Malaysia - My Beloved Country Quiz | Malaysia

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1. The weather in Malaysia is hot, sunny, and humid all year round. At the southernmost point of the entire Eurasia continent, Tanjung Piai, one can see the modern skyline of its neighboring country - Singapore, across the Tebrau Strait. Based on the this information, one can deduce that Malaysia is located nearest to which major circle of latitude?

Answer: Equator

Due to its proximity to the equator, Malaysia experiences equatorial climate, also known as tropical rainforest climate. On average, the temperature in Malaysia is 27 degree Celsius, and the figure does not fluctuate significantly throughout the year. The weather in Malaysia is characterized by two monsoon seasons - the Southwest Monsoon (May - September) and the Northeast Monsoon (October - March).

Malaysia is the only country in the world that has lands on both the Eurasia continent, as well as the Malay archipelago. Tanjung Piai's claim of fame is that it is the southernmost point of the Eurasia mainland. The Johor-Singapore Causeway links Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia and Woodlands, Singapore. The causeway is approximately one kilometer in length. Local and overseas tourists alike can commute between the two countries easily via this causeway.

2. Encompassing the states of Pahang, Kelantan, and Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia, Taman Negara (National Park in Malay) is a popular ecotourism destination in Malaysia, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities - from birdwatching, fishing, jungle trekking, to mountain climbing. In addition to housing one of the world's longest canopy walks, what is Taman Negara's claim to fame?

Answer: It is one of the world's oldest rainforests.

Taman Negara is estimated to be at least 130 million years old, making it one of the oldest rainforests in the world. The national park is managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (in Malay, Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara Semenanjung Malaysia, or more popularly known by its abbreviation, PERHILITAN).

The canopy walk in Taman Negara is 530 meters in length. The suspension bridge is located 40 meters above the ground, giving visitors a spectacular view of the jungle's unique flora and fauna.

Snow forest, also known as boreal forest or taiga, is found in countries located in high northern latitudes, such as Canada, Russia, and USA.

3. Malaysia is synonymous with its tropical islands that offer sandy beaches and world-class diving spots. This Malaysian archipelago, known for its cable car and sky bridge, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Geopark in 2007. Which archipelago, located near the border of Thailand, is being described?

Answer: Langkawi

Langkawi belongs to the state of Kedah. The Langkawi archipelago consists of 99 islands, where its largest island is the eponymously named Langkawi Island (Pulau Langkawi in Malay). Langkawi was declared a duty-free island in 1987 to boost its tourism industry.

The three main areas in Langkawi Geopark are Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, and Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park.

Phuket is Thailand's largest island. Bali is located in Indonesia. Boracay belongs to the Philippines.

4. Home to one of the world's largest underground chambers, Sarawak Chamber is a natural wonder of Malaysia. Located nearby this chamber is the pristine Deer Cave, which is one of the world's largest cave passages. Both Sarawak Chamber and Deer Cave are located in which of the following UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia?

Answer: Gunung Mulu National Park

The Gunung Mulu National Park is located in Miri, Sarawak (on the island of Borneo), Malaysia. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The massive Deer Cave's passage can fit up to 40 Boeing 747 airplanes.

Kinabalu Park, located in the state of Sabah, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

In 2008, both Melaka and George Town (the capital of the state of Penang), noted for their rich history, obtained their UNESCO World Heritage Sites status, under the collective name of "Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca".

Located in Lenggong, Perak, the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, noted for its Perak Man (the oldest human skeleton found in Malaysia), was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

5. Being a biodiversity hotspot, Malaysia is home to various exquisite species of flora and fauna. Which of the following animals, characterized by its black and orange stripes, is featured in the country's coat of arms?

Answer: Malayan tiger

The Malayan tiger, also known as the southern Indochinese tiger, can be found in the Malay Peninsula. This majestic animal has been classified as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2015.

The coat of arms of Malaysia features two Malayan tigers that symbolize Malaysians' courage and strength.

6. Malaysia is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Malaysia was known to be one of the world's top producers of which silvery mineral, that is synonymous with pewter and its manufacturer Royal Selangor?

Answer: Tin

In the late 1970s, Malaysia was reported to produce 31% of the world's tin. The mineral was mined in the neighboring areas of Kinta Valley in the state of Perak.

Tin is the main mineral used in the production of the pewter alloy. Founded in 1885, Royal Selangor is a reputable Malaysian pewter manufacturer and retailer that specializes in handcrafted pewter items, such as tableware, photo frames, and wine accessories.

The nickname "Chersonesus Aurea", or "Golden Peninsula", coined by Greek geographer Ptolemy, is a reference to the gold mines in the state of Pahang.

7. Malaya's (present-day Peninsular Malaysia) history was plagued with the dark period of the occupancy of an Asian colonial power for a duration of three years and eight months. The arrival of army troops in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on 8 December 1941 took place just one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Which Asian nation is being described?

Answer: Japan

Due to its strategic location, Malaya (present-day Peninsular Malaysia) was colonized by several European colonial powers, which include Portuguese, Dutch, and Britain.

Upon the landing of the Imperial Japanese Army in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on 8 December 1941, a battle ensued between the Japanese army troops and the British Indian Army.

The Japanese occupation of Malaya was marked with hardship and turmoil. On 15 August 1945, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Imperial Japan, marking the end of the Japanese occupancy in Malaya.

8. At 452 meters, these iconic skyscrapers, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were once the tallest buildings in the world, from 1998 to 2004. Which iconic landmarks, known for their skybridge that connects the two towers, are featured in the movie "Entrapment" (1999) and the reality TV show "The Amazing Race"?

Answer: Petronas Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers are designed by Argentine architect C�sar Pelli (1926-2019). The towers are 88 floors in height. A skybridge connects the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors.

The buildings are featured in "Entrapment" (1999), starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The towers are also featured in the third and 24th seasons of "The Amazing Race".

At 509 meters, Taipei 101 surpassed the Petronas Twin Towers as the world's tallest building when its construction was completed in 2004.

The Emirates Towers are located in Dubai, UAE. The Pacific Plaza Towers are located in Manila, Philippines. The Huaguoyuan Towers are located in Guiyang, Guizhou, China.

9. Malaysia is a melting pot of ethnicities, with the three main ethnic groups being Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Which Malaysian fashion designer, whose patrons include the late Princess Diana, was conferred an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2002?

Answer: Jimmy Choo

Despite the differences in ethnicities, cultures, languages, and religions, Malaysians live in peace and harmony.

Jimmy Choo, noted for his handmade women's shoes, was born in the state of Penang in 1948. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2002, in recognition of his remarkable contribution in the fashion industry in the UK.

James Wan is the creator of the "Saw" movies franchise. Lee Chong Wei is a three-time Olympic silver medalist in the men's singles badminton event. Alex Yoong is a professional racing driver.

10. Nasi lemak is a beloved Malaysian rice dish, cooked with santan (coconut milk) and served with anchovies, boiled egg, cucumber, peanuts, and sambal (chili paste). In 2018, the dish made news headlines when it was featured in BBC's "Master Chef" TV Show. The judges commented that the food accompanying the rice was not crispy enough. What was the food?

Answer: Rendang

Rendang is a stew dish that is braised in spice mixture and santan (coconut milk).

In the Malay language, "nasi" means rice, whereas "lemak" means oil.

In the 13th episode of the 14th series of "Master Chef", Zaleha Kadir Olpin had prepared her nasi lemak dish and rendang. One of the judges, Gregg Wallace commented, "I like the rendang flavour, there's a coconut sweetness, however, the chicken skin isn't crispy. It can't be eaten and all the sauce is on the skin, I can't eat."

Source: Author Matthew_07

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Malaysia - My Beloved Country Trivia Quiz

How do I love Malaysia? Let me count the ways - equatorial climate, vast rainforest, tropical islands, pristine natural wonders, exquisite fauna, abundant resources, illustrious history, iconic landmarks, multiracial society, and delicious cuisines!

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