KL
is the national capital of Malaysia as
well as its largest city. The only alpha world city in Malaysia, it covers an area
of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 1.73 million as of
2016. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban ag-
glomeration of 7.25 million people as of 2017. It is among the fastest growing
metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in both population and economic
development.
Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia
and home to the Parliament of Malaysia, and the official residence of the
Malaysian King (Yang di-Pertuan Agong), the Istana Negara. The city once
held the headquarters of the executive and judicial branches of the federal
government as well, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999Some
sections of the judiciary still remain in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur is one of three Federal Territories of Malaysia, enclaved within
the state of Selangor, on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since
the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political
and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Kuala Lumpur
has undergone rapid development in recent decades. It is home to the tallest
twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an
iconic symbol of Malaysia’s futuristic development.
7