Putrajaya: the federal administrative centre that is not a state

In 1999, the Office of the Prime Minister moved out of Kuala Lumpur. The capital did not change — what moved was its administrative machinery.

That is Putrajaya: not a new capital, nor a new state, but a Federal Territory purpose-built to house the executive branch of the federal government. It was carved out of the Prang Besar estate in the Sepang district of Selangor.

Key facts

Item	Detail
Status	Federal Territory, not a state — Article 1(4) of the Federal Constitution
Established	1 February 2001, through the Akta Perlembagaan (Pindaan) 2001 [Akta A1095]
Area	4,931 hectares (approximately 49.31 km²), 20 precincts
Population	Approximately 120,800 (DOSM estimate for 2025)
Local authority	Perbadanan Putrajaya, under the Akta Perbadanan Putrajaya 1995 [Akta 536]
Representation	One Dewan Rakyat seat (P.125 Putrajaya); one Dewan Negara member appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Does not have	State Legislative Assembly; Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri; state government

Why the administration moved out of Kuala Lumpur

The choice of site explains the intent. On 2 June 1993, the Government selected Prang Besar for its strategic position along the development corridor between Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur International Airport — not for its proximity to the city centre.

The concept chosen on 15 December 1994 was “City in a Garden” (Bandar Dalam Taman). Today around 1,923 hectares — 39% of Putrajaya’s area — is set aside as a network of green spaces, including the 400-hectare Putrajaya Lake and 200 hectares of artificial wetland cells. A layout like this would have been impossible to implement inside an already densely built-up Kuala Lumpur.

On 12 October 1994, the Cabinet changed the name of Prang Besar to Putrajaya, after the first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.

How Selangor land became a federal territory

This was not a single act. It was a series of legal steps spanning eight years.

• 16 December 1993 — the identified site was declared under seksyen 8 of the Akta Pengambilan Balik Tanah 1960 [Akta 486].
• 20 July 1995 — an agreement was concluded between the Federal Government and the State Government of Selangor under Article 80(5) of the Federal Constitution, enabling the Federation to exercise authority functions to administer the Putrajaya area. At this point Putrajaya was still Selangor land.
• 1 March 1996 — the Akta Perbadanan Putrajaya 1995 [Akta 536] came into force, establishing Perbadanan Putrajaya.
• 1999 — the Perdana Putra building was completed and the Office of the Prime Minister moved from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya.
• 1 February 2001 — the Akta Perlembagaan (Pindaan) 2001 [Akta A1095] amended Article 1(4) so that the territory of the State of Selangor no longer includes Putrajaya.

Note the sequence: the administration moved first, the constitutional status followed later. Throughout that period, the legal basis was an agreement between the two governments — because Article 2(b) provides that the boundaries of a State may not be altered without that State’s consent, expressed through legislation of its State Legislature, and without the consent of the Conference of Rulers.

What “not a state” means in practice

This distinction is not merely technical. It changes who makes the decisions.

• Legislation. Item 6(e) of the Federal List places “the government and administration of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya” under the authority of Parliament — not any state legislative assembly.
• Local government. Item 4 of the State List only applies to local government outside the three Federal Territories. In Putrajaya, that function is carried out by Perbadanan Putrajaya, whose members are appointed by the Minister responsible for the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, not elected.
• Remaining links with Selangor. Seksyen 5(1) of Akta 536 still provides for two members of the Perbadanan representing the Selangor State Government, named by the Menteri Besar with the consent of the Sultan of Selangor.
• Representation. Akta A1095 added one Dewan Rakyat seat for Putrajaya (now P.125 Putrajaya) and one Dewan Negara member appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Common mistakes

• Equating Putrajaya with the capital. Istana Negara and the Parliament Building remain in Kuala Lumpur.
• Assuming Putrajaya was “taken” unilaterally. The first step in 1995 was an agreement under Article 80(5), not a unilateral declaration.
• Looking for a Putrajaya DUN or ADUN. There is none. There is only one Parliamentary seat.
• Confusing Putrajaya with Cyberjaya. Both were planned in the same Structure Plan in December 1994, but Cyberjaya remains within the State of Selangor.

What’s next

If you are tracing where a government matter is actually decided, read Kuala Lumpur to understand the division between the capital and the administrative centre, and Selangor to see the state that surrounds both without containing either. For its constitutional basis, refer to the Federal Constitution.