Interesting Facts About Malaysia

Durian is considered the king of fruits in Malaysia, while mangosteen is dubbed the queen of fruits and has the ability to cool the body.

Malaysia is a multicultural country with foundations from China and India. In addition to the Malay population, Malaysia is home to a large number of different ethnic groups (especially on the island of Borneo), each with its own language. As a result, Malaysia is a melting pot of diversity in language, cuisine, and cultures. (Photo: Rainstorm).

Due to the many different languages, in addition to Malay, English is also used as an official language in this country. (Photo: Malaysia Magazine).

Malaysia is also a hub for street food with dishes that carry flavors from India, China, the Philippines, and Singapore. However, choosing restaurants for meals may not be a good idea due to inconsistent quality and relatively poor service. (Photo: Intrepid travel).

You can find many parks, reserves, and a large amount of wildlife in Malaysia. It is also home to the world’s largest flower, known as Rafflesia, which emits a scent similar to that of decaying flesh. Malaysia is estimated to have 14,500 plant species, 200 mammal species, 600 bird species, 140 snake species, and over 200 lizard species. (Photo: Richard Seaman).

Malaysia is a Muslim country with 62% of the population adhering to Islam, followed by Buddhism and Christianity. Therefore, visitors should avoid public displays of affection or wearing sleeveless clothing. Many places even have signs that say “no kissing.” (Photo: Digital Nomads).

If you love shopping, Malaysia is a great choice with countless affordable items, often cheaper than anywhere else in the world. (Photo: Digital Nomads).

Don’t be surprised if you go to a steakhouse and only find spoons and forks. Malaysians often eat with their hands (similar to Indians), which is why they do not provide knives for diners. (Photo: Time Out).

Durian is dubbed the “King of Fruits” in Malaysia, with a flavor that is superior to that of other countries. However, due to its “strong odor”, it is often banned in large hotels. Additionally, Malaysia is home to the rare red-fleshed durian (Udang Merah). (Photo: Year of the durian).

While durian is quite selective, mangosteen is loved by most foreign visitors and is known as the “Queen of Fruits” in Malaysia. Many believe that consuming too much durian can cause heat in the body, making mangosteen a great choice for its cooling properties, helping the body feel refreshed and comfortable. (Photo: Marc Andersion).

A sign in Malaysia can use up to four languages. Locals even use phrases that mix vocabulary from various languages. (Photo: Wiki).

National Anthem. At the time of independence, Malaysia did not have a national anthem! Therefore, Tunku Abdul Rahman – who later became the Minister of Home Affairs – organized a wide-ranging competition to find a suitable national anthem for Malaysia. They received 512 songs, but none were selected! Eventually, Tunku chose to use a song from Perak titled “Allah Lanjutkan USIA Sultan” as the national anthem. Later, together with a judge, Tunku wrote new lyrics for this song and renamed it “Negaraku”, which is now the official national anthem of Malaysia.

The oldest name of Malaysia. Before it was known as Malaysia, the Greek-Roman geographer Ptolemy referred to this lovely country as Aurea Chersonesus, meaning “golden peninsula.” This name is found in Ptolemy’s book Geographia, written around 150 AD.

The Islamic Kingdom of Kedah is the earliest kingdom on the Malay Peninsula and is believed to be one of the oldest Islamic kingdoms in the world.

The largest cave system in the world is located in Sarawak. Sarawak Chamber in Gunung Mulu National Park is the largest cave in the world. To give you an idea of its size: a small part of this cave could hold 40 Boeing 747 airplanes!

The total length of Malaysia’s highways is longer than the circumference of the Earth. In fact, Malaysia has 65,877 km of highways, while the circumference of the Earth is only 40,075 km. So, don’t wonder why Malaysians have to pay tolls everywhere!

The longest king cobra ever caught was in Malaysia. The longest king cobra in the world was captured in Port Dickson, Malaysia in April 1937, measuring an astonishing 5.54 meters. Even more surprisingly, when it was transferred to the London Zoo, it grew to a length of 5.71 meters!

Malaysians have the most friends on Facebook in the world! Malaysia is the country with the friendliest people in the world, at least… on Facebook! According to a 2010 survey conducted by the international company TNS, a Facebook user in Malaysia has an average of 231 friends—the highest in the world—followed by Brazil with 321 friends and Norway with 217 friends.

Malaysians don’t worry much about the weather, especially rain.
When a big storm hits, we might call it a “storm,” but Malaysians simply refer to it as rain. Even when it rains heavily and it feels like thousands of bullets are hitting the roof, accompanied by howling winds, thunder, and lightning splitting the sky, Malaysians remain calm, going about their business as usual, and some even leisurely relax at shopping malls. So, if you visit Malaysia and it suddenly rains, don’t be surprised by the locals’ attitude.

Do not wear shoes inside homes when visiting in Malaysia: If you wear shoes into someone else’s house, then what’s the difference between their home and the street, right? In Malaysia, wearing shoes into someone’s home is considered rude and can make them uncomfortable, not to mention it could dirty their floors. Who wants their home to be dirty, right? So, if you visit someone’s house in Malaysia, absolutely do not wear your shoes inside.

PDA (Public Displays of Affection) are generally discouraged if you visit Malaysia: If you want to be more intimate with your friend, it’s best to do it in the privacy of your own room. Public displays of affection, such as kissing or holding hands, can get you into trouble with the police, especially in a country where most people are Muslim, like Malaysia. A simple hand-holding or a peck on the cheek might be acceptable, but deep kisses, like French kisses? You might want to hope you’re lucky enough not to be prosecuted. Clearly, when visiting any region or country, we should respect the cultural values of that place. There’s a saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so it’s essential to follow the local customs and etiquette.