Malaysia: Introduction

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia. It consists of two regions separated by the South China Sea and is bordered by Brunei, Indonesia, and Thailand. Malaysia has a strategic location along the Strait of Malacca and the southern South China Sea. The government system is a constitutional monarchy; the chief of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. Malaysia has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Malaysia is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).