Malaysia is situated seven degrees north of the equator in Southeast Asia. The country consists of 14 states; including three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Politically, the three territories formed the 14th state of Malaysia even though geographically dispersed. The northern part of Peninsular Malaysia borders Thailand. To the east is the South China Sea, to the south is Singapore and to the west are the Straits of Melaka.

Sabah and Sarawak are on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Malaysia has a warm and humid climate. The humidity is about 80% all year round and temperatures range from 21 to 32°C. The climate is affected by the northeast and southwest monsoons, tropical winds that alternate during the course of the year.

The northeast monsoon blows from November to March, and the southwest monsoon from May to September. The periods between the monsoons are marked by heavy rainfall. Much of Malaysia is mountainous. Its mountains include two of the highest in southeast Asia: the Gunung Tahan, which rises 2,190 metres above the central spine of the Titiwangsa mountain range in Peninsular Malaysia, and the Gunung Kinabalu, 4,100 metres high, in Sabah.