Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yap Ah Loy, commonly considered the founder of Kuala Lumpur, becomes third Kapitan Cina. When
he dies in 1885 he owns a quarter of the city's buildings.
1880
Following the tin boom of 1879 and a swelling KL population, the British Resident in Selangor,
Bloomfield Douglas, moves the state capital from Klang to Kuala Lumpur.
1882
Frank Swettenham becomes new British Resident in KL and sets about rebuilding the city in brick
following devastating fires and floods in 1881.
1888
Alfred Venning, State Treasurer, starts to lay out a botanical garden in the valley where a small
stream is dammed to create a lake. Within a decade KL has its Lake Gardens.
1896
Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang join as Federated Malay States, with Kuala Lumpur as
the capital. The sultans lose political power to British Residents.
1904
The rail link between KL and Port Swettenham (now Pelabuhan Klang) is completed. Lines are later
extended to Ipoh, Penang and Singapore, making KL the region's rail hub.
1935
The British scrap the position of Resident General of the Federated States, decentralising its powers
to the individual states, to discourage the creation of a united, self-governing country.
1941
Within a month of invading, the Japanese take KL and occupy the peninsula. The Chinese residents
are badly treated and the city's economy stagnates for nearly four years.
1946
After public opposition to the proposed Malay Union, the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) forms, signalling a rising desire for political independence from Britain.
1948
