Kuala Lumpur, literally means “muddy confluence”, takes its name after the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers, located right in the heart of the city. It owes its existence to a group of miners, mining for tin the surrounding valley in the 1800’s.

In 1857, a group of tin-miners led by a Bugis chief, Raja Abdullah, landed at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers in search of tin; an event that marked the beginning of a city whose early development was closely tied up with a flourishing tin-trade and the able leadership and foresight of the Chinese chieftain, Yap Ah Loy (picture, right). It began as a small trading post and meeting place for miners from the newly discovered tin-mines upriver. Soon after, a small town of attap huts grew around the trading post and as the tin trade prospered, the town developed.
 
Then came British intervention and the formation of the Federated Malay States in 1896. Kuala Lumpur became its capital. As the seat of British administration in the Malay States, Kuala Lumpur inherited from this period in its history, a system of roads and the fine examples of gracious colonial architecture which are still evident today.
 
When the Federation of Malaya gained its independence in 1957, Kuala Lumpur was declared the Federal capital. In 1972, it achieved city status. At the same time, it also remained as the capital of the state of Selangor, a status it attained in 1887. However, on the 1st of February 1974, it was officially declared a Federal Territory in a colourful ceremony full of pomp and pageantry which also marked the end of Selangor’s jurisdiction over Kuala Lumpur.
 
Although KL’s tin trade has declined since the yesteryears, the city has grown unabatedly and today it is Malaysia’s hub of trade and commerce, banking and finance, manufacturing, transportation, information technology and tourism. But the endearing old world charm remains within its lush atmosphere of a garden city in full bloom.

K u a l a    L u m p u r    H i s t o r i c a l    H i g h l i g h t s
1857	KL is founded by tin miners and becomes the focal point for tin trading.
1868-1885	Yap Ah Loy becomes the “Chinese Chieftain” of KL, develops the town and contributes significantly to the city’s progress.
1896	KL is declared the capital of the Federated Malay States by the British colonial government.
1957	KL is made the capital city of Malaya upon independence from Britain.
1963	KL becomes the national capital upon the formation of Malaysia.
1972	KL is accorded city status.
1974	KL is declared a Federal Territory.
1996	The KL Tower and the first stage of the Light Rail Transport (LRT) open.
1997	Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest buildings, erected.
1998	KL hosts the XVI Commonwealth Games.

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