This thriving city,
which in Malay means a muddy confluence, is centrally located
on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia covering an area
of 243 sq km. Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is popularly known,
lies about 35 km from the coast. It is a bustling metropolis
and the country's principal centre of commerce, politics,
transportation, information technology, entertainment, tourism
and international activities.
KL had its origins
as a shanty mining outpost for the tin trade in the 1800's
at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers. It was conferred
city status in 1972. Today, the city's skyline is rapidly
changing and presently boasts of the magnificent Petronas
Twin Towers, which stands at 452m, as well as Menara Kuala
Lumpur, and modern and relatively efficient transport system.
The Malaysian Government
has spent heavily in world-class information and communication
technology (ICT) infrastructure. Malaysia's Multimedia Super
Corridor (MSC) has been created to provide an ideal environment
for ICTrelated production as well as the backbone for an information
superhighway. The network contains a high-speed link that
connects the MSC to Japan, ASEAN, the US and Europe, and is
capable of supporting extensive public administration, education
and business applications. The intent of the superhighway
is to provide quality access to global information as quickly
and easily as possible.
The
Malaysian Government has spent heavily in world-class information
and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure. Malaysia's
Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) has been created to provide
an ideal environment for ICT-related production as well as
the backbone for an information superhighway. The network
contains a high-speed link that connects the MSC to Japan,
ASEAN, the US and Europe, and is capable of supporting extensive
public administration, education and business applications.
The intent of the superhighway is to provide quality access
to global information as quickly and easily as possible. self-drive.
Cars can be rented from the airport or in the city.
KL has more advanced
mobile telecommunications network than any other cities in
Southeast Asia – with the exception of Singapore. Three
big local players are state-owned Telekom Malaysia Bhd's subsidiary
Celcom (M) Bhd, Maxis Communications Bhd and DiGi.Com Bhd.
Celcom was first to introduce third-generation (3G) mobile
services to Malaysia on May 17 2005, followed by Maxis on
July 1 the same year.
Maxis and Celcom have GSM 900 network while DiGi offers GSM
1800 networks. In KL, there are Internet cafes everywhere
with average rate of RM4 per hour.
Despite its transformation
into an ultramodem city, KL still retains its old world charm
depicted in the majestic buildings of the colonial era, quaint
pre-war shop-houses and the way business is conducted. KL
has a comprehensive road network that can lead you to all
parts of Peninsular Malaysia. With almost 7 highways in the
city, it is convenient to travel in the city self-drive.Cars
can be rented from the airport or in the city.
KL
is directly connected to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
in Sepang via the KLIA Express high-speed train service which
takes only 28 minutes. Travelling by car via highway will
take about an hour. The former international airport, Sultan
Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, is now used for chartered
flights. Malaysia Airlines and all major international airlines
to Malaysia lands at KLIA whereas the home grown most successful
low fare carrier in Asia, AirAsia makes use of the newly built
Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCC-T) in Sepang. LCC-T is easily
accessible to/fro KL through a low cost bus service from KL
Sentral transport hub at a price of RM9.
There are several
types of newspapers in KL, including daily newspapers, business
newspapers and also digital newspapers. Daily newspapers are
Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, Harian Metro and Kosmo in
Malay and English dailies: The Star, The New Straits Times,
The Sun and Malay Mail. There are also Chinese and Tamil newspapers.
Digital versions of newspapers are easily obtained on-line.
KL is also the headquarters
for Malaysia's premier pay-TV, Astro. It is a pay-per-view
TV which broadcasts local and global television programs such
as CNN, BBC World, Star World and HBO. Local TV stations are
also available and have equally entertaining programs, local
or imported, in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
Enak KL