Malaysia

Malaysia comprises two main land masses. Peninsular (or West) Malaysia borders Singapore (via land bridges) and Thailand, while East Malaysia on the northern part of Borneo island borders Brunei and Indonesia. The Federation of Malaya was formed in 1948 and gained independence from British sovereignty in 1957. Malaysia was formed as a new Federation in 1963, bringing in the states of Singapore (temporarily until 1965), Sarawak and Sabah.