Happy Federal Territory Day

Tommorow, my friend in Kuala lumpur will be celebrate Federal territory day, happy holiday to them. The Federal Territory (Malay: Wilayah Persekutuan) is a collective of three territories, namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, governed directly by the federal government of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is the Malaysian capital, while Putrajaya is Malaysia's administrative capital. All the territories fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Federal Territories, which was formed under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration on March 27, 2006.

Kuala Lumpur later achieved city status in 1972, becoming the first settlement in Malaysia to be granted the status after independence. A coin had been produced by Bank Negara Malaysia in 1972 to commemorate the city status. 500,000pcs $1 copper nickel and 500pcs $1 copper nickel proof were minted. This coin obverse show a $1 sign with the year 1972 and the word "penganugerahan taraf bandaraya" (English:award of city status). The coin reverse show the seal of Kuala lumpur and the motto "Maju dan Makmur" (English: Progress and Prosper). The coin weight at 16.50g and have 33.30mm in diameter.

Seal of Kuala Lumpur

The design of the emblem symbolizes the three main features of Kuala Lumpur, namely as:

• The Center of Government and administration
• The Center of Commerce
• The Center of Culture and Learning

SYMBOL

• Abstract design of the Ringgit sign represents commerce.
• Star crescent of the Malaysia national flag to represent the seat of Government.
• Structure of an atom over an open book represents culture and learning.

These symbolic elements are contained in the three hexagonal cellular forms at the extremities of the interlocking involute spirals. The cellular forms symbolize the presence of man-made things making environment which are inseparable from the elements of nature as depicted by the involute spirals.

THE COLOR

• The blue resembles the colors of the Malaysian flag
• The yellow in the segment for commerce
• The green in the segment for culture and learning signify growth and life, appropriate with our growing and dynamic culture

Photo: Kuala Lumpur from KL Tower

Later, on February 1, 1974, Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory. Kuala Lumpur ceased to be the capital of Selangor in 1978 after the city of Shah Alam was declared as the new state capital. On February 1, 2001, Putrajaya was declared a Federal Territory, as well as the seat of the federal government. The administrative and judicial functions of the government were shifted from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur however still retained its legislative function, and remained the home of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Photo: Petronas Twin Tower

Kuala Lumpur name started started in 1850s, when the Malay Chief of Klang, Raja Abdullah, hired some Chinese labourers to open new and larger tin mines. They landed at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang (Klang River) to open mines at Ampang. Sungai Gombak was previously known as Sungai Lumpur, which means muddy river. The Original name for this city was "Pengkalan Lumpur", which means bundle of mud. As time passes by the name changed to Kuala Lumpur which literally means “muddy confluence” in Bahasa Melayu.

Source: Wikipedia, malaysiacentral.com