IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 328-2700
FAX: (202) 483-7661
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American
Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: (3) 2168-5000
FAX: (3) 242-2207

Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating
with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star;
the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design
was based on the flag of the US

@Malaysia:Economy

Economy - overview: Malaysia made a quick economic recovery in 1999
from its worst recession since independence in 1957. GDP grew 5%,
responding to a dynamic export sector, which grew over 10% and fiscal
stimulus from higher government spending. The large export surplus has
enabled the country to build up its already substantial financial
reserves, to $31 billion at yearend 1999. This stable macroeconomic
environment, in which both inflation and unemployment stand at 3% or
less, has made possible the relaxation of most of the capital controls
imposed by the government in 1998 to counter the impact of the Asian
financial crisis. Government and private forecasters expect Malaysia
to continue this trend in 2000, predicting GDP to grow another 5% to
6%. While Malaysia's immediate economic horizon looks bright, its
long-term prospects are clouded by the lack of reforms in the
corporate sector, particularly those dealing with competitiveness and
high corporate debt.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $229.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,700 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 46%
services: 42% (1998)

Population below poverty line: 6.8% (1997 est.)

Household income or consump