<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishMalaysia ilijitokeza kwanza kama kituo cha biashara kwa Asia na Ulaya, na bandari za Melaka Malacca katika nyakati za kikoloni na baadaye Singapore, sasa yenye enzi kuu na huru.  <response>: Malaysia rose first as a trading point for Asia and Europe, with the ports of Melaka Malacca in colonial times and later Singapore, now sovereign and independent. 