TODAY marks 54 years since Kuala Lumpur was officially declared a city, a milestone that traces back to humble beginnings at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers.
Historical accounts indicate that Kuala Lumpur was founded in the 1830s by Sutan Puasa, a Mandailing chief who established a small settlement in the area.
The town’s growth accelerated around 1850 when tin deposits were discovered, attracting Chinese labourers to the burgeoning mining industry. Among them was Hew Siew, invited by Sutan Puasa, who later became Kuala Lumpur’s first Kapitan Cina.
The third Kapitan, Yap Ah Loi, further expanded the settlement through diverse economic activities, laying the foundations for the city’s development.
The outbreak of the Klang War in 1867 prompted British intervention, marking the start of colonial administration in Selangor. J.G. Davidson was appointed as the first British Resident, and Kuala Lumpur soon became the state capital and the administrative centre for the Federated Malay States.
Following Malaya’s independence and the formation of the Malaysian Federation, Kuala Lumpur continued to grow as the nation’s federal capital.
On 1 February 1972, the city was officially granted city status by the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdul Halim Mua’dzam Shah, in a ceremony held at the Parliament.
The then Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, formally presented the city’s declaration letter to the Minister of Technology, Research and Local Government, Datuk Ong Kee Hui, while Tan Sri Lokman Yusuf was appointed as Kuala Lumpur’s first Mayor.
Two years later, on 1 February 1974, Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory, with Selangor’s state capital later relocated to Shah Alam in 1978.
Today, the city stands as a symbol of Malaysia’s historical journey, from a tin mining outpost to a vibrant modern metropolis and the heart of national governance. - February 1, 2026
