1. What role did geographic location and natural resources play in the the development of Malaysia?

 

Malaysia is a peninsula that is strategically located between the straits of Malacca, the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is divided into two regions:Peninsula Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak(the East Malaysia)  This country is a very convenient stop for Western traders as ships are able to cross over from the Indian Ocean to the  Pacific Ocean.For the past few centuries, the Dutch and the English were able to conduct business since they could cut across from the West and become a gateway to the East. Malaysia is on the equator which is one of the hottest part of the world. The British colonized Malaysia because of our maritime boundaries with Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines and many other countries. The Straits Settlements or Malacca is a trading hub which is the key to the reason the British colonized this important country.

After independence from the British, Malaysia grew at a rate of 6.5% yearly for the last 50 years because of our natural resources.The development of Malaysia is due to the huge reserves of natural resources such as:  Natural Rubber,palm oil, pepper, electronic equipment, Textile and apparels, timber and timber products, wooden furniture, Petroleum crude oil and LNG and tin. We are able to export raw materials and manufacture in our country. We have diverse capabilities which fueled us economically to be one of the most successful nations today.

The most important natural resources in Malaysia is the human capital or people. Malaysia has skilled laborers and educated citizens to support the development of this country. The combination of the strategic location and the natural resources promoted our country to the success of this nation. Additionally, Malaysia has no natural disasters like blizzards, earthquakes, volcanos or floods.All these factors contributes to the nation success.

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