Kuala Lumpur

Capital of the Federation of Malaysia; population (2000 est) 1,297,500. The city lies in a central position on the Malay Peninsula at the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers, 40 km/25 mi from the west coast. Malaysia's leading commercial and industrial centre, Kuala Lumpur developed after 1873 with the expansion of tin and rubber trading and processing, which remain important. Other industries include iron, cement, food processing, and the manufacture of electrical, electronic, and railway equipment. International trade is conducted through the port at Klang, on the Strait of Malacca, and through the international airport (1998).

Kuala Lumpur originated in 1857 as a camp for Chinese tin miners. It became the capital of Selangor state in 1880, of the Federated Malay States in 1896, of the newly-independent state of Malaya in 1957, and of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. Since 1974 the city has been a federal territory. In 1998 it hosted the Commonwealth Games, the first Asian city to do so.

Important buildings include the Parliament House, the National Museum, the Merdeka Stadium, the University of Malaya (1962), and the Technological University of Malaysia (1906), as well as the National Mosque and a number of Chinese and Hindu temples. The Rubber Research Institute dates from 1925. The National Zoo (1963) is 13 km/8 mi to the northeast. In 1996 stainless steel pinnacles were added to the twin Petronas Towers in the city centre complex, making it the tallest building in the world at 451.9 m/1,482 ft 7 in. The towers were designed by US architect Cesar Pelli.