The Malay Peninsula: Southeast Asia's Long Peninsula Ending in Singapore

The Malay Peninsula (Semenanjung Tanah Melayu) is the long, narrow peninsula in mainland Southeast Asia extending south from the Isthmus of Kra (Thailand) to the Strait of Singapore — where the island nation of Singapore sits at its tip.

Geography

• Length: ~1,100 km (680 mi) north–south
• Width: 150–320 km
• Area: ~132,000 km²
• Divided by: Thailand (north) — provinces Ranong to Narathiwat; Malaysia (south) — 11 states + 2 federal territories (KL, Putrajaya)
• Mountains: Titiwangsa Range (spine) — highest Gunung Korbu (2,183 m)
• Coasts: West = Strait of Malacca (busy shipping); East = South China Sea

Singapore Connection

• Separated by: Johor Strait (1–2 km wide)
• Linked by: Johor–Singapore Causeway (1924, road/rail/water) & Second Link (1998, Tuas)
• Singapore = sovereign city-state at peninsula's tip — not part of peninsula politically

Ecology & Economy

• Rainforest: Ancient (130M years) — Taman Negara, Endau-Rompin, Belum-Temengor
• Biodiversity: Tiger, elephant, tapir, hornbill, Rafflesia
• Plantations: Rubber, oil palm (colonial legacy → major export)
• Tin: Kinta Valley (Malaysia) — historic global supplier
• Urbanization: KL (2M), Johor Bahru (1M), George Town, Ipoh, Malacca

Cultural Mosaic

• Malay (Orang Asli indigenous + coastal Malays)
• Chinese (Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka — tin/rubber migrants)
• Indian (Tamil — rubber/railway labor)
• Orang Asli (18 subgroups, <200K) — forest dwellers
• Peranakan (Straits Chinese) — hybrid culture

Not "Malaysian Peninsula"

Geographic term = Malay Peninsula. Political south = Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia). Singapore = separate sovereign.