What role did geographic location and natural resources play in the the development of Malaysia?

Malaysia has a strategic location on the straights of Malacca between East Asia and Europe. The straights of Malacca is right in the middle of the world's busiest trade route making it a popular spot to stop, resupply and trade. This allowed Malaysians to trade with the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Europeans to acquire thing like silk, farm animals, weapons, food, spices and most importantly, gold.  Malaysia has abundant natural resources such as fertile soil, metals, timber, oil and gas.

In the 1500's and 1600s, the Europeans came to Malacca in search of silk and spices.  They found safe harbors, and plenty of goods to trade.  They established a trading out post in Malacca and a fort to protect their fleet and control who came in and out of the port. This enabled them to bring in more ship to trade in this important trade route. The Europeans brought gold and silver to trade for Malaysia's natural resources.

In the 1700s and 1800s, Europeans harvested other Malaysian natural resources. They cut down huge rain forests on the Malay Peninsula and on Borneo. They dug out precious materials like tin and iron. Malaysia remained a strategic trading location.  

 In the 1900s and 2000s, Malaysians took control of their natural resources and planted oil palms where the rain forests once stood and began exploring for oi land gas. Malaysia is now the world's largest producer of palm oil and makes a lit of money selling its oil and gas.