The council consists of the mayor plus fifteen members of the city advisory board appointed to serve a one-year term by the Minister of Territories.

During British colonial times and early independence, Kuala Lumpur had been the capital of the country as well as the state of Selangor.

On 1 April 1961, the name changed into Kuala Lumpur Federal Capital Commission (Malay: Suruhanjaya Ibu Kota Persekutuan).

Kuala Lumpur was administered by a corporation sole called the Federal Capital Commissioner (Malay: Pesuruhjaya Ibu Kota Persekutuan) from 1 April 1961 until it was awarded city status on 1 February 1972, after which executive power was transferred to the Mayor (Malay: Datuk Bandar).

Executive power lies with the mayor in the city hall, who is appointed for three years by the Minister of Federal Territories.