Submitting fifteen designs to the management, four of them were shortlisted and presented to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for approval.

[3] On the night of 14 May 1990, a symbolic ceremony was held where the new flag was received from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah by the Lord Mayor (Datuk Bandar) of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Elyas Omar, after which the flag has been in official use until now.

The red symbolises the city's courage and strength, the blue for the unity of its multiracial citizens, the yellow for sovereignty, and the white for cleanliness and beauty.

The city's emblem consists of three hexagons involute in a spiral,[8][9] clockwise from top to bottom: Other features of the coat of arms include: The city's emblem originally had the name "Kuala Lumpur" at the top and the motto "Maju dan Makmur" (Progress and Prosper) at the bottom.

The coat of arms of the former municipal council consisted of the tiger's head erased, fimbriations of red and white, a helm and shield with a scroll inscribed with Jawi motto.