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MALAYSIA (Continued)

Sabah: adequate intercity radio-relay network extends to Sarawak via Brunei; 36,000 telephones (2.8 per 100 popl.); 14 AM, 1 FM, 5 TV stations; SEACOM submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore; 1 ground satellite station

Sarawak: adequate intercity radio-relay network extends to Sabah via Brunei; 40,000 telephones (2.5 per 100 popl.); 5 AM stations, no FM, and 6 TV stations

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower:

Peninsular Malaysia: males 15-49, 2,993,000; 1,901,000 fit for military service; 135,000 reach military age (21) annually

Sabah: males 15-49, 278,000; 165,000 fit for military service; 13,000 reach military age (21) annually

Sarawak: males 15-49, 351,000; 209,000 fit for military service; 15,000 reach military age (21) annually

External defense dependent on loose Five Power Defense Agreement (FPDA) which replaced Anglo-Malayan Defense Agreement of 1957 as amended in 1963

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1982, $2,928.3 million; about 21.1% of central government budget


MALDIVES

(See reference map VIII)

LAND

298 km2; 2,000 islands grouped into 12 atolls; about 220 islands inhabited

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): the land and sea between latitudes 7°9′N and 0°45′S and between longitudes 72°30′E and 73°48′E; these coordinates form a rectangle of approximately 37,000 nm2; territorial sea ranges from 2.75 to 55 nm; fishing, approximately 100 nm; economic, approximately 200 nm

Coastline: 644 km (approx.)

PEOPLE

Population: 163,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 3.0%

Nationality: noun—Maldivian(s); adjective—Maldivian

Ethnic divisions: admixtures of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and Negro

Religion: Sunni Islam

Language: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala)

Literacy: largely illiterate

Labor force: fishing industry employs 80% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Maldives

Type: republic

Capital: Male

Political subdivisions: 19 administrative districts corresponding to atolls

Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: 26 July, Independence Day

Branches: popularly elected unicameral national legislature (Majlis) (members elected for five-year terms); elected

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