Page 17 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 13
Sabah and Sarawak. The West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia used to be wetter during the South-West Monsoon (May to October) but over the years, partly due to climate change, the distinct monsoon period has become somewhat blurred.
The high annual rainfall over Peninsular and East Malaysia has given rise to major river systems fed by numerous tributaries. The longest is the Rajang River in Sarawak with a length of 563km. The second longest is the Kinabatangan River in Sabah with a length of 560km. The longest river
in Peninsular Malaysia is the Pahang River with a length of 459km. With almost 200 water basins, the extensive river systems meander across flat coastal regions providing both drainage of the hinterland and river access from the coastal regions far into
the interior, encouraging commerce and tourism. Apart from their support for transportation and economic activity for the indigenous riverine populations, these extensive freshwater systems support the ecological health of vast interior tracts of virgin forest.
Natural lakes are not prevalent in Malaysia, in part due to the porous limestone nature of much of the terrain, but Pahang’s Tasik Bera and Tasik Chini
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj (1903-1990), Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, proclaims independence for Malaya at the Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, 31st August 1957.
in Peninsular Malaysia are exceptions. In support of Malaysia’s hydro energy, however, substantial man- made lakes have been constructed, the primary ones being Bakun Hydro Lake (Sarawak, 695sq km), Tasik Kenyir (Terengganu, 260sq km), Murum Hydro Lake (Sarawak, 245sq
km) and Tasik Temenggor (Perak, 152sq km).
The equatorial climate
and high rainfall have blessed Malaysia with extensive tropical rainforests and over 50% of the country remains under forest cover. Malaysia is recognised as one of the world’s 17 Megadiverse Countries by Conservation International. It boasts 210 mammal species, 620 bird species, 250 reptile species, 150 frog species and over 14,500 species of plants.
Some of Malaysia’s waters are in the Coral Triangle,
a global biodiversity hotspot. The waters around
Sipadan Island are among the most biodiverse in the world and bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is
an additional biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1,200 fish species.
Historical Background
Malaysia’s history is largely influenced by its
Sir James Brooke (ruled 1841-1868), the first of Sarawak’s century-
long dynasty of White Rajahs. The family’s autocratic yet benign rule only ended in 1941 with the WWII Japanese invasion.