Kuala Lumpur is a rubber capital because of its prominence with the growing of the natural rubber plant. It is today the largest city in Malaysia and the Capital. However, in 1820, it was simply the point of “confluence” of two rivers (called “Kuala” in Malay), which were muddy (Lumpur). Thus, this point was called Kuala Lumpur or just KL. In 1820 it was a rural tin producing settlement. However, in 1876 Henry Wickham of Great Britain delivered to Singapore (about 200 miles from KL) two cases of fifty seedlings of the Hevea Brasiliensis rubber-bearing tree which he “snuck” out of the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil. Ultimately, this act broke the Brazilian monopoly on the Hevea rubber tree, just in time for the industrial revolution in automobile tires, etc.
Malaysia was an ideal selection for growing natural rubber trees because it had the ideal tropical climate, ideal soil, and plenty of land. Natural rubber replaced tin as the main export and Malaysia became the number one producer of natural rubber in the world. Today, Malaysia also has over 500 manufacturers of natural rubber latex products. While today Malaysia is no longer the number one producer of natural rubber, it is still number three as shown below in the 2014 natural rubber production figures.
- Thailand: 4 million tons
- Indonesia: 3.2 million tons
- Malaysia: 1 million tons
- Vietnam: 1 million tons
- India: 0.9 million tons
Kuala Lumpur has contributed greatly in research and development projects that have advanced the production and application of natural rubber greatly through the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya (RRIM) and the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), just 15 miles from KL. Also Kuala Lumpur hosts important international technical meetings on rubber technology such as the International Rubber Conference (IRC) in 2018, 2008, 1997 and 1975, and the Asia Pacific Elastomer Science & Technology (APEST) meeting. In addition, Kuala Lumpur has the Secretariat for the International Standards Organization (ISO) for TC45 on Rubber.
While the population of Kuala Lumpur is 1.7 million, the Greater KL area (known as the Klang Valley), has a population of 7.25 million people. Overall, Malaysia has a population of 26 million. This population is reportedly just over 50 % Malay, about 22 % Chinese Malaysian, and about 7 % Indian Malaysian.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) offer Polymer Engineering courses.
Important things to see in Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur Petronas Twin Towers (tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004)
- Batu Caves
- Menara Kuala Lumpur (panoramic views)
- Buddhist Temple at Then Hou Temple
- Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
- National Museum
- Sri Mahamariamman Temple
- Kuala Lumpur City Highlights Tour