List of cities in Malaysia

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George Town became a city on 1 January 1957 by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city (Singapore became a city in 1951). The royal charter stated that:

... the said Municipality of George Town shall on the First Day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven and forever after that be a city and shall be called and styled the CITY OF GEORGE TOWN instead of the Municipality of George Town and shall thenceforth have all such rank, liberties, privileges and immunities as are incident to a City.

Although the city status of George Town was never officially revoked, George Town's existence as a corporate entity was in doubt, let alone as a city. This is similar to the position of the former city of Rochester in England, the site of England's second-oldest cathedral, which had been a city from 1211 until 1998 when it was merged with a neighbouring borough. As the new council was not granted city status, and the city, through oversight, failed to appoint charter trustees to inherit the city charter, the city ceased to exist.

Most residents disagreed with this view and held that as George Town's city status has never been revoked, it remains a city to this day. According to lawyer Datuk Anwar Fazal, George Town "legally has been and is still a city because the City of George Town Ordinance 1957 had not been repealed".^[3] As city status is a matter of law, the actual legal position will depend on an analysis of the City Council of Penang (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966 and the Local Government Act 1976.

On 1 January 2015, the Malaysian federal government upgraded the Penang Island Municipal Council into the present-day Penang Island City Council, thereby expanding the city limit of George Town to encompass the entirety of Penang Island, as well as a handful of surrounding islets.{{sfn|Lim|2015}}{{sfn|Bulletin Mutiara 2015|p=24}}

The royal charters for Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Shah Alam, Malacca City, Alor Setar and Miri were from the Malaysian head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, while Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Subang Jaya were granted by their respective state sultans.{{sfn|Said|2017}} Malacca City was declared a "historical city" prior to being granted city status in 2003.

Kuala Lumpur, the largest city, is the national capital and a federal territory, but as of 2012, most government ministries have relocated to the new administrative capital of Putrajaya.

{{see also|Local government in Malaysia#Status criteria}}Local governments or local authorities in Malaysia (Malay: pihak berkuasa tempatan, abbreviated PBT) are placed under the jurisdiction of their respective state governments. On the other hand, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malay: Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, abbreviated as KPKT) handles the classification and standardisation of local governments while providing them with consultation services (i.e. technical consultancy and federal funding).{{sfn|Sepang Municipal Council 2022}} For the Federal Territories, their respective local governments are monitored by the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing (Malay: Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan, abbreviated KWP).{{sfn|Participatory Local Democracy 2014}} The National Council of Local Governments (Malay: Majlis Negara Kerajaan Tempatan, abbreviated as MNKT), formed in 1960 by the federal government, is tasked on handling policies and laws related to local governments.{{sfn|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2022}}{{sfn|Commonwealth Local Government Forum 2018}}

KPKT formally classifies local governments in three different categories: city councils, municipal councils, and district councils, with exceptions equivalent to the three respective categories.{{sfn|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2008a}} These categories are separated by certain requirements related to urban population, finances, and infrastructural developments. The 60th meeting of the MNKT, held on 3 June 2008, approved updated criterion on the selection process for the granting of city status on a local government:{{sfn|Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2011}}

1. The local government must administer a region that is an administrative centre of a state;
2. The region must have a population of more than 500-thousand people;
3. The local government must be financially sustainable, with an annual income of not less than 100-million ringgit, and has the ability to afford stable administrative expenditures;
4. The local government must have an efficient bureaucratic structure, while maintaining public services at the highest-level, e.g. tax collection, development approvals, legal enforcement, and other necessary functions;
5. Urban developments planned by the local government should be sustainable;
6. The local government should give further emphasis on resolving social issues, i.e. squatting, pollution, safety, affordable housing, and environmental conservation. Studies conducted by the Malaysian Urban Indicators Network (MURNInet) would also be taken account of.
7. The local government must promote an urban image that is applicable towards the national identity as a representation of the country's heritage, and preserve any local objects or places of historical, cultural, or artistic significance;
8. The region must contain adequate resources and institutions of finance and industry to easily facilitate trade and foreign investments;
9. The region must be a local hub of education, complete with universities, colleges, museums and public libraries;
10. The region must be a centre of culture, sports, and recreation;
11. The local government should have the ability to host conventions of national and international level;
12. The infrastructure of the region should be complete, with sufficient public utilities (e.g. disabled-persons friendly-public parks, public transportation, traffic management systems, road networks, computer services), and;
13. The region must achieve nationwide or international recognition equivalent to those of other cities worldwide.{{sfn|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2008a}}

{{Cities in Malaysia Map}}

{{main article|List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population}}

{{see also|Demographics of Malaysia#Major cities}}

Kuala Lumpur is by far the largest urban area as well as the largest metropolitan area in Malaysia. George Town, the capital city of Penang, forms the core of the country's second largest conurbation. To the south, Johor Bahru is the heart of Johor Bahru Conurbation, the nation's third largest urban area. Other metropolitan areas with a population of more than 500,000 include Ipoh, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The following table shows the largest cities by population in Malaysia.

{{Largest cities of Malaysia|class=info}}

• List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population
• List of local governments in Malaysia
• List of capitals in Malaysia

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|indent=yes}}

• {{Cite book |url=https://www.mbip.gov.my/sites/default/files/2._enakman_mbip.pdf |title=Government of Johor Gazette |publisher=State Government of Johor |location=Johor |publication-place=Malaysia |publication-date=21 December 2017 |language=ms, en |chapter=Law of the State of Johor, Enactment 12: Iskandar Puteri City Council Enactment 2017 |access-date=17 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|State Government of Johor 2017}}}}
• {{cite web|url=http://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/english.php/pages/view/12|title=Criteria Status for Local Authority|date=30 June 2011|publisher=Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government|access-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715143710/http://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/english.php/pages/view/12|archive-date=15 July 2015 |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2011}}}}
• {{Cite web |date=18 December 2019 |title=The Ceremony of the Seremban City Council Declaration |url=https://www.mbs.gov.my/en/mbs/media-centre/announcement/ceremony-seremban-city-council-declaration |access-date=17 September 2019 |website=Official Portal of the Seremban City Council |publisher=Seremban City Council |location=Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia |ref={{harvid|Seremban City Council 2019}}}}
• {{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.mpsepang.gov.my/en/faq/#toggle-id-4 |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=mpsepang.gov.my |publisher=Laman Portal Rasmi Majlis Perbandaran Sepang (Official Web Portal of the Municipal Council of Sepang) |ref={{harvid|Sepang Municipal Council 2022}}}}
• {{Cite web |title=List of MNKT |url=https://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/en/mnktke61 |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=jkt.kpkt.gov.my |publisher=Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government |language=ms |ref={{harvid|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2022}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.clgf.org.uk/resource-centre/clgf-publications/country-profiles/ |title=Commonwealth Local Government Handbook |date=April 2018 |publisher=Commonwealth Local Government Forum |publication-place=London |pages=124–128 |chapter=Malaysia - Country Profiles 2017-2018 |access-date=18 September 2022 |chapter-url=http://www.clgf.org.uk/default/assets/File/Country_profiles/Malaysia.pdf |ref={{harvid|Commonwealth Local Government Forum 2018}}}}
• {{Cite web |date=3 June 2008 |title=Category of Local Authority |url=https://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/index.php/en/SUK%26PBT/PBT/KategoriPBT |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=jkt.kpkt.gov.my |publisher=Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government |ref={{harvid|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2008}}}}
• {{Cite web |date=3 June 2008 |title=Kategori PBT |url=https://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/ms/suk-pbt/pbt/kategori-pbt |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=jkt.kpkt.gov.my |publisher=Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government |language=ms |publication-place=Kuala Lumpur |ref={{harvid|Local Government Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government 2008a}}}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|indent=yes}}

• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168495&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32280 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535232 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168497&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32273 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Federal Territories of Putrajaya |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022a}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168480&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32281 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Kedah |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022b}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168479&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32288 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Johor |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022c}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168483&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32291 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Melaka |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022d}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168486&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32296 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Negeri Sembilan |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022e}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168535&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32298 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Pahang |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022f}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168520&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32300 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Perak |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022g}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=169109&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32301 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Pulau Pinang |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535164 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022h}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168546&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32303 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Sabah |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535218 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022i}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168735&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32304 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Sarawak |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535225 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022j}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168491&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32305 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Selangor |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022k}}}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=168492&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=32307 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Terengganu |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=9789672535126 |location=Putrajaya |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |format=PDF |url-access=registration |ref={{harvid|Malaysian Department of Statistics 2022l}}}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}

• {{Cite news |first=Royce |last=Tan |date=18 December 2014 |title=Penang island gets city status |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/18/Penang-island-gets-city-status-MBPP-set-to-take-over-as-new-city-council/ |access-date=18 September 2022}}
• {{Cite news |date=1–15 May 2015 |title=George Town meliputi 'pulau', jelas Datuk Bandar |language=ms |trans-title=George Town includes the 'island', Mayor clarifies |work=Bulletin Mutiara |publisher=Government of Penang |location=George Town |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/download/2015/BuletinMutiaraMay12015-BM.pdf |access-date=18 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|Bulletin Mutiara 2015}}}}
• {{Cite news |last=Then |first=Stephen |date=20 May 2005 |title=Revelry as Miri turns city |work=The Star |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2005%2F5%2F20%2Fnation%2F11007788&sec=nation |url-status=dead |access-date=17 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329002016/http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2005%2F5%2F20%2Fnation%2F11007788&sec=nation |archive-date=29 March 2015}}
• {{Cite news |date=20 June 2006 |title=Termizi is first Petaling Jaya mayor |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2006/06/20/termizi-is-first-petaling-jaya-mayor |access-date=17 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|The Star 2006}}}}
• {{Cite news |last=Hilmy |first=Imran |date=16 September 2019 |title=Seberang Prai achieves city status |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/16/seberang-prai-achieves-city-status |access-date=17 September 2022 }}
• {{Cite news |date=15 September 2019 |title=Seberang Prai officially declared a city from Monday (Sept 16) |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/15/seberang-prai-officially-declared-a-city-from-monday-sept-16 |access-date=17 September 2022}}
• {{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Sarban |date=2 January 2020 |title=Seremban now officially a city |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/02/seremban-now-officially-a-city#cxrecs_s |access-date=17 September 2022}}
• {{Cite news |last=Ch'ng |first=Brenda |date=21 October 2020 |title=Subang Jaya now a city |work=The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2020/10/21/subang-jaya-now-a-city |access-date=16 September 2022}}
• {{Cite news |last=Rizalman |first=Hammim |date=22 November 2020 |title=Sultan of Johor proclaims Pasir Gudang a city |work=New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/643310/sultan-johor-proclaims-pasir-gudang-city |access-date=16 September 2022}}
• {{Cite news |date=21 February 2021 |title=Kuantan is now a city |work=The Star |agency=Bernama |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/21/kuantan-is-now-a-city |access-date=16 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|The Star & Bernama 2021}}}}
• {{Cite news |last=Said |first=Halim |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/278262/sultan-johor-launches-mersing-harbour-centre |title=Sultan of Johor launches Mersing Harbour Centre |date=10 September 2017 |work=New Straits Times |access-date=21 November 2017 |language=en}}
• {{cite news |last=Murali |first=R.S.N. |date=1 January 2008 |title=Kuala Terengganu declared a city |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/01/01/kuala-terengganu-declared-a-city |access-date=17 September 2022 |work=The Star}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/03/25/penangs-first-mayor-a-woman/|title=Penang's First Mayor A Woman|last=Lim |first=Cavina |date=25 March 2015|work=The Star|access-date=24 January 2016}}
• {{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Malaysia |url=https://localdemocracy.net/countries/asia-pacific/malaysia/ |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=localdemocracy.net |publisher=Participatory Local Democracy |ref={{harvid|Participatory Local Democracy 2014}}}}
• {{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_717_2004-12-28.html|title=City day|website=Singapore Infopedia|publisher=National Library Board|url-status=dead|date=28 December 2004|ref={{harvid|National Library Board 2004}}|access-date=2022-09-21|archive-date=2016-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608113813/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_717_2004-12-28.html}}
• {{Cite news |date=22 September 1951 |title=The King Sends Congratulations |pages=1 |work=The Straits Times |location=British Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19510922-1.2.2 |access-date=22 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|The Straits Times 1951}}}}
• {{Cite news |date=22 September 1951 |title=This is Singapore's Charter |pages=1 |work=The Straits Times |location=British Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19510922-1.2.7 |access-date=22 September 2022 |ref={{harvid|The Straits Times 1951a}}}}
• {{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Singapore is conferred city status |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/7333873b-d517-4a75-b828-331a30673b30#1 |access-date=22 September 2022 |website=HistorySG |publisher=National Library Board |location=Singapore |ref={{harvid|National Library Board 2014}}}}

{{refend}}

• {{webarchive |date=2013-01-05 |url=https://archive.today/20130105122209/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/s/p_my.htm |title=Map}}
• {{webarchive |date=2012-12-09 |url=https://archive.today/20121209085753/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1171193898&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=32&geo=-152&srt=pnan&col=ohdq&pt=c&va=x |title=Population of cities in Malaysia from World Gazetteer}}

{{Cities in Malaysia}}

{{Asia in topic|List of cities in}}

Malaysia

Cities