FLAG

The flag of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur is based on the elements that make up the National Flag of Malaysia. It consists of 14 white and red stripes (along the fly) of equal width and a dark blue bigger stripe at the centre with yellow crescent and star. The 14 red and white stripes represent the 13 States in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur under the Federal Government administration. The crescent and star symbolise Islam as the official religion. The 14-pointed star represents the 13 States in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur.
The dark blue at the centre stands for unity of the multi-racial city folks of KL.
Red denotes courage and strength of the city in facing the challenges in the quest for development of a dynamic and progressive cosmopolitan city.
Yellow signifies sovereignty and prosperity of Kuala Lumpur.
White symbolises grandeur, cleanliness and beauty of the garden city of lights.

ANTHEM

NAME

The locals could not come to a decision how Kuala Lumpur got its name. It is a fact that the trading settlement started at the swampy confluence where the Gombak river flows into the Klang river. The swamp has long since been reclaimed. It was the usual practice that the point at which a smaller river runs into a large one be named the 'kuala' of the smaller river. Kuala Lumpur should have been called 'Kuala Gombak'! There is a suggestion that the place was originally called 'Pengkalen Lumpur' (muddy jetty or landing place) and this was corrupted to Kuala Lumpur. Yet another suggested that Gombak river was originally known as the Lumpur river, thus its junction with the Klang river is called Kuala Lumpur.

In any case, 'Kuala' is Malay for river-mouth or confluence while 'Lumpur' means mud or muddy. The literal translation of 'Kuala Lumpur' is therefore muddy confluence and this provided an appropriate description of the area during its early days.

PRESENT DAY

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Federation of Malaysia and is the largest city in the country. It is located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 35 kilometres from the Straits of Malacca and approximately mid-way between our borders with Thailand and Singapore. The city is the centrepoint of commerce in the Klang valley and is also the economic and financial centre for the country. It can be reached by air (Kuala Lumpur International Airport - KLIA) and sea (Port Klang) from all over the world and by road and rail from Singapore and Thailand. As the transportation hub of a developing nation, it has become very convenient centre of tourist attraction.