UPSC Prelims 2009 Q135: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders

UPSC Prelims 2009, General Studies Paper I · Geography

Which one of the following is the country's administrative capital/new federal administrative centre of Malaysia ?

Answer: (c) Putrajaya

Explanation

Malaysia's administrative capital

Malaysia relocated key federal government functions to a purpose-built city, distinct from its historic capital.

Option	Verdict	Reason
(a) Kota Bharu	Incorrect	A state capital (Kelantan), not Malaysia's federal administrative centre
(b) Kuala Terengganu	Incorrect	Also a state capital (Terengganu), not the federal administrative centre
(c) Putrajaya	Correct	Putrajaya was purpose-built as Malaysia's new federal administrative capital, distinct from Kuala Lumpur
(d) Taiping	Incorrect	A historic town, but not the administrative capital

Malaysia's administrative capital facts:

Point	Detail
Administrative capital	Putrajaya
Distinct from	Kuala Lumpur (the larger commercial/traditional capital)

Answer: (c) Putrajaya.

(a) Incorrect. Kota Bharu is a state capital, not the federal administrative centre.
(b) Incorrect. Kuala Terengganu is also a state capital, not the federal administrative centre.
(c) CORRECT. Putrajaya is Malaysia's purpose-built federal administrative capital.
(d) Incorrect. Taiping is a historic town, not the administrative capital.

Putrajaya is Malaysia's purpose-built new federal administrative capital, distinct from the larger city of Kuala Lumpur.

Putrajaya: Malaysia's administrative capital/new federal administrative centre.

Confusing Putrajaya's administrative role with various Malaysian state capitals.
Not knowing Malaysia's dual-capital structure (Kuala Lumpur as the traditional capital, Putrajaya as the administrative one).
Mixing up different Malaysian cities' specific governmental functions.

Putrajaya = Malaysia's purpose-built federal administrative capital, distinct from Kuala Lumpur.