East Malaysia

East Malaysia

East Malaysia is the part of Malaysia on the big island of Borneo. It includes three areas: Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. This part of Malaysia is far away from the other part, called West Malaysia or the Malay Peninsula, across the South China Sea.

East Malaysia is bigger than West Malaysia but has fewer big cities and people. It is rich in natural treasures like oil and gas. Some of its important cities are Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Miri. The region has many forests with many different kinds of plants and animals, including parts of the Borneo lowland rain forests and Borneo montane rain forests.

States and Territories

East Malaysia includes two states and one federal territory in Malaysia:

• The State of Sabah
• The State of Sarawak
• The Federal Territory of Labuan

Natural Wonders

East Malaysia has low areas covered in thick forests, with some higher mountains further inland. It is home to Malaysia's five tallest mountains, with Mount Kinabalu being the highest at 4,095 meters. This mountain is also the tallest in Borneo and the 10th tallest in Southeast Asia. The area also has the two longest rivers in Malaysia, the Rajang River and the Kinabatangan River.

Two big islands, Banggi Island in Sabah and Bruit Island in Sarawak, belong completely to Malaysia. The biggest island is Borneo, shared with Indonesia and Brunei. Another big island is Sebatik Island in Sabah, which is shared with Indonesia.

In Sarawak, there are huge caves inside Gunung Mulu National Park, including the Sarawak Chamber, the largest known cave space in the world. This park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in November 2000.

Sabah is known for Kinabalu Park, another World Heritage Site that includes Mount Kinabalu, and Sipadan Island, a popular spot for diving and studying many kinds of plants and animals.