A Wilayah Persekutuan (Federal Territory) is a territory administered directly by the Federal Government, not by a state government. Malaysia has three: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Unlike the 13 states, a Wilayah Persekutuan has no Raja or Yang di-Pertua Negeri, no Menteri Besar or Ketua Menteri, and no Dewan Undangan Negeri of its own.
- Three territories: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan
- Administered directly by the Federal Government, not a state government
- No Raja, Menteri Besar or Dewan Undangan Negeri
- Malaysia is made up of 13 states and 3 Wilayah Persekutuan
Who this applies to: Anyone trying to understand Malaysia's administrative divisions and why Kuala Lumpur is not a state.
On this page
Bahasa Malaysia: Wilayah Persekutuan · English: Federal Territory · 中文: 联邦直辖区
Wilayah Persekutuan is an area administered directly by the Federal Government. This is why Kuala Lumpur, despite being the capital city, is not a state — and has no Menteri Besar.
In practice
Malaysia is made up of 13 states and 3 Wilayah Persekutuan:
| Territory | Role |
|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Capital city and business hub |
| Putrajaya | Administrative centre of the Federal Government |
| Labuan | Offshore territory in Borneo, offshore financial centre |
Key differences from a state:
- No Raja or Yang di-Pertua Negeri. States have a Sultan, Raja or Yang di-Pertua Negeri as head of state; a Wilayah Persekutuan does not.
- No Menteri Besar or Ketua Menteri. Territory matters are handled at the federal level.
- No Dewan Undangan Negeri. Residents vote for Parliamentary seats, but there are no state elections because there is no DUN.
Related terms
Sources
- Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Malaysia — Kerajaan Malaysia
- Perlembagaan Persekutuan — Jabatan Peguam Negara
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 24 Jul 2026 | Approved and published. | — |