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Kuala Lumpur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kuala Lumpur

Flag Seal

Nickname: "KL"

Motto: 'Maju dan makmur (Malay: Peace and progress)'

Location in Malaysia

Coordinates: 3°8′00″N, 101°42′00″E

Country Malaysia

State Federal Territory

Establishment 1857

Granted city status 1974

Mayor Ruslin Hasan

Area

- City 243.65 km² (95.18 sq mi)

Elevation 21.95 m (72 ft)

Population

- City (2004) 1,479,388

- Density 6074/km² (15,543/sq mi)

- Metro 6 527 057 (2006) [1]

Time zone MST (UTC+8)

- Summer (DST) MST (UTC+8)

Mean solar time UTC+06:46:48

Website: http://www.dbkl.gov.my/

Kuala Lumpur is the capital as well as the largest city of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is one of the three Malaysian Federal Territories. It is an enclave within the state of Selangor, on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Within Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is commonly referred to as KL.

The city previously hosted the Malaysian judiciary and executive arms. With the completion of Putrajaya in the late 1990s, both arms have since migrated to Putrajaya though sections of the judicial branch still remain in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Parliament still operates in the city, hence making the city the legislative capital of the country.

Contents [hide]

1 History

2 Geography

3 Climate

4 Mayors of Kuala Lumpur

5 Arts

6 Media

7 Transportation

7.1 Land

7.2 Air

7.3 Public transportation

8 Places of interest

8.1 Within Kuala Lumpur

8.2 Around the Kuala Lumpur area

9 Gallery

10 References

11 See also

12 External links

History

Main article: History of Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur had its origins In the 1850s when the Malay Chief of Klang sent Chinese upriver from China to open new and larger tin mines where Kuala Lumpur previously is rich in tins. They landed at the confluence of Sungai Gombak (previously Sg. Lumpur which means Muddy River) and Sungai Klang (Klang River) and established mines at Ampang. Later, tin mines were opened at Pudu and Batu.

This trading post was a wild frontier town plagued by floods, fires, disease and the Selangor Civil War (1870-73). During this time, Kapitan Cina Yap Ah Loy emerged as a leader, responsible for the survival and growth of the town. In 1880. in view of its strategic location, the Selangor state capital was moved from Klang to Kuala Lumpur. Nothing of this earlier period remains as all structures were of wood and atap (thatch) which were destroyed in the fire and subsequent flood of 1881.

Thereafter, Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor who was Instrumental in the development of the town, required that buildings be constructed of brick and tile. The advent of the railway increased accessibility. The development of buildings intensified in the 1890s so that it warranted the establishment of the Sanitary Board. In 1896, Kuala Lumpur was chosen as the capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States.

The multiracial community of this period settled in various sections of town. Market Square, east of Sungai Klang, became the commercial centre for the whole town. The Chinese congregated around this Square and south into Chinatown. To the north, across Java Street (now Jalan Tun Perak). were the Malays. Nearby, a number of Indian Chettiars (money-lenders), and in later years Indian Muslim traders, set up business. West of The river, the Padang (now Merdeka Square) was the focal point or the British administration.

Kuala Lumpur continued to grow despite two World Wars. the rubber and tin commodity crash and the State of Emergency (1948-60) during which Malaya was preoccupied with the communist insurgency. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained its independence from British rule. Kuala Lumpur remained the capital through the formation of Malaysia, achieving city status in 1972, and was established as the Federal Territory in 1974.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is located at the confluence of Klang and Gombak River. Mostly surrounded by forests and hills, it is the only city in the world to have a million-year-old primary forest within the heart of the city. There is no sea surrounding Kuala Lumpur.

Climate

Kuala Lumpur enjoys year round equatorial climate which is warm and sunny, along with plentiful rainfall, especially during the southwest monsoon from April to September.While the monsoon seasons' transition,here it comes in the Sumatera Monsoon Period which will bring heavy rainfall during evenings and after dusk.However,due to the close proximity of Kuala Lumpur to the Sumatera Island,dust particles are carried by wind from perennial but transient forest fires, creating a phenomenon known as the haze.This usually will last for 1 to 2 weeks but sometimes will last longer than expected.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average min (°C) 22.1 22.3 22.8 23.4 23.1 22.1 22.7 22.7 22.7 22.9 22.9 22.5

Average max (°C) 31.9 32.8 33.1 33.0 32.8 32.5 32.1 32.2 31.9 31.8 31.4 31.5

Lowest recorded (°C) 19 21 20 21 22 20 19 19 20 21 21 19

Highest recorded (°C) 35 36 37 36 35 36 36 36 35 36 35 34

Average rainfall (millimeters) 163 145 218 285 184 127 129 146 192 272 275 230

Ave no of days with 1 mm 10 11 14 16 13 9 10 11 13 17 18 15

National Enviroment Agency,Singapore

Mayors of Kuala Lumpur

Since Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory of Malaysia on February 1, 1972, the city has been led by seven mayors. They are:

Tan Sri Dato' Lokman Yusof (1972)

Tan Sri Yaakob Latiff (1973 - 1983)

Tan Sri Dato' Elyas Omar (1983 - 1992)

Dato' Dr. Mazlan Ahmad (1992 - 1995)

Tan Sri Dato’ Kamaruzzaman Shariff (1995 - 2001)

Datuk Mohmad Shaid Mohd Taufek (2001 - 2004)

Datuk Ruslin Hasan (2004 - current) [2]

As local government elections in Malaysia have been suspended since 1970, mayors are appointed by the Federal Territories Minister. [1]

Arts

Frieze depicting Malaysian history at the National MuseumKuala Lumpur, which is the capital of a multiracial nation, is the hub for cultural activities and events. Among the important centres is the National Museum which is situated along the Mahameru Highway. It offers various types of collection such as artefacts and paintings collected throughout the country. This museum symbolises the nation's rich cultural heritage and history.

Another venue for the appreciation of arts is the Kuala Lumpur Philharmonic Hall. This classical concert hall features a shoe-box shaped stage and is equipped with the latest facilities. The design is sophisticated, while the seating is spacious. It is headquartered to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), comprising an impressive cast of international musicians and features regular concerts, chamber concerts and traditional cultural performances.

Another proud success of Malaysians, the National Theater is among the top ten most sophisticated theatres in the world. It is the first Asian country to install cutting-edge equipments that is on par with the Royal Albert Hall in London. Walking within this hall will also allow visitors to experience Malaysian culture and heritage. It is well decorated with wooden hand-carved flowers and leaves and Langkawi marble. The Petronas Art Gallery, a centre where elegant and fine arts around the world are displayed, is situated in Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). A platform called 'Experimental Space' is also included to boost innovation and experimentation in art. The National Art Gallery is a platform to showcase outstanding art collection and to cultivate awareness of the arts among all levels of society.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) in Sentul West is also a noted centre for the performing arts, notably theatre and music (it can also host film screening). It has housed impressive local productions and has been a key supporter of local and regional independent performance artists. Amongst the highlights of the year so far was the KL Sing Song 2006 music fest which featured Malaysian singer-songwriters of various cultural backgrounds, from both West and East Malaysia, through two days of performances and workshops. It was one of the key events featured in the inaugural KL Festival this year.

Kuala Lumpur holds an annual festival called Malaysia International Gourmet Festival. It is primarily held in the city center. Another important event in Kuala Lumpur is Kuala Lumpur Fashion week, which includes international brands as well as local designers.

Media

Menara Kuala Lumpur enhances the quality of communication in the city.In Kuala Lumpur, there are several types of newspapers, including daily newspapers, business newspapers and also a digital newspaper. Daily newspapers are Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, The Star, New Straits Times ,The Sun, Malay Mail, and other language newspapers. Digital versions of newspapers may be easily obtained through a computer equipped with internet access.

Kuala Lumpur is the headquarters for Malaysia's state broadcaster RTM and commercial station TV3. Programmes are broadcast in Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil.

The city is also home to the country's main pay-TV service, Astro, a satellite television service, which broadcasts local and global television channels such as CNN, BBC World, Star World and HBO.

Al-Jazeera, the Doha-based Arab news network has plans to expand its international viewership by launching a new, English-speaking, channel called Al-Jazeera International. One of its international broadcast centres will be based at the Petronas Twin Towers, in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Phoenix TV, a Hong Kong based television broadcaster has also announced plans to expand its regional business by setting up its representative office in Kuala Lumpur.

Transportation

Land

The Federal Highway, connecting Kuala Lumpur and Klang, Selangor.

The busy Jalan Ampang at night leading straight to the Petronas Towers.Kuala Lumpur has a comprehensive road network that can lead you to all parts of Peninsular Malaysia. With almost 7 highways in the city, it is convenient to travel in the city with a car. Cars can be rented from the airport or in the city. Motorists may have a choice of paying cash, using stored value card Touch 'n Go or SmartTag to pay at the toll booths while using the highways/expressways. A near-completion project, SMART Tunnel will facilitate motorists to enter the city without crawling through the congestions in the city using an underground tunnel. Another completed project, ITIS (Intergrated Transport Information System) will also facilitate motorists to get around the city by using advance systems, allowing them to see traffic conditions on major roadways and plan a suitable route into the city before beginning their journey..

However, despite all this, Kuala Lumpur often has horrendous traffic problems, and peak hour traffic is generally from 7:30am to 8:45am, and from 5:45pm to 8:30pm. One is advised to avoid the Federal Highway as well as the Middle Ring Road, especially heading towards Cheras or towards Petaling Jaya.

Air

Kuala Lumpur is directly connected to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang via the KLIA Ekspres high-speed train service which takes only 28 minutes, while travelling by car via highway will take about an hour. The former international airport, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang is now used for chartered flights.

Malaysia Airlines and all major international airlines to Malaysia lands at KLIA wherelse the home grown most successful low fare carrier in Asia, AirAsia makes use of the newly built Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCC-T) in Sepang. LCC-T is easily accessible to/from KL through a low cost bus service from KL Sentral (transport hub) at a price of RM9.

Public transportation

Main article: Public transport in Kuala Lumpur

Public transport in Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the Klang Valley covers a variety of transport modes such as bus, rail and taxi. Unlike most other major Asian cities, utilisation rates are low. Poor quality of services are usually blamed for this. In addition, there is the metro system consisting of 3 seperate lines which meets in the city and extends to the Western Suburbs of the state of Selangor. The metro system consists of a Monorail, an Elevated Metro, and an Automated Metro with underground stations in the city centre. This automated line was once the World's Longest Fully Automated line until the Lille Metro in France extended its existing line. Trains are clean and well kept. Food, pets, drinks are strictly prohibited among trains and heavy penalties are charged upon violation. Commuter trains also exists to link commuters to the city. The main hub is KL Sentral facilitating as an interchange station for the main lines.

Currently, only 16 percent of the population uses public transportation. [2]

Places of interest

Main article: Kuala Lumpur's Tourism

Kuala Lumpur's landmark, the Petronas Twin Towers

View from the Skybridge on the Petronas towers.

The vibrant and colourful Central Market

Dataran Merdeka and the tall building at the center is the Royal Malaysian Police headquarters on Bukit Aman.There are popular tourist locations in and around Kuala Lumpur.

Within Kuala Lumpur

The Golden Triangle, the commercial hub of the city, contains the famed Petronas Twin Towers and has a hectic nightlife.

The Petronas Twin Towers were the world's tallest twin towers and second and third-tallest singular towers, standing adjacent to one of the busiest shopping malls in Malaysia, Suria KLCC.

The Menara Kuala Lumpur, currently the world's fifth tallest telecommunication tower, is located on the Bukit Nanas hill beside Convent Bukit Nanas.

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) is the first convention and exhibition centre in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (also known as KLCC) is another convention and exhibition centre in Kuala Lumpur. It is situated in the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC area. Aquaria KLCC is also situated in this building.

Dayabumi a major landmark located near Masjid Negara. It is an office building.

Kuala Lumpur General Post Office is located next to Dayabumi.

Lake Gardens, a 920 000 square metre manicured garden near the Malaysian Parliament building, was once home to a British colonial official. They include a Butterfly Park, Deer Park, Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden and South-East Asia's largest Bird Park. (Bird park pics)

Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), was initially erected for the country's declaration of independence on August 31, 1957.

Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square/Merdeka Square), was the site of the lowering of the Union Jack flag and hoisting of the Malayan flag on the start of August 31, 1957. The square itself has historic association with its surroundings, namely the Royal Selangor Club, National History Museum and the architecturally Victorian-Moorish or 'Raj' influenced Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, a Victorian-Moorish railway station, was completed in 1911, and surpassed by KL Sentral in 2001; it currently serves commuter trains only.

The Muzium Negara (National Museum) incorporates neo traditionalism into its architectural design.

The Masjid Negara (National Mosque), a post modernist mosque, was completed in 1965 and Makam Pahlawan (Heroes Mausoleum) the mausoleum of Malaysian leaders.

The Parliament House, a Malaysian federal government legislative building, was completed on 1963.

The Tugu Negara (National Monument) commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggles for freedom (principally against the Japanese occupation and during the Malayan Emergency of 1946-60).

The Istana Negara, official residence of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

The National Science Centre, located in Bukit Damansara.

The Federal Territory Mosque located along Jalan Duta.

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, a gazetted small tropical forest located on the centre of Kuala Lumpur city rich with variety of flora remained as the city natural green lung that is surrounded by the city concrete jungles.

Many of the largest celebrations of Chinese cultural festivals are held at the Thean Hou Temple on Robson Hill.

The Chinese Night Market area (Chinatown), Petaling Street, has recently undergone a makeover; the most notable feature is the new covered walkway.

Cheap hawker food on the street is sold at Jalan Alor.

Mid Valley Megamall, one of the largest shopping malls(situated in Bangsar).

Bukit Bintang, the ultimate shopping and entertainment experience in the Golden Triangle.

Berjaya Times Square, the largest shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

The Mall is the main shopping complex near Putra World Trade Centre.

Kuala Lumpur's Central Market, which was once the city's wet market, offers an assortment of arts and craft merchandise, varying from antiques and paintings to souvenirs and clothing. It is also known as Pasar Seni in Malay.

Trendy nightclubs, bars and lounges, such as Hard Rock Cafe, Zouk and Thai Club are located within and around Jalan P.Ramlee, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang.

For those seeking to tantalize their tastebuds or just want to have a great night out, Heritage Row in Jalan Doraisamy provides the perfect balance of chic restaurants, nightclubs and bars.

Brickfields, Jalan Masjid India and Lebuh Ampang are 'Little India's spread around KL showing Indian presence in KL. You can come here for great Indian food and shopping.

Hindu temples such as Sri Mahamariamman temple near Central Market and Sri Kandaswamy Kovil in Brickfields

Around the Kuala Lumpur area

The Batu Caves, a Hindu shrine and a tourist attraction near Kuala LumpurBatu Caves is located 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur. It is a sacred place for Hindus in Malaysia and is home to a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. Batu Caves consists of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. The caves are made of limestone and 400 meters long and 100 meter high. There are 272 steps, which will lead you to the caves. Temple Cave or Cathedral Cave is the best known and biggest of the caves. Once a year, millions of Hindu devotees and other visitors throng the caves to celebrate the Thaipusam festival. On the other side of Batu Caves, there are also few spots for rock climbing [3].

The national zoo of Malaysia, Zoo Negara, is located beside Taman Melawati, 5 kilometres north-east of Kuala Lumpur. It is home to over 4000 animals from more than 400 different species.

About 25 kilometres west of Kuala Lumpur is the city of Shah Alam, site of the famous Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, and 10 kilometres away from Shah Alam is the town of Klang famous for its seafood and Bah Kut Teh.

Genting Highlands is a hill top resort near Kuala Lumpur, famous for its casino, and Theme Parks. This is visible from Kuala Lumpur downtown on a clear day and as well on most nights.

Putrajaya, new federal administration centre. This is a modern futuristic looking township that houses all government ministries. The administrative buildings have been built on either side of a long road - in a manner stated to be modelled after the National Mall in Washington DC. At one end of this driveway is the Prime Minister's office and at the other end is a convention centre.

Sepang International Circuit is a racing circuit located in the outskirts of the city, near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). It has been hosting Formula One's Malaysian Grand Prix since 1999.

National Sports Complex, Bukit Jalil was the venue for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Gallery

Pre-war shoplots refurbished into restaurants and bars along Tengkat Tong Shin.

One of the many KL Monorail trains.

Handcraft and souvenir shops within Central Market.

A pedestrian mall adjacent to Central Market.

Petronas Twin Towers at dusk.

Interior of Luna Bar, located on the 34th floor of the Pacific Regency Hotel.

The Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway at the eastern fringes of the city.

Berjaya Times Square.

KLCC Park in the foreground with the city's skyline as the backdrop.

A view from outside Sungai Wang showing the Bukit Bintang monorail station and Lot 10.

The Railway Station is the bright colored building while the darker structure is the Malayan Railway headquarters.

Traffic jam leading to Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown on Petaling Street.

Looking down Petaling Street market.

A view of the city and surrounding landscape from Bangsar.

Brickfields, KL's 'Little India'

Sultan Abdul Samad building and the white Dayabumi building.

References

^ "[http://www.citymayors.com/government/malaysia_government.html Malaysia’s towns and cities are governed by appointed mayors]", 2006. Retrieved on October 9, 2006. (in English)

^ "Prasarana to buy trains worth RM1.2bil", The Star, October 13, 2006. Retrieved on October 22, 2006. (in English)