Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the capital of the Federation of Malaysia and distinguished from much of the country by its prosperity and productivity. It was founded in the 19th century and was a center of British colonial rule before independence in 1957. City status was awarded in 1972 when the first mayor took office, and it became a federal territory in 1974. The population of the city is approximately 1.8 million; the wider urban area is home to over 7 million.

The Globalisation and World Cities Research Network grades Kuala Lumpur as an “alpha” city, a rank applicable to world cities of considerable importance that connect significant regional economies into that of the world. As a hub of commerce and culture, Kuala ...