the city of Kota Kinabalu and the beach at Kinarut. Therefore, we have taken as our starting point the temperatures in Kota Kinabalu, which you can see below.
| Kota Kinabalu | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Rain | 170 | 97 | 103 | 146 | 264 | 277 | 249 | 246 | 290 | 316 | 287 | 240 |
| Max temp. | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Mine. temp. | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Northwest Borneo
In Sarawak we visit the city of Kuching. Here the temperatures are slightly higher than in Kota Kinabalu and also a lower rainfall in the low season. The difference between dry and wet periods is clear here.
In Sarawak, it rains most at the beginning and end of the year, with average rainfall being the highest in January. Conversely, the amount of precipitation is clearly lowest in July, when the temperature is also at its highest.
| Kuching | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Rain | 696 | 539 | 356 | 274 | 240 | 200 | 189 | 220 | 270 | 331 | 356 | 493 |
| Max temp. | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
| Mine. temp. | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
High season in Borneo and Malaysia
The high season in Borneo and Malaysia ranges from February to September, while the low season is from October to January. The country is rich in opportunities, so you can easily travel in Borneo out of high season.
It can actually be a completely different journey when you travel out of season where there are fewer tourists. The rainforest is also showing its best side, due to the humid climate that prevails due to the more frequent rainfall.
In the high season, the temperature will typically be between 25 and 30 degrees, but can in periods come down to 22 degrees. The rainy days are fewer, which is why it is more pleasant to walk around the rainforest.