Peninsular Malaysia, Territory in Southeast Asia, Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia sits on the southern portion of the Malay Peninsula between Thailand to the north, Singapore to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. The east coast borders the South China Sea and is marked by beaches and small islands, while the interior is covered with mountain ranges and tropical rainforest.
British colonial rule shaped the territory from the 18th century through tin mines and rubber plantations until Japanese forces occupied it during World War II. After the war it returned to British control before gaining independence in 1957 as the Federation of Malaya, later becoming part of modern Malaysia.
The three main ethnic groups speak Malay, various Chinese dialects and Tamil, while English often serves as a common language in trade and everyday life. In many towns and villages, temples, mosques and churches stand side by side, reflecting the religious diversity in daily routines.
The west coast is more densely populated and easier to travel through, with Kuala Lumpur serving as a starting point for journeys north or south along well-maintained roads. The east coast is quieter and requires more travel time, as transport options run less frequently and distances between places are greater.
The central mountain range separates the western half climatically from the eastern half, so monsoon rains hit the two coasts at different times of the year. While the west coast often experiences heavy rainfall in May and June, the monsoon reaches the east coast mostly between November and February.
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