Video by Ahood Al-Maimani
Putrajaya is a planned city located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur. It serves as the federal administrative center of Malaysia. The seat of government shifted in 1999 from KL to Putrajaya, due to overcrowding and congestion in KL. However, KL remains Malaysia’s national capital, it is the seat of the King and Parliament, as well as the country’s commercial and financial center. Putrajaya was the idea of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad (fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 t0 2003). In 2001, Putrajaya became Malaysia’s third Federal Territory after KL and Labuan.
It is located within the Multimedia Super Corridor, beside the newly developed Cyberjaya. It was named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. In Malay/Sanskrit, the words “putra” or “putera” means “prince” or “male child”, and “jaya” means “success” or “victory”. The development of Putrajaya started in early 1990s, and today major landmarks are completed and the population is expected to grow bigger. As of 2010 Census the population of Putrajaya is 97.4% Muslim, 1.0% Hindu, 0.9% Christian, 0.4% Buddhist, and 0.3% other or non-religious. Also, it has the world’s largest roundabout with a diameter of 3.5 km (2.7 miles).
Our Visit to Putrajaya
Our visit to Putrajaya included visiting University Putra Malaysia, and meeting the staff and students of FRSB. Then stopping in the core area with the long boulevard just between the Palace of Justice and the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque (Iron/Steel Mosque). Then we continued the journey and reached plaza in front of Putra Mosque. The bout cruise later was a great chance to closely experience the city, its landmarks and bridges. The styles were amazingly different but still had this charming harmony that emphasized the great efforts of the authorities and people to accomplish a certain image. However, the city seemed somewhat artificial, lacking the life, noises, smells and busy commerce of a big Asian city, as we saw in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.
Great job Ahood! absolutely loved and enjoyed your video! 🙂