List of districts in Malaysia

List of administration units of Malaysia

  • Also known as:
  • Jajahan (Collectivity) (Kelantan)
  • Bahagian (Division) (Sabah and Sarawak)
CategorySecond-level administrative divisionLocationStates of MalaysiaNumber160
89 with 3 cities (Peninsular)
28 (Sabah)
40 (Sarawak)
1 city (Labuan) (as of 2020 Census[1])PopulationsGreatest: Petaling District, Selangor—1,812,633 (2010)
Least: Pakan District, Sarawak—15,480 (2010)[2]AreasLargest: Kapit Division, Sarawak—38,934 km2 (15,033 sq mi)
Smallest: Putatan District, Sabah—29.7 km2 (11.5 sq mi)Government
  • City hall, city council, municipal council, district council (in all states and Kuala Lumpur)
  • Corporation (in Labuan and Putrajaya)
  • Town board (in Kudat, Sabah)
  • Development authority (in Bintulu, Sarawak)
Subdivisions
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Districts in West Malaysia
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Districts in East Malaysia

Districts (Malay: Daerah; Jajahan in Kelantan) are a type of administrative division below the state level in Malaysia. An administrative district is administered by a lands and district office (pejabat daerah dan tanah) which is headed by district officer (pegawai daerah).

Classification

In Peninsular Malaysia, a district is a subdivision of a state. A mukim (commune, sub-district or parish) is a subdivision of a district. In recent years, a mukim is however of less importance with respect to the administration of land; for land administrative purposes, major cities (e.g. Petaling Jaya) are given an equal status with mukim.

The state of Perlis is not divided into districts due to its size, but straight to the mukim level. The Federal Territories and Labuan are also not divided into districts; however Kuala Lumpur is divided into several mukim for land administration purposes. Putrajaya is divided into precincts.

In East Malaysia, a district is a subdivision of a division (bahagian) of a state.[3] For example, Tuaran is a district within the West Coast Division of Sabah. A district is usually named after the main town or its administrative capital; for example, the town of Sandakan is the capital of the Sandakan District, as well as the capital of Sandakan Division.

Some larger districts are further divided into autonomous sub-districts (daerah kecil; literally "small district") before the mukim level. This is prevalent in Sarawak and Sabah, but also seen in Peninsular Malaysia in recent years, e.g. Lojing autonomous sub-district in Kelantan. Sub-districts in Sabah, however, are not divided into mukim.

Relationship with parliament and local government

An administrative district can be distinguished from a local government area where the former deals with land administration and revenue while the latter deals with the planning and delivery of basic infrastructure to its inhabitants. Administrative district boundaries are usually congruent with local government area boundaries, but may sometimes differ especially in urbanised areas. For example, the Petaling District in Selangor is administered by three local authorities: Petaling Jaya City Council, Shah Alam City Council and Subang Jaya City Council; conversely one local authority can administer more than one district, for example Northeast Penang Island District and Southwest Penang Island District in Penang are both administered by Penang Island City Council.

Administrative district boundaries also provide the basis of boundaries for the parliamentary constituencies in the Malaysian Parliament.[4] However this is not always the case; in heavily populated areas e.g. the Klang Valley and Kinta Valley there is serious overlap between district, local government and parliamentary boundaries.

By states

The Federation of Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963 under the Malaysia Agreement
   
States upon the independence
of Federation of Malaya

Johor 31 August 1957
Kedah 31 August 1957
Kelantan 31 August 1957
Malacca 31 August 1957
Negeri Sembilan 31 August 1957
Pahang 31 August 1957
Perak 31 August 1957
Perlis 31 August 1957
Penang 31 August 1957
Selangor 31 August 1957
Terengganu 31 August 1957
Joined the union upon the formation
of Malaysia:

Sabah 16 September 1963
Sarawak 16 September 1963

Creation of the Federal Territories:

Kuala Lumpur 1 February 1974
Labuan 16 April 1984
Putrajaya 1 February 2001

West Malaysia

  Federal Territory (Not District)
  City-status District
  Municipal-status District
Federal Territory/State District Name Capital/Largest settlement Local Government Population (2020[5]) Area (km2) Density
 Federal Territory (Malaysia)
 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur H 1982112 243 8,156.8
 Putrajaya Putrajaya P 109202 49 2,228.6
 Johor
Batu Pahat District Batu Pahat Batu Pahat M
Yong Peng D
495338 1966 252.0
Johor Bahru District Johor Bahru Johor Bahru C
Iskandar Puteri C
Pasir Gudang C
1711191 1066 1,605.2
Kluang District Kluang Kluang M
Simpang Renggam D
323762 2865 113.0
Kota Tinggi District Kota Tinggi Kota Tinggi D
Pengerang M
222382 3489 63.7
Kulai District Kulai Kulai M 329497 756 435.8
Mersing District Mersing Mersing D 78195 2857 27.4
Muar District Muar Muar M 314776 1393 226.0
Pontian District Pontian Kechil Pontian M 173318 933 185.8
Segamat District Segamat Segamat M
Labis D
197762 2867 69.0
Tangkak District Tangkak Tangkak D 163449 977 167.3
 Kedah
Baling District Baling Baling D 142643 1529 93.3
Bandar Baharu District Serdang Bandar Baharu D 44412 271 163.9
Kota Setar District Alor Setar Alor Setar C 374051 420 890.6
Kuala Muda District Sungai Petani Sungai Petani M 544984 913 596.9
Kubang Pasu District Jitra Kubang Pasu M 237759 946 251.3
Kulim District Kulim Kulim M
Kulim Hi-Tech
Industrial Park LA
337699 774 436.3
Langkawi District Kuah Langkawi M 94138 526 179.0
Padang Terap District Kuala Nerang Padang Terap D 65698 1359 48.3
Pendang District Pendang Pendang D 98922 629 157.3
Pokok Sena District Pokok Sena Alor Setar C 49812 244 204.1
Sik District Sik Sik D 67925 1635 41.5
Yan District Yan Besar Yan D 73384 246 298.3
 Kelantan
Bachok District Bachok Bachok D 157288 279 563.8
Gua Musang District[note 1] Gua Musang Gua Musang D Lojing D 112495 8179 13.8
Jeli District Jeli Jeli D 54656 1326 41.2
Kota Bharu District Kota Bharu Kota Bharu M
Ketereh D
555757 403 1,379.0
Kuala Krai District Kuala Krai Kuala Krai D
Dabong D
105007 2275 46.2
Machang District Machang Machang D 110008 526 209.1
Pasir Mas District Pasir Mas Pasir Mas D 230424 570 404.3
Pasir Puteh District Pasir Puteh Pasir Puteh D 136157 423 321.9
Tanah Merah District Tanah Merah Tanah Merah D 150766 880 171.3
Tumpat District Tumpat Tumpat D 179943 180 999.7
 Malacca
Alor Gajah District Alor Gajah Alor Gajah M
Hang Tuah Jaya M
249356 674 370.0
Jasin District Jasin Jasin M
Hang Tuah Jaya M
151937 679 223.8
Melaka Tengah District Malacca City Malacca C
Hang Tuah Jaya M
597135 359 1,663.3
 Negeri Sembilan
Jelebu District Kuala Klawang Jelebu D 46026 1354 34.0
Jempol District Bandar Seri Jempol Jempol M 127181 1485 85.6
Kuala Pilah District Kuala Pilah Kuala Pilah D 70324 1027 68.5
Port Dickson District Port Dickson Port Dickson M 128657 583 220.7
Rembau District Rembau Rembau D 47278 406 116.4
Seremban District Seremban Seremban C 692407 954 725.8
Tampin District Tampin Tampin D 88101 851 103.5
 Pahang
Bentong District Bentong Bentong M 116799 1831 63.8
Bera District Bandar Bera Bera D 98137 2214 44.3
Cameron Highlands District Tanah Rata Cameron Highlands D 39004 712 54.8
Jerantut District Jerantut Jerantut D 96006 7561 12.7
Kuantan District Kuantan Kuantan C 548014 2960 185.1
Lipis District Kuala Lipis Lipis D 96620 5198 18.6
Maran District Maran Maran D 112330 1917 58.6
Pekan District Pekan Pekan M 121158 3805 31.8
Raub District Raub Raub D 96139 2269 42.4
Rompin District Kuala Rompin Rompin D
Tioman DA
98065 5247 18.7
Temerloh District Temerloh Temerloh M 169023 2251 75.1
 Penang
Central Seberang Perai District Bukit Mertajam Seberang Perai C 422985 238 1,777.2
North Seberang Perai District Kepala Batas Seberang Perai C 339132 268 1,265.4
Northeast Penang Island District George Town Penang Island C 556557 126 4,417.1
South Seberang Perai District Sungai Jawi Seberang Perai C 183996 242 760.3
Southwest Penang Island District Balik Pulau Penang Island C 237735 175 1,358.5
 Perak
Bagan Datuk District Bagan Datuk Teluk Intan M 82785 974 85.0
Batang Padang District Tapah Tapah D 124049 1794 69.1
Hilir Perak District Teluk Intan Teluk Intan M 141959 821 172.9
Hulu Perak District Gerik Gerik D
Lenggong D
Pengkalan Hulu D
95076 6613 14.4
Kampar District Kampar Kampar D 98732 667 148.0
Kerian District Parit Buntar Kerian D 166352 938 177.3
Kinta District Batu Gajah Ipoh C
Batu Gajah D
888767 1305 681.0
Kuala Kangsar District Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar M 176060 2562 68.7
Larut, Matang and Selama District[note 2] Taiping Taiping M
Selama D
304023 2115 143.7
Manjung District Seri Manjung Manjung M 246977 1126 219.3
Muallim District Tanjung Malim Tanjong Malim D 76688 949 80.8
Perak Tengah District Seri Iskandar Perak Tengah D 94573 1282 73.8
 Perlis Kangar Kangar M 284885 819 347.8
 Selangor
Gombak District Bandar Baru Selayang Selayang M
Ampang Jaya M
942336 653 1,443.1
Hulu Langat District Bandar Baru Bangi Kajang M
Ampang Jaya M
1400461 833 1,681.2
Hulu Selangor District Kuala Kubu Bharu Hulu Selangor M 243029 1749 139.0
Klang District Klang Klang C
Shah Alam C
1088942 632 1,723.0
Kuala Langat District Teluk Datok Kuala Langat M 307787 855 360.0
Kuala Selangor District Kuala Selangor Kuala Selangor M 281753 1187 237.4
Petaling District Subang Petaling Jaya C
Shah Alam C
Subang Jaya C
2298123 487 4,718.9
Sabak Bernam District Sabak Sabak Bernam D 107057 1004 106.6
Sepang District Salak Tinggi Sepang M 324935 552 588.7
 Terengganu
Besut District Kampung Raja Besut D 154168 1234 124.9
Dungun District Kuala Dungun Dungun M 158130 2735 57.8
Hulu Terengganu District Kuala Berang Hulu Terengganu D 69881 3875 18.0
Kemaman District Chukai Kemaman M 215582 2536 85.0
Kuala Nerus District Kuala Nerus Kuala Terengganu C 145643 398 365.9
Kuala Terengganu District Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu C 229780 210 1,094.2
Marang District Marang Marang D 116605 667 174.8
Setiu District Bandar Permaisuri Setiu D 59651 1304 45.7

East Malaysia

Federal Territory/State Division Name Capital Council Population (2020[5]) Area (km2) Density
 Federal Territory (Malaysia)  Labuan Victoria Labuan C 95120 92 1,033.9
 Sabah
Interior Beaufort District Beaufort Beaufort D 75716 1735 43.6
Keningau District Keningau Keningau D 150927 3533 42.7
Kuala Penyu District Kuala Penyu Kuala Penyu D 23710 453 52.3
Membakut District[note 3] Membakut Beaufort D
Nabawan District Nabawan Nabawan D 28349 6089 4.7
Sipitang District Sipitang Sipitang D 37828 2732 13.8
Tambunan District Tambunan Tambunan D 31573 1347 23.4
Tenom District Tenom Tenom D 51328 2409 21.3
Kudat Kota Marudu District Kota Marudu Kota Marudu D 69528 1917 36.3
Kudat District Kudat Kudat D 86410 1287 67.1
Pitas District Pitas Pitas D 36660 1419 25.8
Sandakan Beluran District Beluran Beluran D 77125 5498 14.0
Kinabatangan District Kinabatangan Kinabatangan D 143112 6605 21.7
Sandakan District Sandakan Sandakan M 439050 2266 193.8
Telupid District Telupid Telupid D 29241 2210 13.2
Tongod District Tongod Kinabatangan D 42742 10054 4.3
Tawau
Kalabakan District Kalabakan Kalabakan D 48195 3885 12.4
Kunak District Kunak Kunak D 68891 1134 60.8
Lahad Datu District Lahad Datu Lahad Datu D 229138 7444 30.8
Semporna District Semporna Semporna D 166587 1145 145.5
Tawau District Tawau Tawau M 372615 2240 166.3
West Coast Kota Belud District Kota Belud Kota Belud D 107243 1386 77.4
Kota Kinabalu District Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu C 500421 351 1,425.7
Papar District Papar Papar D 150667 1243 121.2
Penampang District Penampang Penampang D 162174 425 381.6
Putatan District Putatan Putatan D 68811 40 1,720.3
Ranau District Ranau Ranau D 85077 3608 23.6
Tuaran District Tuaran Tuaran D 135665 1166 116.4
 Sarawak
Betong Betong District Betong Betong D 36303 1547 23.5
Kabong District Kabong Saratok D 18404 799 23.0
Pusa District Pusa Betong D 19557 947 20.7
Saratok District Saratok Saratok D 23105 888 26.0
Bintulu
Bintulu District Bintulu Bintulu DA 178646 1991 89.7
Sebauh District Sebauh Bintulu DA 29606 5229 5.7
Tatau District Tatau Bintulu DA 31920 4946 6.5
Kapit Belaga District Belaga Kapit D[7] 22502 19050 1.2
Kapit District Kapit Kapit D 36030 3973 9.1
Song District Song Kapit D 9961 3935 2.5
Bukit Mabong District[8] Bukit Mabong Kapit D 10155 11976 0.8
Kuching Bau District Bau Bau D 52643 884 59.6
Kuching District Kuching Kuching North C
Kuching South C
Padawan M
609205 1498 406.7
Lundu District Lundu Lundu D 33479 1812 18.5
Limbang Lawas District Lawas Lawas D 36604 3812 9.6
Limbang District Limbang Limbang D 45061 3978 11.3
Miri Beluru District Bakong Marudi D 28695 4905 5.9[9]
Marudi District Marudi Marudi D 18838 3079 6.1
Miri District Miri Subis D
Miri C
248877 5143 48.4
Subis District Subis Subis D 57289 3821 15.0[10]
Telang Usan District Long Lama Marudi D 17406 9829 1.8[11]
Mukah Dalat District Dalat Dalat and Mukah D 21147 905 23.4
Daro District Daro Matu and Daro D 19477 1226 15.9
Matu District Matu Matu and Daro D 16316 1600 10.2
Mukah District Mukah Dalat and Mukah D 42275 2536 16.7
Tanjung Manis District Belawai Matu and Daro D 7946 731 10.9
Samarahan Sebuyau District[note 4] Sebuyau Simunjan D
Gedong District[note 4] Gedong Simunjan D
Asajaya District Asajaya Kota Samarahan M 33606 303 110.9
Samarahan District Samarahan Kota Samarahan M[13][14] 128284 407 315.2
Simunjan District Simunjan Simunjan D 36211 2218 16.3
Sarikei Julau District Julau Meradong and Julau D 15333 1703 9.0
Meradong District Bintangor Meradong and Julau D 20299 719 28.2
Pakan District Pakan Meradong and Julau D 15462 925 16.7
Sarikei District Sarikei Sarikei D 44039 985 44.7
Serian[15] Serian District Serian Serian D 85345 1749 48.8
Tebedu District Tebedu Serian D 25232 656 38.5
Siburan District[note 4] Siburan Serian D
Sibu Kanowit District Kanowit Kanowit D 24700 2254 11.0
Sibu District Sibu Sibu D
Sibu Rural D (Sibu Jaya)
248064 2230 111.2
Selangau District Selangau Sibu Rural D 19844 3795 5.2
Sri Aman Lubok Antu District Lubok Antu Lubok Antu D 33479 3143 10.7
Sri Aman District Simanggang Sri Aman D 61238 2324 26.4
Pantu District[note 4] Pantu Sri Aman D 11150 833 13.4
Lingga District [note 4] Lingga Sri Aman D

Townships (Mukim)

In the 11 states of the Peninsular Malaysia including the Federal Territories, there are townships (precinct for Putrajaya) that been administered by the district office and also the state government. For a list, see Category:Mukims of Malaysia. However, two states and one federal territory in Malaysia is not divided into any townships.

Gallery

Labelled maps

INDONESIA
SINGAPORE
Batu Pahat
Kluang
Muar
Segamat
ᴍᴀʟᴀᴄᴄᴀ
ɴᴇɢᴇʀɪ
sᴇᴍʙɪʟᴀɴ
ᴘᴀʜᴀɴɢ
South
China
Sea
Straits of Johor
Strait
of
Malacca
Kedah
Perak
Malacca Strait
Malacca Strait
Penang Strait
(North Channel)
Penang Strait
(South Channel)
Kota Kinabalu
Keningau
Kudat
Sandakan
Tawau
BRUNEI
INDONESIA
PHILIPPINES
ꜰ.ᴛ.
ʟᴀʙᴜᴀɴ
sᴀʀᴀᴡᴀᴋ
Balabac Strait
Celebes
Sea
South
China
Sea
Sulu
Sea
  First Division
  Second Division
  Third Division
  Fourth Division
  Fifth Division
Besut
Setiu
Kuala Nerus
Kuala Terengganu
Marang
Hulu Terengganu
Dungun
Kemaman
Gombak
Hulu Langat
Hulu Selangor
Klang
Petaling Jaya
Kuala Selangor
Kuala Langat
Sabak Bernam
Sepang

Maps

  • Districts in Johor
    Districts in Johor
  • Districts in Perak
    Districts in Perak
  • Districts in Selangor
    Districts in Selangor

See also

Notes

  1. ^ figures include Lojing Sub-district
  2. ^ figures include Selama Sub-district
  3. ^ gazetted as full district on March 30, 2022[6]
  4. ^ a b c d e new district declared December 2021[12]

References

  1. ^ "List of Administrative District, Mukim and Local Authority Area".
  2. ^ "The Official Portal of the Sarawak Government". www.sarawak.gov.my.
  3. ^ "Malaysia Districts". Statoids.com. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Persempadanan". Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (Election Commission of Malaysia). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Key Findings of Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020" (pdf) (in Malay and English). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. ISBN 978-967-2000-85-3.
  6. ^ "Membakut now a full district". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 15 October 2023.
  7. ^ Lian Cheng; Peter Sibon (23 January 2016). "Call for Belaga to have own district council". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Launch of Bukit Mabong, Tunoh, Kapit by the Chief Minister of Sarawak". Sarawak Regional Corridor Development Authority. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Rakan Sarawak October 2001". www.sarawak.com.my. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009.
  10. ^ "Laman Web Rasmi Majlis Daerah Subis".
  11. ^ "'Telang Usan District Office a game changer'". 7 October 2015.
  12. ^ "INFOGRAPHICS: NEW DISTRICTS IN SARAWAK". BERNAMA. 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ Lian Cheng (11 November 2016). "It's Kota Samarahan Municipal Council effective today". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Laman Web Rasmi Majlis Perbandaran Kota Samarahan". mpks.sarawak.gov.my.
  15. ^ Samuel Aubrey (12 April 2015). "Serian now a division". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 15 May 2015.

External links

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Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya are Federal Territories and thus do not have districts.
italics are districts gazetted and officially established after 2020.