Straits of Malacca

Walking in the sea of the Straits of Malacca in Morib Beach, Selangor (7 July, 2016)


B. Melayu

Straits of Malacca, also written The Strait of Malacca, is the straits that separates Peninsular Malaysia from Sumatra, Indonesia. Measuring 850 km (530 miles) in length, it is one of the longest straits in the world.

The Straits of Malacca is a very important shipping lane since antiquity. It was the waterway that enable traders of old to arrive at this part of the world, bringing with them various items of trade. Entrepôt developed along both sides of the Straits of Malacca to act as meeting point for traders from all over, traders from Arabia, Persia and India coming from the west, while those from China and Japan from the east. Various kingdoms were established on either sides of the strait, including Srivijaya and the Malacca Sultanate. Ships passing through the straits have been plagued with piracy, a problem that has been apparent for hundreds of years.

The shoreline of the Straits of Malacca is lined with mangrove swamps, interrupted by stretches of sandy beaches.

The Straits of Malacca Pantai Kuala Sanglang in Perlis. (6 July, 2016)


The Straits of Malacca as seen from Pantai Malindo, Penang. (24 May, 2015)


The Straits of Malacca at Pantai Redang, Selangor. (7 July, 2016)


Oil tankers ply the Straits of Malacca at Tanjung Piai, Johor. (7 July, 2016)

List of Straits in Malaysia

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