Kuala Lumpur is the national capital of Malaysia. The city is located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, near the confluence of the Klang River and the Gombak River.
Geographically, the area is entirely surrounded by the state of Selangor. Kuala Lumpur itself covers an area of approximately 243 square kilometers.
For comparison, Selangor has a total area of about 8,104 square kilometers. Despite being fully enclaved within Selangor, the city does not fall under the state of Selangor jurisdiction.
Administratively, Kuala Lumpur holds official status as one of the Federal Territories. In Malaysia, three areas carry the status of federal territory. The other two federal territories alongside it are Labuan and Putrajaya.
Kuala Lumpur Was Once Part of Selangor
Historically, Kuala Lumpur was originally part of the administrative state of Selangor and served as its capital starting in 1880.
However, the Malaysian federal government and the state of Selangor agreed to separate the territory through the Federal Territory Agreement signed on January 28, 1974.
The status transfer officially took effect on February 1, 1974. The event established the first Federal Territory in Malaysia with an independent administrative system.
Selangor subsequently designated Shah Alam as its new capital in 1975 to replace Kuala Lumpur. Following this transfer, every February 1st is celebrated annually as Federal Territory Day in Malaysia.
Shift in Administrative Function
After officially separating from Selangor in 1974, Kuala Lumpur assumed full function as the seat of government and national capital. All legislative and federal administrative activities were centered in the city.
During the administration of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian government planned the relocation of the federal administrative center to a new site in Putrajaya. In 1995, construction began in the area to accommodate future government facilities.
In 1999, the executive administrative center was gradually relocated to Putrajaya. The Prime Minister's Office along with various federal ministry offices subsequently moved to the area.
Putrajaya was officially designated as the third Federal Territory in 2001. The relocation officially separated the executive administrative center from the national capital.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur remains the official capital of Malaysia. The Parliament of Malaysia and the Istana Negara remain located in the city. Kuala Lumpur also retains its role as the country's primary financial and economic hub.
Serving as the Core of the Klang Valley Urban Agglomeration
Administratively, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are now two separate territories. However, the difference in administrative status remains bridged as a single urban agglomeration known as the Klang Valley.
The name Klang Valley is derived from the Klang River, which flows across the region. The river originates at the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge in Gombak and flows into the Straits of Malacca at Port Klang.
The Klang Valley agglomeration integrates the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with six districts in Selangor. The districts include Petaling, Klang, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Sepang, and Kuala Langat.
Over time, the Klang Valley has developed into Malaysia's most densely populated area and main economic hub.
Several vital infrastructure hubs supporting the capital are located within the region. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is situated in Sepang District, Selangor. It is located approximately 50 kilometers south of the capital.
In addition, Port Klang in Klang District functions as a major maritime gateway for freight and logistics in Peninsular Malaysia.
