I ALMOST fell out of my seat at the heading of a report “Kuala Lumpur’s population reaches 8.8 million - Zaliha”.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territory) Dr Zaliha Mustafa disclosed that Kuala Lumpur’s population exceeds 8.8 million and is increasing by 2.25% annually, and is expected to hit 9.8 million by 2030.

She said the rapid development requires Kuala Lumpur City Hall to be more proactive in planning and providing infrastructure.

I have been living and working in the city for over 55 years and never knew or felt that there were so many residents here, and was a tourist guide before Kuala Lumpur became a federal territory in February 1974 covering 94 square miles (243 sq km).

It appears that those who drafted the speech could not differentiate between Kuala Lumpur and Greater Kuala Lumpur which encompasses 13,565 sq km that includes all of Kuala Lumpur (243 sq km), Putrajaya (49 sq km) and Selangor (8,104 sq km); parts of Negri Sembilan (1,507 sq km), Pahang (1.831 sq km) and Perak (934 sq km).

If the report is picked up by the international media, many foreign readers would swallow it hook, line and sinker, just like many Malaysians already have. If so, this can cause confusion and inconvenience. - Aug 7, 2024

YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.

https://focusmalaysia.my/the-actual-size-of-kuala-lumpur/