Malaysia is located in southeast Asia and is bordered by Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore. Its government and population are predominately Muslim, but there are many Hindus and Buddhists. Approximately 40 percent of the [Page 481]population is of Chinese and/or Indian decent. The authorities are tolerant of those of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. Malaysia's primary drug problem involves domestic use of heroin and opium. Based on recent United Nations (UN) data, 1.1 to 1.6 percent of the population age 15 to 64 use opiate drugs annually. As most of the drug users employ injection via often tainted hypodermic needles as the method of use, Malaysia has been beset with one of the highest rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C, particularly in ...