Countries

Malaysia

Malaysia comes in two parts: the Malay Peninsula and the north of Borneo, about 600 km apart across the South China Sea. It is a federation of 13 states whose king is chosen every five years from among nine hereditary Malay rulers, a rotating monarchy found nowhere else.

The twin steel spires of the Petronas Towers rising above the Kuala Lumpur skyline under cloud

The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

Called Jalur Gemilang, Stripes of Glory. Its 14 stripes and the star's 14 points stand for the 13 states and the federal government; the crescent stands for Islam and yellow for the rulers.

How it has changed

Lens