A Guide to their Meanings and Histories

Street names are a many-layered thing – crystallising various eras of history and celebrating multiple generations of people. As the federal capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur’s street names reflect its rich mix of cultures and its journey from colonial past to nationhood. This encyclopedic A-to-Z guide explains the meanings and origins of KL’s street names – those named after notable persons, after prominent landmarks, after local flora and fauna, etc. Themed street names within a particular area are also identified, e.g. the cluster of streets in Taman Sri Bahtera named after traditional Malay boats. Of particular interest is the renaming of streets over the years, ranging from literal translations (e.g. “Church Road” becoming “Jalan Gereja”), to completely new names (“Parry Road” to “Jalan P Ramlee”). Drawing on extensive research into the National Archives, the authors present their wealth of findings in a concise and easy-to-read way that will engage readers of all levels.

Mariana Isa and Maganjeet Kaur are independent researchers in Malaysian and Southeast Asian history. As heritage enthusiasts, they are actively involved in organizing activities and projects to promote local history and heritage in Kuala Lumpur. Together they founded Heritage Output Laboratory, which provides research-based services to organisations and individuals requiring further background for print, audio and film projects.