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Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the largest city in
Malaysia. The city proper, making up an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) is the
fastest growing metropolitan region in the country, in terms of population
and economy.
Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The city was once
home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but
they have since moved to Putrajaya starting in
1999. Some sections of the judiciary remain in the capital. The official
residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in
Kuala Lumpur. Rated as an alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the cultural,
financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the
capital as well as being a primate city.
The geography of Kuala Lumpur is characterized by a huge valley known as
Klang Valley. The valley is bordered by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the
east, several minor ranges in the north and the south and the Strait of
Malacca in the west. Kuala Lumpur is a Malay term which translates to
"muddy confluence" as it is located at the confluence of the Klang and
Gombak rivers.
Located in the centre of Selangor state, Kuala Lumpur was previously under
the rule of Selangor State Government. In 1974, Kuala Lumpur was separated
from Selangor to form the first Federal Territory governed directly by the
Malaysian Federal Government. Its location on the west coast of Peninsular
Malaysia, which has wider flat land than the east coast, has contributed
to its faster development relative to other cities in Malaysia.
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