Like all other historical urban centres, the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, contains a number of current and old roads and streets across the city.
This article contains an alphabetical list of notable roads within Kuala Lumpur.
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The majority of older roads in and around Kuala Lumpur were originally formed during British rule in Selangor, and as such, were written primarily in English and were named after British figures of various fields, a handful of local dignitaries or royalties, districts, local populations, landmarks or geographical features. Other surrounding locales, such as Kampung Baru, Pudu, Imbi and Sentul have had roads known primarily in Malay since colonial rule.
Following Malaya's independence in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1965, street names in Kuala Lumpur were translated into the Malay language, some of which were given more simplified descriptions (i.e. "Old Market Square" as "Medan Pasar Besar" and "Foch Avenue" as "Jalan Foch"), as Malay was officially adopted as the official language of Malaysia in 1967.
The vast majority of the street names were further renamed en masse in 1981, as part of post-independence decolonisation pushed by the then newly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad. Street names which previously featured semblances of English origins were replaced by those commemorating local Malay figures, Malay culture and key politicians in Malaya/Malaysia. The renaming included roads in the core of old Kuala Lumpur, as well as major thoroughfares in the city. Further renaming of old street names persists to date, with the latest round of revision conducted by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 2007 on streets in Pudu and in the fringe towns of Sungai Besi and Jinjang, where English and British-named street names were still in use. Backroads, however, are typically spared from this form of renaming.
The accelerated development of the city after the country's independence also contributed to the widening of existing artery routes, creation of highways and new roadways, and extensive grade separation of roadways. This resulted in significant alterations of roadways in the city, with several roads merged, split, or modified, forming new roads or retiring old ones.
A guideline was formulated for the translation of English signages, road, lane, etc. Currently, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall are pursuing a process of standardization for road signage's. (e.g. Tengkat Tong Shin has been renamed as Jalan Tong Shin)
| English name | Malay name, official | Chinese name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ampang Road | Jalan Ampang | Named after the district of Ampang, several shopping malls such as the Ampang Park, City Square and Suria KLCC are located along the road. | |
| Bangsar Road | Jalan Bangsar | ||
| Bintang Walk | Jalan Bukit Bintang |
|
See Bukit Bintang |
| Broadrick Road | Jalan Semarang | Mentioned in Batu Road Boys' School documents in the 1960s and 1970s which also include the old postcode (02-05). | |
| Cochrane Road | Jalan Cochrane | Named after the British General Advisor of Johor, Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane, British Resident of Perak, (1929–1930). | |
| Foch Avenue | Jalan Cheng Lock |
|
Currently named after Tan Cheng Lock, the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA). |
| Damansara Road | Jalan Damansara | ||
| Campbell Road | Jalan Dang Wangi | Formerly named after Douglas Campbell, Johor's British advisor. Notable as the location of the Campbell Shopping Complex fire in 1976. | |
| Old Airport Road | Jalan Dewan Bahasa | Erected in 1997. Near the road is the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka main headquarters, a landmark and the symbol of Bahasa Melayu, the national language of Malaysia. "Old Airport Road" was given due to its connection to the Sungai Besi Airport, one of the earliest airports to serve Kuala Lumpur. Previously also known as Bellamy Road and Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama. | |
| Straits Road | Jalan Esfahan | Erected in 1993, the road is currently named after the city of Isfahan, Iran. Originally named after the Straits of Malacca or the Straits Settlements. This is one of the shortest roads in Kuala Lumpur; it is more of a linking alley than a proper road. Jalan Esfahan connects Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman with Jalan Raja Laut. Previously, Jalan Selat. | |
| Jalan Genting Klang | Part of the Genting Klang-Pahang Highway | ||
| Davidson Road | Jalan Hang Jebat | Currently named after Hang Jebat. Formerly named after James Guthrie Davidson (J.G. Davidson), a British Resident in Selangor. | |
| Rodger Road | Jalan Hang Kasturi | Formerly named after Sir John Pickersgill Rodger (1851–1910), Chief Magistrate, Selangor (1882); Acting British Resident, Selangor (1884–1888); British Resident, Pahang (1888–1896); British Resident, Selangor (1896–1901); British Resident, Perak (1901–1904); Governor Gold Coast (1904–1910). | |
| Cecil Street | Jalan Hang Lekir |
|
|
| Klyne Street | Jalan Hang Lekiu | ||
| Shaw Road | Jalan Hang Tuah | Part of the Kuala Lumpur Inner Ring Road. | |
| Imbi Road | Jalan Imbi | ||
| Raja Road (north and southeast stretches) (1960) | Jalan Kinabalu | ||
| Kuching Road | Jalan Kuching | Part of the Kuala Lumpur Inner Ring Road and Kuala Lumpur-Rawang Highway. | |
| Loke Yew Road | Jalan Loke Yew |
|
Named after Loke Yew, one of the richest Chinese businessmen in early Kuala Lumpur. Part of the Cheras Highway. |
| Birch Road (1960) | Jalan Maharajalela | In the mistaken presumption that it was named after the first Resident of Perak, James W.W. Birch, this road was renamed after Dato' Maharajalela, a local Malay chief who was partially responsible for Birch's assassination in 1875. In fact it was actually named in honour of the much more popular E.W. Birch, son of the former and a one-time acting Resident of Selangor. | |
| Dickson Street | Jalan Masjid India | Currently named after a local mosque, Masjid India. The southern end of the road was recently converted into a pedestrian street. | |
| Market Street | Lebuh Pasar Besar | Named after the Old Market Square (Medan Pasar Besar), crossing the Klang River from Medan Pasar Besar to Dataran Merdeka. Terminates at Jalan Raja Laut in the west and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in the east. | |
| Old Market Square | Medan Pasar Besar | A large public space that consisted of two roads, Macao Street and Hokkien Street (circa 1880s and 1890s), divided by a traffic island. The area was formerly the location of Kuala Lumpur's main market, before the British government completed what would become the Central Market in 1888 and 1889. The Old Market Square became and open area commonly used as a recreation area and commercial center in early Kuala Lumpur, but diminished in importance as the city grew outwards. The area is now used primarily as a bus hub. | |
| Pahang Road | Jalan Pahang | Part of the Genting Klang-Pahang Highway | |
| Parliament Road | Jalan Parlimen | Previously, Club Road | |
| Pantai Baharu Avenue | Jalan Pantai Baharu | ||
| Petaling Street | Jalan Petaling |
|
The historical Chinatown, see Petaling Street |
| Pudu Road, Pudoh Street (1960) | Jalan Pudu | Currently named after the district of Pudu. The Pudu Prison, the Puduraya bus station and the Plaza Rakyat construction site are located along Jalan Pudu. | |
| Parry Road | Jalan P. Ramlee | Erected in 1982 and named after actor P. Ramlee, this street contains many pubs and nightclubs. | |
| Weld Road (1960) | Jalan Raja Chulan | Currently (since 1982) named after Raja Chulan; formerly named after Frederick Weld. | |
| Jalan Raja Laut | |||
| Treacher Road | Jalan Sultan Ismail | Currently name after Sultan Ismail, and is part of the Kuala Lumpur Inner Ring Road. Formerly named after William Hood Treacher, a British Resident. | |
| Sungai Besi Road | Jalan Sungai Besi | ||
| Lornie Road | Jalan Syed Putra | Currently named after Tuanku Syed Putra the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong. | |
| Batu Road (1960) | Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman | Currently named after Tuanku Abdul Rahman the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong. | |
| High Street (1960) | Jalan Tun H S Lee | Currently named after Henry H.S. Lee, Malaysia's first finance minister (1957–1959). Originally named after the fact that the road was a "High Street" stretching across old Kuala Lumpur, previously, Jalan Bandar. | |
| Mountbatten Road (1960), Java Street. | Jalan Tun Perak | Currently named after Tun Perak. Formerly named after Louis Mountbatten, and earlier, Java. | |
| Cross Street | Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin | Renamed in 2003 after Malaysian Minister of Finance Tan Siew Sin, previously Jalan Silang or Cross Street. | |
| Brickfields Road (1960) | Jalan Tun Sambanthan | Currently named after V. T. Sambanthan, previously named after the district of Brickfields. | |
| Yap Ah Loy Road | Jalan Yap Ah Loy |
|
Located near Jalan Tun Perak and named after Yap Ah Loy (1837–1885), the third and the longest term Capitan China (1869–1885). |
| Yap Kwan Seng Road | Jalan Yap Kwan Seng |
|
Named after Yap Kwan Seng, the fifth and the last Capitan China (1889–1902). |
| Current, official name | Former, English name(s) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Changkat Raja Chulan | Hicks Road | Named after Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Secretary of State for the Colonies. |
| Changkat Thambi Dollah | ||
| Jalan Abdul Rahim Kajai | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail | |
| Jalan Alor | Running parallel to Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor is today best known for its wide variety of street food. Formerly known as the red light district of KL. | |
| Jalan Aminuddin Baki | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Ampang Hilir | ||
| Jalan Athinahapan | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Balai Polis | Station Street (1960) | Named after the Old High Street Police Station, a (partially demolished) police station in the vicinity. The road, which previously connected Petaling Street and High Street, was partially dismantled, cutting off the road from the latter. |
| Jalan Belfield | Belfield Road | Named after British Resident of Negri Sembilan, Henry Conway Belfield, (1901–1902), British Resident of Selangor, (1902–1910), who was also British Resident of Perak, (1910–1912). |
| Hose Road (part of) (1960) | It should be noted that both Jalan Belfield and Jalan Hose have existed as early as 1960, and that the name of the latter is still retained for both roads. Hose Road was formerly named after Charles Hose. | |
| Jalan Bellamy | Bellamy Road | Named after H.F. Bellamy, the Director of Public Works Department. |
| Jalan Berhala | Jalan Kandang Kerbau | Berhala is literally translated from Malay to English as idols. Many Buddhist and Hindu Temples are located along this road. |
| Jalan Bukit Aman | Bluff Road (1960) | Currently named after Bukit Aman (Peace Hill), connecting the headquarters of the Royal Malaysian Police on the hill with Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. It was formerly named Bluff Hill. |
| Jalan Bukit Petaling | Bellamy Road (half) | Named after H.F. Bellamy, the Director of Public Works Department. |
| Jalan Bukit Tunku | Jalan Bukit Kenny | |
| Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Carutthers | Carutthers Road | |
| Jalan Cenderasari | Hospital Road, Young Road (1960), Tanglin Road | "Hospital Road" was derived from the presence of the Tangling Hospital up the hill, and Young Road was named after Sir Arthur Henderson Young, the British High Commissioner in Malaya. |
| Jalan Ceylon | Ceylon Lane (1960) | A hill road named after the former name of Sri Lanka. |
| Jalan Bukit Ceylon | Ceylon Hill (1960) | A hill road branching from Jalan Ceylon, named after the hill which it is located in (the hill, in turn, takes its name from the former name of Sri Lanka). |
| Jalan Cenderawasih | Spooner Road | Formerly named after Ernest John Spooner or Charles Edwin Spooner the State Engineer of Selangor and Director of Public Works Department. |
| Jalan Choo Cheeng Kay | Named after Choo Cheeng Khay, a wealthy tin-miner and property developer. | |
| Jalan Conlay | Conlay Road | Named after the British Agent of Terengganu, William Lance Conlay, (1909–1913). |
| Jalan Dato' Onn | Brockman Road, Residency Road (1960) | First named after the British Chief Secretary, Sir Edward Lewis Brockman, also the British Resident of Pahang, (1909–1910). The name Residency was named after the official residence of Tunku. Currently named after Onn Jaafar. |
| Jalan Datuk Sulaiman | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail | |
| Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman | Stony Road | |
| Jalan Davis | Davis Road | Named after J.L.H. Davis. |
| Jalan Dorasamy | ||
| Jalan Doktor Latif | ||
| Jalan Duta | Guillemard Road | This road is part of the Jalan Duta-Segambut Highway. |
| Jalan Eaton | Eaton Road | |
| Jalan Faraday | Faraday Road | It is located at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Headquarters near Jalan Pantai Baharu |
| Jalan Gallagher | Gallagher Road | |
| Jalan Galloway | Galloway Road | |
| Jalan Gereja | Church Street (1960) | Named after the a local St. John's Cathedral. Currently merged with Jalan Ampang, the name is retained on a few connected lanes (as Lorong Gereja). |
| Jalan Haji Yahya Sheikh Ahmad | Watson Road | Named after the British Resident of Perak, Sir Reginald George Watson |
| Jalan Istana | Taylor Road (1960) | Currently named after Istana Negara (the National Palace), which is located near the road. Connected to the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway. |
| Jalan Kampung Attap | ||
| Jalan Kampung Bandar Dalam | ||
| Jalan Kebun Bunga | Orchid Road | Named after the Lake Gardens, where orchids were planted around the gardens. |
| Jalan Kia Peng | Named after Choo Kia Peng. | |
| Jalan Kinabalu (part of) | Old River Road | Part of the Kuala Lumpur Inner Ring Road |
| Jalan Ledang | Guillemard Road | Currently named after Mount Ledang (Mount Ophir) in Johor. |
| Jalan Langgak Golf | Golf View Road | |
| Jalan Leong Yew Koh | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Limbang | Main Street | Located in Jinjang, It was erected on 2007 after the name of the Limbang Division in Sarawak. |
| Jalan Madge | Located at Taman U-Thant. | |
| Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan | Jalan Belanda or Holland Road (1960) | Situated behind the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and along the Gombak River and the Klang River (after the confluence of the rivers). Currently named after the Malaysian Federal Court which was based in the area. Formerly named after Hugh Holland. |
| Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi | Clarke Road (1960) | A short road that connects Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan with Jalan Raja Laut, passing between the south side of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and the Old Post Office/former Court of Appeal building and Industrial Court. Currently named after the Malaysian High Court, which is based in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Formerly named after Andrew Clarke. |
| Jalan Melayu | Malay Street (1960) | A street connecting Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Tun Perak via a route passing the Klang River. The road was recently refurbished with the addition of canopy roofs and new street furnitures added along the road, in conjunction with the remodeling of the south end of Jalan Masjid India as a pedestrian street. |
| Jalan Munshi Abdullah | ||
| Jalan Pasar | ||
| Jalan Peel | Peel Road | |
| Jalan Perdana | Venning Road | Named after Alfred Venning, the Chairman of Sanitary Board, who proposed to establish a Public Gardens in 1888, which was later renamed as Lake Gardens. |
| Jalan Pudu Lama | Old Pudu Road (1960) | A back road connecting to Jalan Pudu, which passes through pre-war residential houses. |
| Jalan Punchak | Peak Road | Punchak (Puncak) is literally translated from Malay as peak. |
| Jalan Raja Abdullah | Hale Road | Named after former Larut District Officer, A. Hale. |
| Jalan Raja Alang | Hans Road | |
| Jalan Raja Bot | ||
| Jalan Raja | Raja Road (west stretch) (1960), Gombak Road (circa 1880s and 1890s). | Notably passes the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and similar structures in the vicinity. As of 1960, the road initially terminated at a T junction with Mounbatten Road and Batu Road in the north and the Jalan Raja-Market Street-Victory Avenue crossroad in the south. The road was subsequently extended north, stretching along the Gombak River. |
| Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz | Princes Road | Currently named after Raja Muda Abdul Aziz (Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah) of Selangor |
| Jalan Raja Muda Musa | Currently named after Raja Muda Musa (Sultan Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah) of Selangor | |
| Jalan Ritchie | Ritchie Road | Located between Jalan Ampang and Jalan Ampang Hilir. |
| Jalan Robson | Robson Road | Named after The Malay Mail newspaper founder J.H. Robson |
| Jalan Robertson | Robertson Road | |
| Jalan Scott | Scott Road | |
| Jalan Samarahan 1 | River Road North | Located in Jinjang, it was paved in 2007 and named after the Samarahan Division in Sarawak. |
| Jalan Samarahan 2 | Ulu Klang Street | Located in Jinjang, it was paved in 2007 and named after the Samarahan Division in Sarawak. |
| Jalan Samarahan 6 | Cheras Street | Located in Jinjang, it was paved in 2007 and named after the Samarahan Division in Sarawak. |
| Jalan Semarak | Henry Gurney Road | Previously named after Sir Henry Gurney. |
| Jalan Semarang | Broadrick Road | Named after the British Resident of Selangor, Edward George Broadrick, (1913–1919). |
| Jalan Sentul | Sentul Road | |
| Jalan Serian 1 | Tanjung Malim Street | Located in Jinjang, it was paved in on 2007 and named after the Serian town in Sarawak. |
| Jalan Sin Chee | ||
| Jalan Sri Amar | ||
| Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad | ||
| Jalan Stadium | Stadium Road | Built in 1957 and named after the Merdeka Stadium |
| Jalan Changkat Stadium | Stadium Ghaut | Built in 1957 and named after the Merdeka Stadium |
| Jalan Stonor | Stonor Road | Named after the British Resident of Selangor, Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor, (1921–1926). |
| Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin | Victory Avenue (1960) | Terminates at the Jalan Raja Laut-Lebuh Pasar Besar-Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin crossroad in the north, and the north and of Jalan Travers from the south. The road notably passes the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Dayabumi complex and Masjid Negara (the National Mosque). |
| Jalan Sultan Salahuddin | Swettenham Road (1960) | Currently named after Sultan Salahuddin of Malaysia; previously named after Frank Swettenham. |
| Jalan Sultan Sulaiman | Suleiman Road | Named after Sultan Sulaiman of Selangor. |
| Jalan Tangsi | Barrack Road | Previously connected directly to Dataran Merdeka via the southeast stretch of Jalan Raja, and currently cut off from the area with the construction of the Jalan Kuching-Jalan Kinabalu-Jalan Parlimen expressway. |
| Jalan Talalla | ||
| Jalan Thambipillay | ||
| Jalan Thambusamy | Named after K. Thambusamy Pillai, an India immigrant and trader who discovered the Batu Caves. | |
| Jalan Travers | Damansara Road | Previously named after the district of Damansara or the Damansara River. Currently named after Dr. Ernest Aston Otho Travers, the State Surgeon of Selangor, (1891–1897). |
| Jalan Tugu | Cenotaph Road (1960) | Named after a cenotaph [1][2] which was located on the intersection of Cenotaph Road and Victory Avenue. The cenotaph was moved to the National Monument [3] when a flyover was constructed over the area during the 1960s. |
| Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Tun Ismail | Maxwell Road | Formerly named after William Edward Maxwell, Straits Settlements Governor. |
| Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail | |
| Jalan Tun Razak | Jalan Pekeliling, Circular Road | Currently named after Tun Abdul Razak, it was originally named for its beltway-like layout. Part of Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 1. |
| Jalan Tunku Putra | Natesa Road | Currently named after Tunku Abdul Rahman (Putra). |
| Jalan U-Thant | Currently named after the former UN General Secretary from 1961 until 1971, U Thant. | |
| Jalan Vivekananda | ||
| Jalan Walter Grenier | Walter Grenier Road | |
| Jalan Wan Kadir | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Jalan Wesley | Wesley Road | |
| Jalan Wickham | Wickham Road | |
| Jalan Wisma Putra | Hose Drive | Currently named after the original Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at the road; formerly named after Charles Hose. The road is related to Jalan Belfied and remaining roads by the name of Hose. |
| Jalan Yaacob Latif | Jalan Tenteram | Located in Bandar Tun Razak, It was established in 2003 and named the second Kuala Lumpur city mayor Tan Sri Yaacob Latif |
| Jalan Yap Ah Shak | Named after Yap Ah Shak, the fourth Capitan China (1885–1889). | |
| Jalan Yap Tai Chi | Located at Jalan Imbi | |
| Jalan Yew | Located at Sungai Besi | |
| Jalan Zaaba | Located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail. | |
| Lorong Binjai | ||
| Lorong Kuda (KLCC Tunnel) |
||
| Persiaran Hampshire | Hampshire Drive | |
| Persiaran Mahameru | Swettenham Drive | Formerly named after Frank Swettenham. |
| Persiaran Maybank | Court Hill (1960) | A hill back road that connects Jalan Pudu Lama with Jalan Raja Chulan. Currently named after the Maybank Tower that is built on a hill, and formerly named after a Sessions Court which resided on the same site, circa 1960. The old name remains in Malay form on a road that connects Jalan Raja Chulan with Persiaran Maybank, dubbed Jalan Bukit Mahkamah (Court Hill Road). |
| Persiaran Raja Chulan | Weld Drive (1960) | A hill back road branching from Jalan Raja Chulan. Currently named after Raja Chulan; formerly named after Frederick Weld. |
| Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin | Clifford Road | Named after Sir Hugh Clifford the Governor of Straits Settlements and British High Commissioner in Malaya |