Major sources and definitions Geography Malaysia is on the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia. The nation also includes Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo to the east. Its area slightly exceeds that of New Mexico. Most of Malaysia is covered by forest, with a mountain range running the length of the peninsula.
Extensive forests provide ebony, sandalwood, teak, and other woods.
Government Constitutional monarchy. As Muslims conquered India, they spread the religion of Islam to Malaysia. British and Dutch interest in the region grew in the 1800s, with the British East India Company establishing a trading settlement on the island of Singapore. Trade soared, with Singapore's population growing from only 5,000 in 1820 to nearly 100,000 in just 50 years. In the 1880s, Britain formally established protectorates in Malaysia.