History : Kuala Lumpur : How It's Begin

KUALA LUMPUR: STARTING as a small tin mining town in the 1850s, Kuala Lumpur has since bloomed into the fully developed city it is today.

Initially opened at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers by tin miners, Kuala Lumpur's landscape has seen great changes over the years.

From small nipah-roofed houses to being the proud owner of one of the world's tallest twin towers, the city has shifted from a township housing mostly labourers to becoming the heart of the Malaysian administration.

The rapid development started after Kuala Lumpur, then part of Selangor, was declared the state's capital in 1880.

In 1896, it was chosen to be the capital of the Federated Malay States, and continued to be the country's capital after Malaya achieved its independence in 1957.

Kuala Lumpur was conferred the city title on Feb 1, 1972, and declared as a Federal Territory two years later.

The city now houses hundreds of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers which cater to thousands of businesses, residential premises and administrative offices.

In conjunction with the 39th Federal Territory Day this Friday (Feb 1), the NST will publish pictures of Kuala Lumpur during its olden times from today to Friday to bring readers the nostalgia.

April 30, 1959: Two ‘raised gardens’ being constructed at traffic islands along Jalan Raja and Batu Road near the Kuala Lumpur General Post Office and the Municipal Office. When they are completed they will be filled with earth to be used for planting flowers and shrubs. This move, initiated by the Municipal Council, is aimed at making the Federal capital more attractive and discouraging the public from trampling on these traffic islands.