Twenty years ago KL was a bit of an Asian backwater, overshadowed by modern Hong Kong and Singapore and lacking the excitement of Bangkok. The city was plagued by traffic problems, lacked modern infrastructure and was hemmed in by geographical circumstance. Fast forward to the 21st century and there’ve been plenty of changes – the city centre is almost unrecognisable. The central horse racing track has given way to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, grand colonial bungalows have been replaced by glass and steel skyscrapers and a network of elevated and underground roads and railways alleviate traffic flow. That’s not to say everything is perfect, but the city is not resting on its laurels. Numerous active construction sites are evidence of the continuing effort to transform this area into a showcase for modern Malaysia. The transformation has been financed by oil wealth and this sector is the major employer of expats in the city.

To the newly arrived expat, KL can seem alien and overwhelming, but it’s surprisingly easy to settle in here. The constant comings and goings of the expat population have resulted in a system that’s well adapted to helping newcomers. You’ll find professionals such as relocation agents, estate agents, school staff and human resource departments, as well as volunteers at expat associations, who are happy to help you get settled and deal with the inevitable hiccups along the way.

Malaysians are proud of their capital city and you’ll find crowds of local tourists at the major landmarks. Family bonds are strong and at holiday times the city empties out and it seems like the entire population has balik kampung (gone back to their home town).