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Photograph:The Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur is the site of Malaysia's Supreme Court.
* The Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur is the site of Malaysia's Supreme Court.
The capital and largest city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. It has long been one of the fastest-growing cities in Southeast Asia. The city lies on the tropical Malay Peninsula, where the Kelang and Gombak rivers meet. It is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Port Kelang, which is its ocean port on the Strait of Malacca.
Places of interest
Modern skyscrapers dominate downtown Kuala Lumpur. The commercial district features the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers. Completed in 1996, the slender towers stand 1,483 feet (452 meters) high. In the center of Kuala Lumpur is Merdeka Square. The square's 312-foot (95-meter) flagpole can be seen from all over the city. Another landmark is the modern-looking Masjid Negara, or National Mosque. Completed in 1965, the mosque is one of the largest Islamic houses of worship in Southeast Asia. The Sultan Abdul Samad building, built in the 1890s, houses City Hall and the Supreme Court. It is famous for its 135-foot (41-meter) clock tower. The National Museum of Malaysia displays Southeast Asian puppets, a Malay wedding scene, and other aspects of Malay culture.
Kuala Lumpur's green spaces include the scenic Lake Gardens, with a large bird park and an orchid garden. The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve is near the middle of the city, between the historic district and the modern commercial center. The Batu Caves dot the hills above the city. Tens of thousands of people attend Hindu festivals there every year.
Economy
Services and manufacturing are both important to Kuala Lumpur's economy. Many people have jobs in government ministries, office buildings, schools, and banks. Thousands of others work in hospitals and scientific research centers, such as the Institute of Medical Research and the Rubber Research Institute. The Petronas Twin Towers are the headquarters for Petronas, which is Malaysia's main oil company. High-technology industries grew quickly in Kuala Lumpur beginning in the 1980s. Factories in the city make computer parts, electronic equipment, furniture, foods, and many other products. Near Kuala Lumpur, iron, tin, coal, cement, and rubber are processed.
History
Kuala Lumpur dates from the mid–19th century, when Chinese tin miners began a village in the area. It grew as a tin-collecting center, though many people there became sick with malaria. In 1880 the British, who had colonized the region, made Kuala Lumpur a capital. Soon the British had a railway built between Kuala Lumpur and the town of Kelang. They also widened the city streets and encouraged the construction of new brick and tile buildings. Eventually other rail lines joined Kuala Lumpur with cities and mines to the south and north.
During World War II (1939–45) Japanese troops occupied the city. Although bombed by the Allies, it did not suffer much damage. After the war ended in 1945, Kuala Lumpur grew quickly. Many people moved there from isolated, rural areas because Communist rebels were fighting government troops in those parts of Malaysia. To house the people moving to the capital, the government built several new towns on the city's outskirts. These towns grew rapidly as industrial and service centers. Large factories, for example, were usually built in the surrounding towns rather than in Kuala Lumpur itself.
The city became the capital of the independent Federation of Malaya in 1957 and of Malaysia in 1963. Beginning in the 1980s Kuala Lumpur became famous as a focus of the oil and high-technology businesses. Malaysian and foreign investors were attracted to the city. However, Kuala Lumpur also experienced problems common to developing cities. They included a poor sewage system, a shortage of good housing, traffic congestion, and air pollution. Population (2000 estimate), 1,297,530.
