Malaysia/Singapore
Global Ministries has no current partnerships in Malaysia, but has recently sponsored missionaries Tim and Diane Fonderlin who have worked with Habitat for Humanity in Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia is divided into two parts: East Malaysia and West Malaysia. West Malaysia is also known as the Malaysian peninsula. The two parts of Malaysia are divided by the South China Sea and lie between the Southern Asia countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam and their southern neighbors of Indonesia and Australia. East Malaysia is on the northern third of Borneo Island. The southern part of the island is part of Indonesia. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is home to the federal government. The people of Malaysia are, generally speaking, a mix of ethnic Malays (65%), Chinese immigrants from the north (26%) and Indian immigrants from the west (8%). There are smaller numbers of Indonesians, Australians, Thais and Europeans. Malay is the national language. Islam is the predominant religion of Malaysia and the legal system reflects a strong Islamic influence. Primary and secondary education is provided for all and there are several colleges and five universities. Muslim women are subject to Islamic legal codes, but non-Muslim women are subject to the more secular civil code. Islamic domestic law is employed and favors men in matters of inheritance. Malaysian women have gained some rights in personal matters such as divorce. TodayΓÇÖs civil laws give women equal rights in work and education and lead to more opportunities than were available to previous generations of women. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is located in western Malaysia. The climate is hot and humid year-round with temperatures generally between 70 and 90 Farenheit. The average annual rainfall is 100 inches, but the northern slopes of Sarawak and Sabah get as much as 200 inches. Sarawak and Sabah are known for their tropical forests. Western Malaysia has tin, copper and uranium deposits. Rubber trees are also plentiful. Natural gas and oil resources are being tapped both onshore and offshore. The nation has seen sustained economic growth over the last few decades. Malaysia is also known for its ten different types of wetlands and its abundant insect population. Deforestation is perhaps the greatest threat to MalaysiaΓÇÖs environment. Tropical hardwoods and wood products are a major economic resource, but one that is being managed toward quick profits and long-term devastation of the environment. Native peoples are losing their lands to greedy state politicians and Japanese plywood manufacturers. Wetlands are also being destroyed due to the poor management of forests. Water pollution of the rivers is becoming a serious problem. Industrial waste is the primary cause. Water treatment plants had not yet developed the capacity to handle toxic wastes in 1998 and as a result the toxic releases were a frequent cause of major fish kills (as many as 7 million fish in one case of potassium cyanide release).
Global Ministries has no current partnerships in Malaysia, but has recently sponsored missionaries Tim and Diane Fonderlin who have worked with Habitat for Humanity in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Malaysia is divided into two parts: East Malaysia and West Malaysia. West Malaysia is also known as the Malaysian peninsula. The two parts of Malaysia are divided by the South China Sea and lie between the Southern Asia countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam and their southern neighbors of Indonesia and Australia. East Malaysia is on the northern third of Borneo Island. The southern part of the island is part of Indonesia. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is home to the federal government.
The people of Malaysia are, generally speaking, a mix of ethnic Malays (65%), Chinese immigrants from the north (26%) and Indian immigrants from the west (8%). There are smaller numbers of Indonesians, Australians, Thais and Europeans. Malay is the national language. Islam is the predominant religion of Malaysia and the legal system reflects a strong Islamic influence. Primary and secondary education is provided for all and there are several colleges and five universities.
Muslim women are subject to Islamic legal codes, but non-Muslim women are subject to the more secular civil code. Islamic domestic law is employed and favors men in matters of inheritance. Malaysian women have gained some rights in personal matters such as divorce. Today’s civil laws give women equal rights in work and education and lead to more opportunities than were available to previous generations of women.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is located in western Malaysia. The climate is hot and humid year-round with temperatures generally between 70 and 90 Farenheit. The average annual rainfall is 100 inches, but the northern slopes of Sarawak and Sabah get as much as 200 inches. Sarawak and Sabah are known for their tropical forests. Western Malaysia has tin, copper and uranium deposits. Rubber trees are also plentiful. Natural gas and oil resources are being tapped both onshore and offshore. The nation has seen sustained economic growth over the last few decades. Malaysia is also known for its ten different types of wetlands and its abundant insect population.
Deforestation is perhaps the greatest threat to Malaysia’s environment. Tropical hardwoods and wood products are a major economic resource, but one that is being managed toward quick profits and long-term devastation of the environment. Native peoples are losing their lands to greedy state politicians and Japanese plywood manufacturers. Wetlands are also being destroyed due to the poor management of forests.
Water pollution of the rivers is becoming a serious problem. Industrial waste is the primary cause. Water treatment plants had not yet developed the capacity to handle toxic wastes in 1998 and as a result the toxic releases were a frequent cause of major fish kills (as many as 7 million fish in one case of potassium cyanide release).
Malaysia
Population (2014 est) – 30,073,353
Area – 204,900mi
Capital – Kuala Lumpur
Ethnic Background
Malay – 50.1%
Chinese – 22.6%
Indigenous – 11.8%
Indian – 6.7%
Other – 0.7%
Non-citizens – 8.2%
Exports – semiconductors and electronic equipment, palm oil, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals, solar panels
Imports – electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals
Life Expectancy (2014 est) – M 72 years F 77 years
Infant Mortality (2014 est) – 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births
Adult Illiteracy Rate – 6.9%
Singapore
Population (2014 est) – 5,567,301
Area – 433.1mi
Capital – Singapore
Ethnic Background
Chinese – 74.2%
Malay – 13.3%
Indian – 9.2%
Other – 3.3%
Exports – machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, food and beverages
Imports – machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Life Expectancy (2014 est) – M 82 years F 87 years
Infant Mortality (2014 est) – 2.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Adult Illiteracy Rate – 4.1%