The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (,
abbreviated
An abbreviation () is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening, contraction, initialism (which includes acronym), or crasis. An abbreviation may be a shortened form of a word, usually ended with a trailing per ...
DBKL or KLCH) is the
city council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...
which administers the city of
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
in
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
. This council was established after the city was officially granted city status on 1 February 1972. Their jurisdiction covers an area of 243 square kilometres.
The council consists of the
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
plus fifteen members of the city advisory board appointed to serve a one-year term by the
Minister of Federal Territories.
The current
mayor of Kuala Lumpur
The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur () is the chief executive for the local government of Kuala Lumpur, the capital and largest city of Malaysia. Each year, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur presents the Kuala Lumpur city budget to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. The ...
is
Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Malay styles and titles#State titles, Dato' Seri Maimunah binti Mohd Sharif (born 26 August 1961) is a Malaysian civil servant and urban planner who has been serving as the 15th Mayor of Kuala Lumpur since August 2024. She also served as the Ex ...
, who has been in office since 15 August 2024.
History
The agency was formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Municipal Council formed in 1948 to take over the role of Kuala Lumpur Sanitary Board.(
Malay: ''Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Lumpur''). During British colonial times and early independence, Kuala Lumpur had been the capital of the country as well as the state of
Selangor
Selangor ( ; ), also known by the Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the e ...
.
On 1 April 1961, the name changed into Kuala Lumpur Federal Capital Commission (
Malay: ''Suruhanjaya Ibu Kota Persekutuan'').
Kuala Lumpur later achieved
city status
City status is a symbolic and legal designation given by a monarch, national or subnational government. A municipality may receive city status because it already has the qualities of a city, or because it has some special purpose.
Historically, ci ...
on 1 February 1972, becoming the first settlement in Malaysia to be granted the status after independence. The name changed into Kuala Lumpur City Hall (
Malay: ''Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur''). Later, on 1 February 1974, Kuala Lumpur became a
Federal Territory. Kuala Lumpur ceased to be the capital of
Selangor
Selangor ( ; ), also known by the Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the e ...
in 1978 after the city of
Shah Alam
Shah Alam (, from Persian language, Persian, meaning "king of the world") is a city and the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia which is situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighbouring Klang District. Shah Alam rep ...
was declared as the new state capital.
Kuala Lumpur was administered by a
corporation sole
A corporation sole is a legal entity consisting of a single ("sole") incorporated office, occupied by a single ("sole") natural person. called the Federal Capital Commissioner (
Malay: ''Pesuruhjaya Ibu Kota Persekutuan'') from 1 April 1961 until it was awarded city status on 1 February 1972, after which executive power was transferred to the
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
(
Malay: ''Datuk Bandar'').
Executive power lies with the mayor in the city hall, who is appointed for three years by the
Minister of Federal Territories. This system of appointing the mayor and councillor has been in place ever since the local government elections were suspended in 1970.
On 14 May 1990, Kuala Lumpur celebrated 100 years of local council. The new
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur flag and anthem were introduced. Kuala Lumpur City Hall launched its own coat of arms on 31 January 1992, which is a modification of the coat of arms of the former municipal council. It incorporated the city's emblem in use since Kuala Lumpur became a city.
Appointed mayors of Kuala Lumpur
Since 1972, the city has been led by fifteen mayors. The previous mayors are listed as below:
Current city council
Top management
#
Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Malay styles and titles#State titles, Dato' Seri Maimunah binti Mohd Sharif (born 26 August 1961) is a Malaysian civil servant and urban planner who has been serving as the 15th Mayor of Kuala Lumpur since August 2024. She also served as the Ex ...
, Mayor
#Mohamad bin Hamim, executive director (Project Management)
#Ismadi bin Sakirin, executive director (Socio-Economic Development)
#Zulkurnain bin Hassan, executive director (Planning)
#Vacant, executive director (Management)
City advisory board
The city advisory board makes recommendations on Council's strategic policy and priorities, governance policy and structure, financial planning and budgeting, fiscal policy including revenue and tax policies, intergovernmental and international relations, Council and its operations, and human resources and labour relations.
:
Departments

Branch office
*Bandar Tun Razak
*Batu
*Bukit Bintang
*Cheras
*Kepong
*Lembah Pantai
*Segambut
*Seputeh
*Setiawangsa
*Titiwangsa
*Wangsa Maju
List of legislations
List of Legislations
/ref>
Past Management Members
*Top Management
#Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan
Datuk Seri Nor Hisham bin Ahmad Dahlan (born 1957) is a Malaysian retired civil servant who served as 12th Mayor of Kuala Lumpur from 2018 to 2020.
Honours
* :
** Grand Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SMW) – Datuk Seri (202 ...
, Mayor
#Mohd Najib Mohd, executive director (Project Management)
#Mahadi Che Ngah, executive director (Planning)
#Ibrahim Yusoff, executive director (Socio-Economic Development)
#Mustafa Mohd Nor, executive director (Management)
*City advisory board
#Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan
Datuk Seri Nor Hisham bin Ahmad Dahlan (born 1957) is a Malaysian retired civil servant who served as 12th Mayor of Kuala Lumpur from 2018 to 2020.
Honours
* :
** Grand Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SMW) – Datuk Seri (202 ...
, Chairman
# Abdul Ghani Pateh Akhir, Member
#Fateh Iskandar Mohamed Mansor, Member
# Ezumi Harzani Ismail, Member
References
External links
Official Website of Kuala Lumpur City Hall
{{Authority control
Buildings and structures in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
City councils in Malaysia
Ministry of Territories (Malaysia)
1972 establishments in Malaysia