1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 

                                            
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

 
                            THE MALAYSIA FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Names of Registrant as Specified in Its Charters)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]  No fee required.
 
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
 
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (5)  Total fee paid:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
 
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by the registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Filing Party:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Date Filed:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2
 
                            THE MALAYSIA FUND, INC.
           C/O MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
                          1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            ------------------------
 
To Our Stockholders:
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The
Malaysia Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held on Monday, June 21, 1999 at 9:30
a.m. (New York time), in Conference Room 2 at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd
Floor, New York, New York 10020, for the following purposes:
 
     1. To elect three Class I Directors for a term of three years.
 
     2. To ratify or reject the selection by the Board of Directors of
        PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the Fund for
        the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.
 
     3. To consider and act upon any other business as may properly come before
        the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 15, 1999 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                              STEFANIE V. CHANG
                                              Acting Secretary
 
Dated:  May 14, 1999
 
     IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. IN ORDER TO AVOID
THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK YOUR
COOPERATION IN MAILING IN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY.
   3
 
                            THE MALAYSIA FUND, INC.
           C/O MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
                          1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            ------------------------
 
     This statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of The Malaysia Fund,
Inc. (the "Fund") in connection with the solicitation of Proxies by the Board of
Directors for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be
held on Monday, June 21, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. (New York time), in Conference Room 2
at the principal executive office of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment
Management Inc. (hereinafter "MSDW Investment Management" or the "Manager"),
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10020. It is
expected that the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and form of Proxy
will first be mailed to stockholders on or about May 14, 1999. The purpose of
the Meeting and the matters to be acted upon are set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
     If the accompanying form of Proxy is executed properly and returned, shares
represented by it will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the
instructions on the Proxy. A Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the time
it is voted by written notice to the Secretary of the Fund or by attendance and
voting at the Meeting. If no instructions are specified, shares will be voted
FOR the election of the nominees for Directors and FOR ratification of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the Fund for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 1999.
 
     The Board has fixed the close of business on April 15, 1999 as the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. On that date, the Fund had
9,738,015 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share
will be entitled to one vote at the Meeting.
 
     The expense of solicitation will be borne by the Fund and will include
reimbursement to brokerage firms and others for expenses in forwarding proxy
solicitation materials to beneficial owners. The solicitation of Proxies will be
largely by mail, but may include, without cost to the Fund, telephonic,
telegraphic or oral communications by regular employees of the Manager. The
solicitation of Proxies is also expected to include communications by employees
of Shareholder Communications Corporation, a proxy solicitation firm expected to
be engaged by the Fund at a cost not expected to exceed $5,000, plus
out-of-pocket expenses.
 
     THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR ITS
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER REQUESTING SUCH REPORT.
REQUESTS FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT SHOULD BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE MALAYSIA FUND,
INC., C/O CHASE GLOBAL FUNDS SERVICES COMPANY, P.O. BOX 2798, BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS 02208-2798, OR BY CALLING 1-800-221-6726.
 
     Chase Global Funds Services Company is an affiliate of the Fund's
administrator, The Chase Manhattan Bank ("Chase Bank"), and provides
administrative services to the Fund. The business address of Chase Bank and
Chase Global Funds Services Company is 73 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02108.
 
     THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE
MATTERS MENTIONED IN ITEMS 1 AND 2 OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING.
   4
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 1)
 
     At the Meeting, three Directors will be elected to hold office for a term
of three years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. It is
the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy to vote, on
behalf of the stockholders, for the election of Peter J. Chase, David B. Gill
and Michael F. Klein as Class I Directors.
 
     Pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, the terms of office of the Directors are
staggered. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, designated
Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class having a term of three years.
Each year the term of one class expires. Class I currently consists of Peter J.
Chase, David B. Gill and Michael F. Klein. Class II currently consists of John
W. Croghan and Graham E. Jones. Class III currently consists of Barton M. Biggs,
John A. Levin and William G. Morton, Jr. Only the Directors in Class I are being
considered for election at this Meeting.
 
     Pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, each Director holds office until (i) the
expiration of his term and until his successor has been elected and qualified,
(ii) his death, (iii) his resignation, (iv) December 31 of the year in which he
reaches seventy-three years of age, or (v) his removal as provided by statute or
the Articles of Incorporation.
 
     The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee makes
recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to the engagement of
independent accountants and reviews with the independent accountants the plan
and results of the audit engagement and matters having a material effect on the
Fund's financial operations. The members of the Audit Committee are currently
Peter J. Chase, David B. Gill and Graham E. Jones none of whom is an "interested
person," as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"). The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Jones. The Audit
Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998. The
Board of Directors does not have nominating or compensation committees or other
committees performing similar functions.
 
     There were four meetings of the Board of Directors held during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1998. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, each
current Director attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate number
of meetings of the Board and of any committee on which he served.
 
     Each of the nominees for Director has consented to be named in this Proxy
Statement and to serve as a director of the Fund if elected. The Board of
Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees named above will
become unavailable for election as a director, but if that should occur before
the Meeting, Proxies will be voted for such persons as the Board of Directors
may recommend.
 
                                        2
   5
 
     Certain information regarding the Directors and officers of the Fund is set
forth below:
 


                                                                                        COMMON
                                                                                        STOCK             SHARE
                                                                                     BENEFICIALLY      EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                     OWNED AS OF       OWNED UNDER
                                  POSITION WITH          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS         MAY 11,        DEFERRED FEE
NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH      THE FUND           AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS          1999**        ARRANGEMENTS+     PERCENTAGE
- -------------------------------   -------------         ----------------------       ------------     -------------     ----------
                                                                                                         
Barton M. Biggs*............     Director and       Chairman, Director and Managing        100                --           ***
 1221 Avenue of the Americas      Chairman of the   Director of Morgan Stanley Dean
 New York, New York 10020         Board since        Witter Investment Management
 11/26/32                         1995               Inc. and Chairman and Director
                                                     of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Limited;
                                                     Managing Director of Morgan
                                                     Stanley & Co. Incorporated;
                                                     Member of the Yale Develop-
                                                     ment Board; Director and
                                                     Chairman of the Board of
                                                     various U.S. registered
                                                     investment companies managed
                                                     by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.
Michael F. Klein*...........     Director and       Principal of Morgan Stanley &           --                --           ***
 1221 Avenue of the Americas     President since    Co. Incorporated and Morgan
 New York, New York 10020         1997               Stanley Dean Witter Investment
 12/12/58                                            Management Inc. and previously
                                                     a Vice President thereof;
                                                     Director and President of
                                                     various U.S. registered
                                                     investment companies managed
                                                     by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.;
                                                     Previously practiced law with
                                                     the New York law firm of
                                                     Rogers & Wells.
Peter J. Chase..............     Director since     Chairman and Chief Financial           621                --           ***
 1441 Paseo De Peralta            1987              Officer, High Mesa
 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501                          Technologies, Inc.; Director
 10/12/32                                            of various U.S. registered
                                                     investment companies managed
                                                     by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.
John W. Croghan.............     Director since     President of Lincoln Partners,       1,000           2,362.4           ***
 200 South Wacker Drive           1995              a partnership of Lincoln
 Chicago, Illinois 60606                             Capital Management Company;
 6/8/30                                              Director of St. Paul Bancorp,
                                                     Inc., Lindsay Manufacturing
                                                     Co. and Republic Services;
                                                     Director of various U.S.
                                                     registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Investment
                                                     Management Inc.; Previously
                                                     Director of Blockbuster
                                                     Entertainment Corporation.

 
                                        3
   6
 


                                                                                        COMMON
                                                                                        STOCK             SHARE
                                                                                     BENEFICIALLY      EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                     OWNED AS OF       OWNED UNDER
                                  POSITION WITH          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS         MAY 11,        DEFERRED FEE
NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH      THE FUND           AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS          1999**        ARRANGEMENTS+     PERCENTAGE
- -------------------------------   -------------         ----------------------       ------------     -------------     ----------
                                                                                                         
David B. Gill...............     Director since     Director of various U.S.               621                --           ***
 26210 Ingleton Circle            1995              registered investment companies
 Easton, Maryland 21601                              managed by Morgan Stanley Dean
 7/6/26                                              Witter Investment Management
                                                     Inc.; Director of the
                                                     Mauritius Fund Limited;
                                                     Director of Moneda Chile Fund
                                                     Limited; Director of First NIS
                                                     Regional Fund SIAC; Director
                                                     of Commonwealth Africa In-
                                                     vestment Fund Ltd.; Chairman
                                                     of the Advisory Board of
                                                     Advent Latin American Private
                                                     Equity Fund; Chairman and
                                                     Director of Norinvest Bank;
                                                     Director of Surinvest
                                                     International Limited;
                                                     Director of National Registry
                                                     Company; Director of South
                                                     Asia Regional Fund Ltd.;
                                                     Director of Creditanstalt
                                                     Ukraine; Previously Director
                                                     of Capital Markets Department
                                                     of the International Finance
                                                     Corporation; Trustee,
                                                     Batterymarch Finance
                                                     Management; Chairman and
                                                     Director of Equity Fund of
                                                     Latin America S.A.; Director
                                                     of Commonwealth Equity Fund
                                                     Limited; and Director of
                                                     Global Securities, Inc.
Graham E. Jones.............     Director since     Senior Vice President of BGK         2,667             705.2           ***
 330 Garfield Street              1987              Properties; Trustee of various
 Suite 200                                           investment companies managed
 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501                          by Weiss, Peck & Greer;
 1/31/33                                             Trustee of various investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Grenfell Capital Management
                                                     Incorporated; Director of
                                                     various U.S. registered
                                                     investment companies managed
                                                     by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.;
                                                     Trustee of various investment
                                                     companies managed by Sun
                                                     Capital Advisors, Inc.;
                                                     Previously Chief Financial
                                                     Officer of Practice Management
                                                     Systems, Inc.
John A. Levin...............     Director since     Chairman and Chief Executive         8,000           2,251.7           ***
 One Rockefeller Plaza            1995              Officer of John A. Levin & Co.,
 New York, New York 10020                            Inc.; Director of various U.S.
 8/20/38                                             registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Investment
                                                     Management Inc.; Director,
                                                     President and Chief Executive
                                                     Officer of Baker Fentress &
                                                     Company.
William G. Morton, Jr. .....     Director since     Chairman and Chief Executive           500                --           ***
100 Franklin Street               1994              Officer of Boston Stock
Boston, Massachusetts 02110                          Exchange; Director of Tandy
3/13/37                                              Corporation; Director of
                                                     various U.S. registered
                                                     investment companies managed
                                                     by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.

 
                                        4
   7
 


                                                                                        COMMON
                                                                                        STOCK             SHARE
                                                                                     BENEFICIALLY      EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                     OWNED AS OF       OWNED UNDER
                                  POSITION WITH          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS         MAY 11,        DEFERRED FEE
NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH      THE FUND           AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS          1999**        ARRANGEMENTS+     PERCENTAGE
- -------------------------------   -------------         ----------------------       ------------     -------------     ----------
                                                                                                         
Harold J. Schaaff, Jr.*.....     Vice President     Principal of Morgan Stanley &          430                --           ***
 1221 Avenue of the Americas      since 1992        Co. Incorporated and Morgan
 New York, New York 10020                            Stanley Dean Witter Investment
 6/10/60                                             Management Inc.; General
                                                     Counsel and Secretary of
                                                     Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.;
                                                     Officer of various U.S.
                                                     registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Investment
                                                     Management Inc.
Joseph P. Stadler*..........     Vice President     Principal of Morgan Stanley &           --                --           ***
 1221 Avenue of the Americas      since 1994        Co. Incorporated and Morgan
 New York, New York 10020                            Stanley Dean Witter Investment
 6/7/54                                              Management Inc.; Officer of
                                                     various U.S. registered in-
                                                     vestment companies managed by
                                                     Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                                                     Investment Management Inc.;
                                                     Previously with Price
                                                     Waterhouse LLP.
Stefanie V. Chang*..........     Vice President     Vice President of Morgan                --                --           ***
 1221 Avenue of the Americas      since 1997 and    Stanley & Co. Incorporated and
 New York, New York 10020         Acting Secre-      Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
 11/30/66                         tary since 1999    Investment Management Inc.;
                                                     Officer of various U.S.
                                                     registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Invest-
                                                     ment Management Inc.;
                                                     Previously practiced law with
                                                     the New York law firm of
                                                     Rogers & Wells.
Joanna Haigney..............     Treasurer          Vice President and Manager of           --                --           ***
 73 Tremont Street                since 1997        Fund Administration, Chase
 Boston, Massachusetts 02108                         Global Funds Services Company;
 10/10/66                                            Officer of various U.S.
                                                     registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Investment
                                                     Management Inc.; Previously
                                                     with Coopers & Lybrand LLP.
Belinda Brady...............     Assistant          Manager, Fund Administration,           --                --           ***
 73 Tremont Street                Treasurer since   Chase Global Funds Services
 Boston, Massachusetts 02108      1996               Company; Officer of various
 1/23/68                                             U.S. registered investment
                                                     companies managed by Morgan
                                                     Stanley Dean Witter Investment
                                                     Management Inc.; Previously
                                                     with Price Waterhouse LLP.
All Directors and Officers as a Group..............................................     13,939           5,319.3           ***
                                                                                        ======           =======           ===

 
                                        5
   8
 
- ---------------
 

  
  *  "Interested person" within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Mr.
     Biggs is chairman, director and managing director of the
     Manager, and Messrs. Klein, Schaaff and Stadler and Ms.
     Chang are officers of the Manager.
 **  This information has been furnished by each nominee,
     director and officer.
***  Less than 1%.
  +  Indicates share equivalents owned by the Directors and held
     in cash accounts by the Fund on behalf of the Directors in
     connection with the deferred fee arrangements described
     below.

 
     Each officer of the Fund will hold such office until a successor has been
duly elected and qualified.
 
     The Fund pays each of its Directors who is not a director, officer or
employee of MSDW Investment Management or its affiliates an annual fee of
$4,795, plus out-of-pocket expenses. Each of the members of the Fund's Audit
Committee, which consists of the Fund's Directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, will receive an additional fee
of $787 for serving on such committee.
 
     Each of the Directors who is not an "affiliated person" of MSDW Investment
Management within the meaning of the 1940 Act may enter into a deferred fee
arrangement (the "Fee Arrangement") with the Fund, pursuant to which such
Director may defer to a later date the receipt of his Director's fees. The
deferred fees owed by the Fund are credited to a bookkeeping account maintained
by the Fund on behalf of such Director and accrue income from and after the date
of credit in an amount equal to the amount that would have been earned had such
fees (and all income earned thereon) been invested and reinvested either (i) in
shares of the Fund or (ii) at a rate equal to the prevailing rate applicable to
90-day United States Treasury Bills at the beginning of each calendar quarter
for which this rate is in effect, whichever method is elected by the Director.
 
     Under the Fee Arrangement, deferred Director's fees (including the return
accrued thereon) will become payable in cash upon such Director's resignation
from the Board of Directors in generally equal annual installments over a period
of five years (unless the Fund has agreed to a longer or shorter payment period)
beginning on the first day of the year following the year in which such
Director's resignation occurred. In the event of a Director's death, remaining
amounts payable to him under the Fee Arrangement will thereafter be payable to
his designated beneficiary; in all other events, a Director's right to receive
payments is non-transferable. Under the Fee Arrangement, the Board of Directors
of the Fund, in its sole discretion, has reserved the right, at the request of a
Director or otherwise, to accelerate or extend the payment of amounts in the
deferred fee account at any time after the termination of such Director's
service as a director. In addition, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Fund or the distribution of all or substantially all of the
Fund's assets and property to its stockholders (other than in connection with a
reorganization or merger into another fund advised by MSDW Investment
Management), all unpaid amounts in the deferred fee account maintained by the
Fund will be paid in a lump sum to the Directors participating in the Fee
Arrangement on the effective date thereof.
 
                                        6
   9
 
     Set forth below is a table showing the aggregate compensation paid by the
Fund to each of its Directors, as well as the total compensation paid to each
Director of the Fund by the Fund and by other U.S. registered investment
companies advised by MSDW Investment Management or its affiliates (collectively,
the "Fund Complex") for their services as Directors of such investment companies
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.
 


                                              PENSION OR                               NUMBER OF
                                              RETIREMENT      TOTAL COMPENSATION        FUNDS IN
                            AGGREGATE      BENEFITS ACCRUED       FROM FUND           FUND COMPLEX
                          COMPENSATION      AS PART OF THE     COMPLEX PAID TO         FOR WHICH
   NAME OF DIRECTORS     FROM FUND(2)(3)   FUND'S EXPENSES     DIRECTORS(2)(4)     DIRECTOR SERVES(5)
   -----------------     ---------------   ----------------   ------------------   ------------------
                                                                       
Barton M. Biggs(1).....      $    0              None              $     0                 16
Michael F. Klein(1)....           0              None                    0                 16
Peter J. Chase.........       5,582              None               75,753                 12
John W. Croghan........       4,795              None               64,997                 12
David B. Gill..........       5,582              None               75,753                 12
Graham E. Jones........       5,582              None               75,753                 12
John A. Levin..........       4,795              None               72,097                 13
William G. Morton,
  Jr...................       4,795              None               64,997                 12

 
- ---------------
(1) "Interested person" of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
(2) The amounts reflected in this table include amounts payable by the Fund
    Complex for services rendered during the fiscal year ended December 31,
    1998, regardless of whether such amounts were actually received by the
    Directors during such fiscal year.
(3) Of the amounts shown in this column, Mr. Croghan and Mr. Levin deferred all
    of their aggregate compensation pursuant to the Fee Arrangement described
    above. Payments under the Fee Arrangement to a Director will be based on the
    number of share equivalents a Director holds. For the number of share
    equivalents held by each Director, please refer to the table on pgs. 3-5 of
    this proxy statement.
(4) Of the amounts shown in this column, Mr. Croghan, Mr. Gill and Mr. Levin
    deferred all or a portion of their total compensation pursuant to the Fee
    Arrangement described above.
(5) Indicates the total number of boards of directors of investment companies in
    the Fund Complex, including the Fund, on which the Director served at any
    time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Fund's officers and directors, and persons who own
more than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund's equity securities, to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. The
Manager assumes responsibility for filing such reports for the Fund's officers
and directors and believes that all required reports under Section 16(a) have
been filed on a timely basis for the Fund's officers and directors.
 
     The election of Messrs. Chase, Gill and Klein requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Under
the Fund's By-Laws, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled
to cast one-third of the votes entitled to be cast thereat shall constitute a
quorum. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in
determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting, but will not be counted
as votes cast at the Meeting.
 
                                        7
   10
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS.
 
                      SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 2)
 
     The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors
who are not "interested persons" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, has
selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants for the Fund for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999. The ratification of the selection of
independent accountants is to be voted on at the Meeting, and it is intended
that the persons named in the accompanying Proxy will vote for ratification of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's appointment. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP acts as the
independent accountants for certain of the other investment companies advised by
MSDW Investment Management. Although it is not expected that a representative of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will attend the Meeting, a representative will be
available by telephone to respond to stockholder questions, if any.
 
     The Board's policy regarding engaging independent accountants' services is
that management may engage the Fund's principal independent accountants to
perform any services normally provided by independent accounting firms, provided
that such services meet any and all of the independence requirements of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In accordance with this policy, the Audit Committee reviews
and approves all services provided by the independent accountants prior to their
being rendered. The Board of Directors also receives a report from its Audit
Committee relating to all services that have been performed by the Fund's
independent accountants.
 
     The ratification of the selection of independent accountants requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum
is present. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted
in determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting, but will not be
counted as votes cast at the Meeting.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL NO. 2.
 
                                        8
   11
 
                SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
 
     To the knowledge of the Fund's management, the following person owned
beneficially more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding shares at April 15, 1999:
 


NAME AND ADDRESS OF                                  AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER                                     BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP       PERCENT OF CLASS
- -------------------                                  --------------------       ----------------
                                                                          
President and Fellows of Harvard College........  892,500 shares with sole             5.3%
  c/o Harvard Management Company, Inc.            voting power and sole
  600 Atlantic Avenue                             dispositive power(1)
  Boston, MA 02210

 
- ---------------
(1) Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Commission on February 12, 1999.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     No business other than as set forth herein is expected to come before the
Meeting, but should any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders arise,
including any question as to an adjournment of the Meeting, the persons named in
the enclosed Proxy will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the
interests of the Fund.
 
                 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
 
     A stockholder's proposal intended to be presented at the Fund's Annual
Meeting of Stockholders in 2000 must be received by the Fund on or before
January 15, 2000, in order to be included in the Fund's proxy statement and form
of proxy relating to that meeting. Any stockholder who desires to bring a
proposal at the Fund's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2000, without including
such proposal in the Fund's proxy statement, must deliver written notice thereof
to the Secretary of the Fund not before March 23, 2000 and not later than April
22, 2000, in the manner and form required by the Fund's By-Laws.
 
                                              STEFANIE V. CHANG
                                              Acting Secretary
 
Dated:  May 14, 1999
 
     STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND WHO WISH TO
HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND
RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.
 
                                        9
   12
 
                                     PROXY
 
                            THE MALAYSIA FUND, INC.
 
           C/O MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
                          1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020
 
    THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The undersigned
hereby constitutes and appoints MICHAEL F. KLEIN, HAROLD J. SCHAAFF, JR. and
STEFANIE V. CHANG, and each of them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, and hereby authorizes said proxies,
and each of them, to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse side, all
stock of the above Company held of record by the undersigned on April 15, 1999
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 21, 1999, and at any
adjournment thereof.
 
   The undersigned hereby revokes any and all proxies with respect to such stock
heretofore given by the undersigned. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the
Proxy Statement dated May 14, 1999.
 
            (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE)
                               SEE REVERSE SIDE

  [X] PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTES AS IN THIS SAMPLE.

1. Election of the following nominees as Class I Directors:
 
  [ ] FOR    [ ] WITHHELD   Peter J. Chase, David  B. Gill and Michael F. Klein
 
  [ ] For all nominees except as noted below
 
- --------------------------------------------
 
2. Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
accountants.
 
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
3. In the discretion of such proxies, upon any and all other business as may
properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
 
   THIS PROXY IF PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE THREE CLASS I NOMINEES AND IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL
NO. 2.
 
   PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS. WHEN SHARES ARE HELD BY JOINT
TENANTS, EACH JOINT TENANT SHOULD SIGN.
 

SIGNATURE
         -----------------------------------------------
Date:               , 1999
     ---------------

When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or
custodian, please sign full title as such. If a corporation, please sign full
corporate name by authorized officer and indicate the signer's office. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE BELOW  [ ]