A major power outage in a key business centre in Malaysia's capital left hundreds of offices, shopping centres and dozens of hotels without electricity for hours, an official said today.

"There is an electricity failure at the 33 KV power distribution center in Raja Chulan Road," an official with the state-owned utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd told AFP .

The official said those in the busy Pudu, Raja Chulan, Imbi, Bukit Bintang and Sultan Ismail roads are without electricity.

"It will take a few hours to get the power back. We are doing our best," the official said.

The official said the nearby Petronas Twin Towers still have power.

A fire department official said the department had not received any calls to rescue people caught in lifts following the power cut.

"Usually the hotel maintenance crew will get them out," he said. - AFP