Putrajaya
Putrajaya (Malay pronunciation: [putraˈdʒaja, putrəˈdʒajə]), officially the Federal Territory of Putrajaya (Malay: Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya), is the administrative and judicial capital of Malaysia.[4] The seat of the federal government of Malaysia was moved in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya because of overcrowding and congestion in the former,[5] whilst the seat of the judiciary of Malaysia was later moved to Putrajaya in 2003.[6] Kuala Lumpur remains as Malaysia's national capital city per the constitution and is still the seat of the head of state (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) and the national legislature (Parliament of Malaysia), as well as being the country's commercial and financial centre.
Putrajaya
Prang Besar | |
---|---|
Federal Territory of Putrajaya Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya | |
Other transcription(s) | |
• Jawi | ڤوتراجاي |
• Chinese | 布城 |
• Tamil | புத்ராஜெயா Putrājāyā (Transliteration) |
| |
Motto(s): "Bandar raya Taman, Bandar raya Bestari" ("Garden City, Intelligent City") | |
Coordinates: 02°55′48″N 101°41′24″E | |
Country | Malaysia |
First settled | c. 1921 |
Planned city established | 19 October 1995 |
Transferred from Selangor to federal jurisdiction | 1 February 2001 |
Government | |
• Type | Direct federal administration |
• Administered by | Putrajaya Corporation |
• Chairman | Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain |
Area | |
• Total | 49 km2 (19 sq mi) |
Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 109,202 |
• Density | 2,200/km2 (5,800/sq mi) |
Human Development Index | |
• HDI (2019)[3] | 0.856 (very high) (3rd) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) |
Postcode | 62xxx |
Calling code | +603-88 |
ISO 3166 code | MY-16 |
Mean solar time | UTC+06:46:40 |
Vehicle registration | F and Putrajaya |
Rapid Transit | |
Website | www |
The establishment of Putrajaya was the idea of the then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The development of Putrajaya began in August 1995 and it was completed at an estimated cost of US$8.1 billion.[7] On February 1, 2001, Putrajaya became Malaysia's third federal territory, after Kuala Lumpur in 1974 and Labuan in 1984.[7] Putrajaya is also a part of MSC Malaysia, a special economic zone that covers Klang Valley.
Etymology
Putrajaya was named after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj; the territory is entirely enclaved within the Sepang District of the state of Selangor. The etymology of the city is derived from the Sanskrit language, which was then adopted into Malay; "putra" (पुत्र) means son and "jaya" (जया) means "success" or "victory"; hence Putrajaya means victorious men or people.[8]
History and design
Prang Besar (Jawi: ڤراڠ بسر, alternately Perang Besar (Malay for "Great War"), was founded in 1921 on land that was jungle, as a rubber plantation by British veterans of World War I, hence the name.[9] Its land area of 800 acres (3.2 km2) expanded to 8,000 acres (32 km2), and it was merged with surrounding estates, including Estet Raja Alang, Estet Galloway and Estet Bukit Prang.
Until 1975, what is today Putrajaya, along with adjacent Cyberjaya, was under the administration of Hulu Langat (Kajang) district.
The vision of a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Kuala Lumpur as the administrative capital emerged in the late 1980s, during the tenure of Malaysia's fourth prime minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad. A new city adjacent to Kuala Lumpur was envisioned, where the government would systematically locate its government offices within an efficient administrative hub; as opposed to the past where government offices were previously scattered across the congested Kuala Lumpur.[7] The new city was proposed to be located between Kuala Lumpur and the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Two areas were proposed: Prang Besar and Janda Baik of Pahang.[10] The new name Putrajaya was chosen for the site.
The federal government negotiated with the state of Selangor on the prospect of another federal territory. In the mid-1990s, the federal government paid a substantial amount of money to Selangor for approximately 11,320 acres (45.8 km2) of land in Prang Besar, Selangor. As a result of this land purchase, Selangor now surrounds two federal territories within its borders: Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Planned as a garden city and intelligent city, 38% of the area is green spaces in which the natural landscape is enhanced. The plan incorporated a network of open spaces and wide boulevards. Construction began in August 1995; it was Malaysia's biggest project and one of Southeast Asia's largest, with an estimated final cost of US$8.1 billion. The entire project was designed and constructed by Malaysian companies, with only 10% imported materials.
The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/1998 somewhat slowed the development of Putrajaya. 300 members of the Prime Minister's office staff moved there in 1999, and the remaining government servants moved in 2005. On 1 February 2001, the city was formally transferred to the federal government and declared Malaysia's third federal territory.[11]
In 2002, a rail line called KLIA Transit was opened, linking Putrajaya to KLIA in Sepang. The construction of the Putrajaya Monorail, which was intended to be the city's metro system, was suspended owing to high costs. One of the monorail suspension bridges in Putrajaya remains unused.
In April 2013, the Putrajaya government signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the government of Sejong City in South Korea to mark co-operation between the two cities.[12][13]
Government and politics
As of 2012, all of Malaysia's governmental ministries had relocated to Putrajaya. Government ministries and bodies remaining in Kuala Lumpur include the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Works (KKR), as well as Bank Negara Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Police and Malayan Railways. The Parliament of Malaysia also remained in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. Foreign embassies and missions except Brunei still remain in Kuala Lumpur.
The local government in Putrajaya is the responsibility of the Putrajaya Corporation (Perbadanan Putrajaya), a unique local authority. Previously it was administered by the Sepang District Council.
Putrajaya is represented in the Parliament of Malaysia by one elected MP in the Dewan Rakyat, under the seat of Putrajaya, as well as one appointed senator in the Dewan Negara.
As with the other federal territories of Malaysia, Putrajaya does not have a territorial legislature.
Parliament | Seat Name | Member of Parliament | Party |
---|---|---|---|
P125 | Putrajaya | Mohd Radzi Md Jidin | PN (BERSATU) |
Demographics
Population
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
2010 | 68,361 | — |
2015 | 88,300 | +29.2% |
2020 | 109,202 | +23.7% |
Source: [14] |
In 2007 the population of Putrajaya was estimated to be over 30,000, which comprised mainly government servants. Government public servants have been encouraged to relocate to the city through various government subsidy and loan programs. The population had increased to 88,300 by 2015.[15]
Religious demography
As of 2020, the population of Putrajaya is 97.2% Muslim, 1.1% Hindu, 0.8% Christian, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.4% unknown and 0.1% other religions. The Malaysian constitution strictly defines what makes a "Malay" as an individual who professes Islam, speak Malay regularly, practises Malay customs, and has lived in or has ancestors from Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Infrastructure
Most of the infrastructures in Putrajaya adopt Middle-Eastern architectural designs, which symbolises Malaysian Islamic Identity.[16]
Government complexes
- Perdana Putra – Prime Minister's office
- Seri Perdana – The official residence of the Prime Minister
- Seri Satria – The official residence of the Deputy Prime Minister
- Palace of Justice – The seat of the national judiciary (Federal Court and the Court of Appeals)
- Ministry of Finance
- Wisma Putra – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Istana Melawati - Palace of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
- Istana Darul Ehsan - Palace of the Sultan of Selangor
- Putrajaya International Convention Centre
- Perdana Leadership Foundation
Infrastructure and places of worship
- Alamanda Putrajaya Shopping Centre - the only shopping mall within Putrajaya
- Heritage Square
- Putrajaya Corporation Square
- Selera Putra
- Souq Putrajaya
- Pusat Kejiranan Presint 9
- Pusat Kejiranan Presint 16
- Putra Mosque
- Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque
- PUSPANITAPURI (Persatuan Kesejahteraan Rakyat Malaysia)
Open spaces
- Putrajaya Lake
- Putra Square
- Putrajaya Wetlands Park
- Taman Selatan
- Putrajaya Botanical Gardens – The biggest botanical garden in Malaysia, covering an area over 92 hectares[17]
- Saujana Hijau Park, Precinct 11
Educational institutions
Kindergarten and Pre-School
- Brainy Bunch International Montessori (Presint 14)
Primary & Secondary Education in Putrajaya is provided by a few schools such as:
- SK Putrajaya Presint 5 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 8 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 8 (2)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 9 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 9 (2)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 11 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 11 (2)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 11 (3)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 16 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 16 (2)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 17 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 18 (1)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 18 (2)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 5 (1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 8 (1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 9
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 9 (2)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 11 (1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 11 (2)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 16 (1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 18 (1)
There are also two elite fully residential schools in Putrajaya:
- Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Putrajaya (SMAPUTRA)
Other universities:
- Heriot-Watt University Malaysia has a campus in Precinct 5.[18]
International Schools
- Nexus International School, Presint 15.
- The International Modern Arabic School, Presint 14.
Transport
Putrajaya is home to the world's largest roundabout, the Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah with a perimeter of 3.5 km. (2.7 miles)
Major highways
Putrajaya is surrounded by federal highways 29 on the western side and 30 on the eastern side. The South Klang Valley Expressway E26, connecting Pulau Indah to Kajang, runs through the northern end of Putrajaya. ELITE E6 exit 607 serves Putrajaya and also nearby Cyberjaya. Highway 29 interchanges with Damansara–Puchong Expressway (LDP) E11 in the northwestern corner of Putrajaya, linking the city with Puchong, Subang Jaya, Kelana Jaya and to Kepong.
Within Putrajaya, the following roads serve as the main thoroughfares of the city.
- Persiaran Persekutuan
- Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (The world's largest roundabout with a diameter of 3.5 km (2.2 miles))
- Persiaran Utara
- Lebuh Sentosa
- Persiaran Barat
- Persiaran Selatan
- Persiaran Timur
- Persiaran Perdana (Boulevard)
List of road bridges
Rail
Currently Putrajaya is served by two rail lines: the 7 KLIA Transit line and the newly-opened 12 MRT Putrajaya Line through the PY41 KT3 Putrajaya Sentral transportation hub on the western border of Putrajaya. The MRT Putrajaya Line is Malaysia's fifth metro line, and currently the longest in the Rapid Rail network. The KLIA Transit is Malaysia's only operational airport express connecting KL Sentral near Kuala Lumpur to its international airport, calling at 3 stations in between including Putrajaya.[19] [20]
National rail network KTM Intercity does not serve Putrajaya. The cancelled HSR Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High Speed Rail was meant to serve Putrajaya with a station at Kampung Dato Abu Bakar Baginda, about halfway between Precinct 14 and Bandar Baru Bangi.
Around 2003, plans for a monorail in Putrajaya were under construction but were halted due to low population. However, plans to revive the construction of the 14 Putrajaya Monorail, with proposed connections to Kajang, Bandar Baru Bangi and Cyberjaya, are currently underway.
Buses
Putrajaya Corporation provides its own stage bus services through its subsidiary Nadi Putra using natural gas-powered buses and a few electric buses. The bus service serves the entirety of Putrajaya as well as Cyberjaya and provides express bus routes to Kuala Lumpur through Puduraya and a few other nearby cities from its hubs at Putrajaya Sentral, and P&R Presint 14.[21] Bus stops in Putrajaya are very common too and serves Nadi Putra. Rapid KL, Causeway Link and Cityliner also provides bus services to other areas from Putrajaya Sentral such as Banting, Puchong, Bandar Utama and Petaling Jaya.
Intercity buses also serve bus routes from Putrajaya Sentral to the northern states.
International relations
Climate
Putrajaya has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round and high temperatures throughout the year. Typical cities, towns, and other geographical regions with this climate, Putrajaya does not have a true dry season. The average temperature in Putrajaya is 27.1 °C, which is measured at approximately 80.8 °F. Over the course of a yearly period, the rainfall averages 2307 mm in Putrajaya, which is approximately 90.8 inches.[24]
Climate data for Putrajaya | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 31.1 (88.0) |
31.9 (89.4) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.2 (90.0) |
32.0 (89.6) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.3 (88.3) |
31.3 (88.3) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.1 (88.0) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.6 (88.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.5 (79.7) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
27.1 (80.8) |
Average low °C (°F) | 22.0 (71.6) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.8 (73.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.8 (73.0) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.7 (72.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 168 (6.6) |
150 (5.9) |
227 (8.9) |
250 (9.8) |
188 (7.4) |
118 (4.6) |
121 (4.8) |
154 (6.1) |
176 (6.9) |
254 (10.0) |
268 (10.6) |
233 (9.2) |
2,307 (90.8) |
Source: Climate-Data.org[25] |
Image gallery
- Aerial Photograph - Oct 2013
- The Prime Minister's office at Perdana Putra
- Perbadanan government complex
- The Ministry of Finance complex
- Istana Kehakiman
- Putrajaya Walk
- PM Office and Putra Mosque at night
- Interior view of the Seri Wawasan Bridge
- Putra Mosque with the Prime Minister's office in the background
- Seri Saujana Bridge at night
- Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel (now, DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside)
- Modern architecture includes streetlamps
- Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)
- Ministry of Health Building
- Highrises in Precinct 4
- Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Based Industry Building
References
- Citations
- "Laporan Kiraan Permulaan 2010". Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia. p. 27. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- "Malaysia's population stood at 32.6 million in Q4 2018". The Borneo Post. 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- "Subnational Human Development Index (2.1) [Sabah – Malaysia]". Global Data Lab of Institute for Management Research, Radboud University. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- Moser, Sarah (1 August 2010). "Putrajaya: Malaysia's new federal administrative capital". Cities. 27 (4): 285–297. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2009.11.002. ISSN 0264-2751.
- "The journey of Putrajaya — Malaysia's jewel capital city". The Malaysian Reserve. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- "History of Building – CACJ". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- Landau, Esther (25 September 2020). "NST175: From Prang Besar to Putrajaya | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- "Fanciful origins of Malaysian town names". The Star. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- "The Story of Prang Besar". Arabis.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- (in Malay)Abdullah, Hasfiza (February 2012). DARI PRANG BESAR KE PUTRAJAYA. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- "PM isytihar Putrajaya sebagai Wilayah Persekutuan". Utusan Malaysia. 2 February 2001. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- "Closer ties between Putrajaya and Sejong, Korea". (Archived from the original) The Star (Malaysia). Saturday 6 April 2013. Updated on Friday 26 April 2013. Retrieved on 1 January 2014.
- "Malaysian envoy acclaims Sejong City." (Archive) The Korea Times. 23 September 2012.
- "Key Findings of Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020" (pdf) (in Malay and English). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. ISBN 978-967-2000-85-3.
- "Population by States and Ethnic Group". Department of Information, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Malaysia. 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- Post‐colonial projects of a national culture
- "Putrajaya Botanical Garden (Taman Botani)". Tourism Malaysia. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- "Heriot-Watt University Malaysia". Hw.ac.uk. 8 July 2023.
- "KLIAtransit Schedule - KLIA Ekspres". Kliaekspres.com. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
- "Putrajaya MRT line set for full opening on March 16". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- "PENGANGKUTAN AWAM PUTRAJAYA SDN BHD". Papsb.com.my. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
- "Международный авторитет Астаны повышают города-побратимы". inform.kz (in Russian). KazInform. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- Yeen, Oh Ing. "Closer ties between Putrajaya and Sejong, Korea - Community | The Star Online". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- "Putrajaya climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Putrajaya weather averagesg". En.climate-data.org. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- "Climate: Putrajaya". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- General
- "Putrajaya presentation". Yangsquare.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
Further reading
- King, Ross: Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya: Negotiating Urban Space in Malaysia, Nias Press, 2008
External links
- Putrajaya travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Official website