LABUAN WP
Labuan became a Federal Territory on 16 April 1984; it was administered as part of Sabah since Malaysia's formation in 1963.
Labuan was the main forward base for the Royal Malaysian Navy in East Malaysia. For Navy guys serving onboard a ship, Labuan was our "second home" in that era of the 80s and 90s.
Top-left: Labuan Foundation roundabout, with central fountain, manicured gardens. The white building behind is the old town commercial block.
Top-right: Old Labuan Bus Station. The ECS bus is parked at the town station.
Bottom left: Hotel Labuan, landmark of Labuan in the 80s and 90s. The hotel was closed in November 1997, then left abandoned for decades, and is now finally set to be torn down after decades of decay.
Bottom-right: Waterfront roundabout, old shophouses and the Dockman Cafe sign visible. It's the classic Labuan Port town vibe of the 80s.
Top-left: The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC), at the roundabout in Labuan town centre in 1989. This branch was key when Labuan became an International Offshore Financial Centre in 1990.
Top-right: Town and sea view towards the port.
Bottom-left: the Labuan Port/Wharf.
Bottom-right: the Masjid Jamek An-Nur in 2015.
Top-Left: photo taken in 1985; the Masjid Jamek An-Nur is still under construction.
Top-right: Labuan Clock Tower still stands today at Labuan's waterfront park as a navigation landmark.
Bottom-left: Hotel Pulau Labuan, typical 70s/80s shophouse hote style.
Bottom-right: Labuan War Cemetery, the WWII Commonwealth War Cemetery where 3,908 Allied soldiers are buried. Labuan as a major Allied base after WWII.
PUTRAJAYA WP
Federal Territory of Putrajaya, the administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of the Federal Government of Malaysia was shifted from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya in 1999.
Conceived in the 1990s by Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Elyas Omar. Putrajaya was named in honour of Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia 52nd Annual Dinner, held on 16 April 2011, at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, IOI Resort. The iconic entrance of Putrajaya Marriott Hotel in IOI Resort, Precint 7. It's a 5-star resort hotel built with Middle Eastern/Moroccan palace-style, right next to IOI City Mall now.
The photo on the top-left is Putrajaya in 2013, with the Jambatan Seri Wawasan and Masjid Putra and the pink domed mosque in the middle distance. Also seen are the Putra Lake and the Iron Mosque.
The top-right is the Pusat Konvensyen Putrajaya in Precint 5. The UFO/eye-shaped building is Putrajaya's main convention landmark, built on top of the hill overlooking the lake.
The bottom is the first ever Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival held in November 2013. Malaysia and Spain as main partners, plus Indonesia, Morocco, Egypt and Iran. Later editions grew to include Yemen, UAE, Turkey, Oman, China and more.
The Masjid Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, also known as the Iron Mosque, because of the distinctive steel skeleton exterior, almost no walls, just exposed steel lattice. 70% is steel, not concrete like Masjid Putra.
Dewan Seri Seroja, located at Chancery Place, Jalan Diplomatik 2/2, Diplomatik Presint, Putrajaya, is one of the main event halls in Putrajaya's Diplomatic Precinct. Very popular for Malay wedding receptions, official government functions, conferences and corporate dinners.
During the pandemic in 2021, it was also used as a PPV – Vaccination Centre (Pfizer/Sinovac).
Masjid Putra (top left) and Jabatan Perdana Menteri/Perdana Putra (top right)
The Durian sculpture at Presint 1 and the IOI City Lake
My family visited Putrajaya in 2024, the Federal Territory and administrative capital of Malaysia. It was launched by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on 29 August 1995 on the former oil palm estate, the seat of government moved in 1999 to ease KL congestion, and it became the 3rd Federal Territory in 2001.
Located 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur and 20 km north of Kuala Lumpur International Airport with a 120k population.
The Putrajaya Lake is spanned by 8 architectural bridges connecting the Core island with peripheral precincts.
- Seri Perdana Bridge
- Putra Bridge - the one with 3 levels, in front of Masjid Putra
- Seri Wawasan Bridge – also called Seri Wawasan / cable-stayed sailing ship design
- Seri Bakti Bridge
- Seri Saujana Bridge – the big arch cable-stayed you shot from the cruise
- Seri Bestari Bridge
- Seri Setia Bridge
- Seri Gemilang Bridge - the Paris-style ceremonial gate
There's one more structure people count – the Jambatan Gantung Monorel. It was built for the Putrajaya Monorail project that was suspended in 2004, and now it's being repurposed into a pedestrian walkway by January 2026.
Cruise Tasik Putrajaya, from the Jeti Putra, under Jambatan Putra, Presint 1. It was a 45-minute sightseeing cruise and runs hourly. The route is Putra Mosque > Istana Darul Ehsan > Perdana Putra > Putra Bridge > Seri Wawasan Bridge > Iron Mosque > Millennium Monument area and back.
KUALA LUMPUR
Officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. It is the most populous city in the country and among the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in Southeast Asia.
Ref: Wikipedia: Kuala Lumpur
Masjid India: located at Jalan Masjid India, KL – heart of Little India/Masjid India Bazaar. Close to Masjid Jamek LRT and one of KL's oldest mosques. The original was a small wooden structure built in 1863/1883 on land granted by the Sultan of Selangor for Indian-Muslim merchants who had settled around Batu Road.
Rebuilt in 1963-1966 into the structure we see today and officiated by the Sultan of Selangor in 1966.
Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad: located at Jalan Tun Perak, at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur. Right next to Masjid Jamek LRT interchange. 5 minutes' walk from Masjid India. Built in 1907-1908, it was officially opened by the Sultan of Selangor on 23 December 1909.
Built on the first Malay burial ground in KL, it was KL's main mosque until Masjid Negara opened in 1965. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, the same guy who designed the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
Taman Tasik Titiwangsa: located at Jalan Kuantan/Jalan Temerloh, 3 km north of city centre. Next to Istana Budaya. It was built on a former tin-mining pool. Officially opened on 1 February 1980 by Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn in conjunction with Federal Territory Day. He named it Taman Tasik Titiwangsa after the Titiwangsa Mountain Range - the backbone of Peninsular Malaysia.
Restoran Seri Melayu: photo taken in 2006 at Restoran Seri Melayu, Jalan Conlay, KL. Just the right opposite Pavillion KL, between Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Conlay. One of KL's most famous traditional Malay restaurants from the 80s to the mid-2000s, known for Malay buffet, cultural dance shows and big corporate dinners. Photo of IEM staff having dinner on 1 December 2006.
However, today the restaurant no longer exists; demolition happened around 2012-2013.
That whole Jalan Conlay/Jalan Raja Chulan percel became the planned Harrods Square/Pavillion Square project, a mixed development with hotels, residences and offices.
Site Visit to SMART Tunnel: Members of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, site visit to Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART) on 9 March 2006 (Sg Besi) and 11 May 2006 (Pandan).
The 9.7 km stormwater tunnel (longest in Southeast Asia) with a 4 km double-deck motorway hidden inside it.
Route: From Kg Berembang Lake near Klang River at Ampang to Taman Desa Lake near Kerayong River at Sg Besi/Salak South.
Construction started on 25 November 2003 by Gamuda Berhad + MMC JV and used 2 German Herrenknecht TBMs: Tuah (north) and Gemilang (south).
The stormwater section started operating at the end of January 2007, while the motorway (road) section officially opened to the public on 14 May 2007.
Masjid Negara: Located at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin / Jalan Perdana, near KL Railway Station and Lake Gardens. Completed on 27 August 1965, built on the site of the former Venning Road Brethren Gospel Hall Church. Designed by U.K. architect Horward Ashley, with Malaysian architects Hisham Albakri & Baharuddin Kassim.
Makam Pahlawan: Heroes's Mausoleum – right inside the compound of Masjid Negara, it was built together with Masjid Negara. Among those buried here are Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman (2nd Deputy Prime Minister), Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (2nd Prime Minister), Tun Hussein Onn (3rd Prime Minister) and Tun Dr Ghaffar Baba (5th Deputy Prime Minister).
Bubble Dash Run at Dataran Merdeka on 23 October 2016
Dataran Merdeka: Originally the Selangor Club Padang, the cricket field for British colonial officers. Here, at midnight on 31 August 1957, the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time – independence from the British. That moment is why the Padang was renamed Dataran Merdeka in 1989. The black marble plaque now marks the exact spot.
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Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM): located at Jalan FRIM, Kepong, KL, 16 km northwest of KL City Centre, next to Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve. It was founded in 1929, with the idea by Chief Conservator G.E.S. Cubitt and first Head Dr F.W. Foxworthy. It became one of the world's leading tropical forestry research centres. Declared National Heritage in 2012 (Natural Heritage Site 2009) and won UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation 2021.
It is also the world's oldest and largest man-made/recreated tropical rainforest.
On 14-19 July 2025, FRIM Forest Park Selangor was officially inscribed as Malaysia's 6th UNESCO World Heritage Site – the world's first man-made tropical forest to get UNESCO World Heritage status.
Located at Jalan Taman Dato Senu, Sentul Pasar, K.L, right beside Naili's Place. Built over 100 years ago on Lot 832 Mukim Setapak, originally with a dusun with durian, manggis ets. Named after Datin Halijah bt Hj Aziz managed by Naili's Place.
Suitable for wedding, engagement, aqiqah, annual dinner, any traditional-theme event.
JALAN PAHANG
Jalan Pahang, a major arterial road in Titiwangsa, K.L, links city centre (Chow Kit) to Setapak/Bentong.
Nearby: Chow Kit Monorail Station, Grang Seasons Hotel, Hospital K.L.
The main IMR labaratory / Admin Blocks from the 1928 phase - same style as the museum block, used as labs/offices.Still in use by IMR starf today.
Muzium Bioperubatan Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan: Housed in one of the historical heritage buildings in IMR constructed in 1928. The museum was opened on 4 June 1983 by Minister of Health Tan Sri Chong Hon Nyan to document IMR's achievements. It's Malaysia's only biomedical museum, collection of 10,000 preserved dry and wet speciments, rodents, bats, birds, snakes, leeches, maggots for MDT therapy etc.
Lanai Anggun EcoSky - located at Jalan Kuching, K.L. Just off MRR2 / DUKE, next to Taman Wahyu KTM Station.
Mainly for wedding reception, engagement, birthday, annual dinner etc. Access via MRR2, DUKE, LDP, NKVE, Jalan Kuching and Jalan Ipoh.
Pertama Complexs: often cited as Malaysia's first modern shopping mall, or KL's third after Campbell (1973). Built in the 1970s when Malaysia was emerging as economic power. Located at 1222, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, central KL, near SOGO complex, Jalan Masjid India, MARA building. It's a heritage shopping icon, the first taste of modern mall life of K.L.
Petronas Twin Towers: better known as KLCC, on former Selangor Turf Club racecourse. In 1991, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wanted a symbol of Malaysia as a modern, industrial nation. It was completed in 1998 and officially opened on 31 August 1999 by Tun Dr Mahathir himself. It's held the World's tallest building from 1998-2004, and now still the World's tallest twin towers.
Today, It's an offices, Suria KLCC mall, KLCC Park, Petronas Philharmonic and skybridges / 86th floor viewing - the ultimate symbol of KL.
Malay Town : the open-air food truck / lepak park in Kampung Baru, K.L. It was located near Jalan Raja Alang / Medan Selera Jalan Pekeliling Lama, behind the high-rises as you can see in the background. Kampung Baru is the oldest Malay town/Malay reserve in K.L.
Former Pudu Jail: located at Jalan Hang Tuah. The photo of Pudu Jail was taken in 2006 from the Berjaya Times Square Hotel where I stayed for a night. Pudu prison was built between 1891-1895 by British colonial government. Design by Charles Edwin Spooner,convict labour on former Chinese cemetery site.The first governor was Lt Col J.A.B Ellen, and opened in 1895.
The prison was closed in 1996 after 101 years, inmates moved to Sungai Buloh & Kajang Prisons. Usedn as day-holding & police lock-up until 2008, briefly opened as museum in 1997. All buildings was demolished by December 2012.
Now forms part of park / fountain in front of Bukit Bintang City Centre BBCC), joint-venture EcoWorld, UDA, EPF with LaLaport Mall. Officially opened in 2022.
Stubborn House : or "Rumah Degil", the most famous nail house in K.L. It's original spot was at No. 41, Jalan Chow Kit/Lorong Hj Taib area, right in the middle of the city.
Affectionately known as "Rumah Degil", literally, the stubborn house, the structure managed to survive the Japanese occupation during WWII and the many urban development programmes that wiped out the city's traditional wooden dwellings.
Its current location now at Balai Seni Negara or National Art Gallery at Jalan Temerloh, K.L.
The house was built in 1926 by Hj Jaafat Sutan Mengatas / Sutan Sinombar, the decendant of Sutan Puasa, one of the founding fathers of Kuala Lumpur (Mandaling Muslim who migrates from Sumatra in 1830s.).
The last resident was Nenek Norma Manjawali,grand daughter of the builder, lived there from birth in 1932 until land sold in 2013. The house was dismantled piece by piece instead of being demolished and moved 2 km away at Balai Seni Negara grounds in 2018.
Left Panel: Petronas Twin Towers at night, lit in Jalur Gemilang colours,likely Merdeka month lighting.
Top right : Jalan Tun Razak, photo taken from the bridge at Damai LRT station to Keramat Mall.
Bottom right: Jalan Tun Razak.
Menara TH, Iconic cylindrical tower at Jalan Tun Razak, HQ of Tabung Haji, built in 1982-84, and photo bottom right, is the Jelatek LRT Station, the Kelana Jaya elevated platform.
Menara MAIWP: photo taken from Hospital KL, the Menara Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan at Jalan Perak and Jalan Ipoh area, with city skyline behind.
Wilayah Persekutuan, or the Federal Territories of Malaysia, is a fascinating region that showcases a blend of modernity and rich cultural heritage. Each territory has its unique charm and history, making it a captivating subject for photography.
Labuan, with its serene beaches and historical significance, offers stunning landscapes and remnants of its past, such as the Labuan War Cemetery and the iconic Labuan Clock Tower. The vibrant waterfront and bustling markets provide excellent opportunities for capturing the essence of local life.
Putrajaya, on the other hand, is a testament to modern architecture and urban planning. The picturesque Putrajaya Lake, surrounded by impressive bridges and the striking Iron Mosque, creates a perfect backdrop for stunning photographs. The annual Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival adds a splash of color and cultural richness to the scene.
Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, is a bustling metropolis filled with iconic landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers and historical sites such as Masjid Jamek. The contrast between the old and new, along with the vibrant street life, makes it a photographer's paradise.
As you continue to build your photo collection, consider capturing not just the landmarks but also the everyday moments that reflect the spirit of these territories. From local festivals to quiet moments in parks, each photo tells a story of the diverse culture and history that defines Wilayah Persekutuan.
Happy photographing!
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
23 October 2026: 3:56 p.m.
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