The Federation of Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country to the south of Thailand. Its capital is Kuala Lumpur. On the sea route between India and China, the country rapidly became an important trading centre.

During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the region gradually came under British rule. Its economic growth was partly due to the production of tin and rubber. Refusing to allow their subjects to be employed by the British, the Malay sultans imported labour from India and China, which explains the ethic diversity of its inhabitants.