West Malaysia
The Malay Peninsula lies between the 7th and1st parallels. It is bordered by the Strait of Melaka to the west and the South China Sea to the east. It shares its northern border with Thailand and its southern border with the micro-state of Singapore. A distance of 740 km separates these two borders. Limestone makes up the bulk of the peninsula's geological formation. It was formed in the Paleozoic era, between 540 million and 252 million years ago. The result is high, porous karstic cliffs, with networks of caves and galleries, shaped by rainwater. The mountains were formed in the Mesozoic era, between 252 million and 66 million years ago. They cover two-thirds of the peninsula, from the Thai border to Melaka. The main mountain range stretches for 480 kilometers, and the highest peak is Gunung Tahan in the state of Pahang. It reaches an altitude of 2,187 meters. It takes 4 days of hiking to reach it, through the beautiful Taman Negara Park. This mountain range is also home to the Cameron Highlands, famous for tea and strawberry cultivation. Due to their steep, rugged terrain, the mountains of the peninsula are sparsely populated. Only a few villages inhabited by aboriginal tribes remain. However, covered by ancient primary forests, they are a delight for experienced and budding hikers alike.
Alluvial plains stretch from the foot of the mountains to the sea. These areas lie between 40 km and 80 km inland. As a result, the country has only a small agricultural area, especially as the majority of its major cities are located on these plains. All the major cities are located on the west coast. The reason is both economic and historical. This is where the most fertile land is found, ideal for cultivation. It's also here that the ports were developed for trade between Europeans, Chinese, Arabs and Indians along the Strait of Malacca. There are no major ports on the east coast, as the coastline is very exposed to heavy weather during the monsoon season. These western regions are also home to the tin mines that have contributed to Malaysia's wealth.
East Malaysia
Borneo is the fourth largest island in the world, after Australia, Greenland and Papua New Guinea. It is occupied by 3 different countries: Malaysia to the north, the Sultanate of Brunei, landlocked within Malaysia, and Indonesia to the south. Malaysia occupies around a quarter of the island. Although Borneo refers to the whole island, it is also the name chosen for the Malaysian part. Indeed, Indonesia has chosen to name its part of the island Kalimantan. Although 640 km separate them, the island's geology is similar to that of the peninsula. The mountain range begins at the northern tip of the state of Sabah and descends southwards, widening to form a triangle. Here lies the country's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu. It reaches an altitude of 4,095 metres. It's an arduous two-day hike from the starting camp at 1,866 meters above sea level. The province of Sabah, in the east of Borneo, is mainly mountainous, with only a thin ribbon of coastline. But it's also home to some of the country's most beautiful seabeds, notably at Sipadan, a world-renowned diving spot. The rugged terrain is just as valid underwater, and the rocky drop-offs around the islands are home to a sumptuous array of flora and fauna. The largest plains are found in Sarawak, to the west of the island. Borneo has only two major cities, the island having been ignored by both regional and European colonization. Kuching is the administrative capital of Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu that of Sabah. Three or four other smaller towns dot the 2,600 kilometers of coastline. Only 15% of the country's population lives in Borneo, even though this area represents 60% of the national territory. While the Sarawak plains are exploited for agriculture and the timber industry, almost the entire rest of the island is left to nature. Here, too, you'll find one of the world's oldest primary forests, dating back 130 million years, the cradle of sumptuous landscapes. There's nothing quite like the mist escaping from the forest, which seems to breathe before our very eyes. The people of Borneo live mainly in cities. A few aboriginal villages remain in kampang, along the rivers, and you're sure to come and meet them if you visit the island.
Brunei
With a surface area of just 5,765 km², Brunei is one of the world's smallest countries. It is the 31st smallest country to be precise, but twice the size of Luxembourg. Located on the northeastern island of Borneo, it is landlocked by East Malaysia. In fact, it's doubly landlocked, since its territory is split in two by a Malay territorial incursion. It is essentially made up of plains and hills, with a few mountainous elevations to the southeast, on its border with the Malaysian state of Sabah. The country would be of no particular importance were it not for its 161 kilometers of precious coastline. It was to the west of this coastline that oil was discovered in 1903. Although the onshore deposits have been exploited to the hilt, the sultanate is now making the most of its wealth in the waters.
Singapore
The island of Singapore is separated from the Malay Peninsula by the tiny Strait of Johor. It consists of a main island and a dozen other islands to the south and east. The north-western part of the island is made up of igneous rock and granite, while the south-eastern part is a vast sandy terrain. Originally, the state of Singapore covered an area of 581 km². But by razing a few hills and drawing sand from the depths of its territorial waters, the state has now grown to 723 km². It plans to add a further 100 km² by 2033. Its very modest surface area places it 175th in the list of countries ranked by size. If you take a tour of all the islands, you'll cover 193 kilometers of coastline. In fact, the country has more usable sea surface, 1,072 km², than land. A veritable city-state, like Monaco or the Vatican, almost the entire country is now made up of skyscrapers and concrete buildings. There are still two pockets of greenery on the main island, which is home to some arable land, a zoo and a nature park.
