Kedah
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| Kedah | |||
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| State | |||
| Kedah Darul Aman قدح دار الامن |
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| Motto(s): Kedah Aman Makmur | |||
| Anthem: Allah Selamatkan Sultan Mahkota (English:"God Save the Crowned Sultan") |
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| Coordinates: 6°07′42″N 100°21′46″ECoordinates: 6°07′42″N 100°21′46″E | |||
| Capital | Alor Setar | ||
| Royal capital | Anak Bukit | ||
| Government | |||
| • Sultan | Sallehuddin | ||
| • Menteri Besar | Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • Total | 9,427 km2 (3,640 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2015)[2] | |||
| • Total | 2,071,900 | ||
| • Density | 199/km2 (520/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Kedahan | ||
| Human Development Index | |||
| • HDI (2010) | 0.670 (medium) (12th) | ||
| Postal code | 05xxx to 09xxx | ||
| Calling code | 04 | ||
| ISO 3166 code | MY-02 | ||
| Vehicle registration | K (Mainland Kedah) KV (Langkawi Island) |
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| British control | 1909 | ||
| Japanese occupation | 1942 | ||
| Accession into the Federation of Malaya | 1948 | ||
| Independence as part of the Federation of Malaya | 31 August 1957 | ||
| Website | kedah |
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To the north, Kedah borders the state of Perlis and shares an international boundary with the Songkhla and Yala provinces of Thailand. It borders the states of Perak to the south and Penang to the southwest.
The state's capital is Alor Setar and the royal seat is in Anak Bukit. Other major towns include Sungai Petani, and Kulim on the mainland, and Kuah on Langkawi.
Contents
History
Early history
Candi Bukit Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.
Archaeological evidence found in Bujang Valley reveals that a Hindu–Buddhist
kingdom ruled ancient Kedah possibly as early as 110 A.D. The discovery
of temples, jetty remains, iron smelting sites, and clay brick
monuments dating back to 110 A.D shows that a maritime trading route
with south Indian Tamil kingdoms was already established since that
time.[4] The discoveries in Bujang Valley also made the ancient Kedah as the oldest civilisation of Southeast Asia.[5]
Reference to ancient Kedah was first mentioned in a Tamil poem Paṭṭiṉappālai written at the end of the 2nd century A.D. It described goods from Kadaram "heaped together in the broad streets" of Chola capital. Other than Kadaram, Kedah was known with different names at varying times in Indian literature; Kataha-Nagara (in Kaumudi Mahotsava drama), Anda-Kataha (in Agni Purana), Kataha-Dvipa (in Samarāiccakahā), and Kataha (in Kathasaritsagara).[6] In the middle eastern literature, ancient Kedah was referred as Qilah by Ibn Khordadbeh in Kitāb al Masālik w'al Mamālik, Kalah-Bar by Soleiman Siraf & Abu Zaid al Hassan in Silsilat-al-Tawarikh (travels in Asia), and Kalah by Abu-Dulaf Misa'r Ibn Muhalhil in Al-Risalah al-thaniyah.[7] The famous Tang dynasty Buddhist monk, Yi Jing who visited Malay archipelago between 688–695, also mentioned about a kingdom known as Ka-Cha in the northern part of Malay peninsular, which according to him was 30 days sail from Bogha (Palembang), the capital of Sribogha (Srivijaya).[8]
In the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of Srivijaya.[9]
Indian and Arab sources consider Kedah to be one of the two important
sites during the Srivijaya period, often calling the king of the straits
"the ruler of Srivijaya and Kataha".[10] In 1025, Rajendra Chola, the Chola king from Coromandel in South India, captured Kedah in his invasion of Srivijaya and occupied it for some time.[11] A second invasion was led by Virarajendra Chola of the Chola dynasty who conquered Kedah in the late 11th century.[12] During the reign of Kulothunga Chola I Chola overlordship was established over the Sri Vijaya province Kedah in the late 11th century.[13]
Kedah Sultanate
According to Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa or the Kedah Annals, Kedah was founded by a Hindu king named Merong Mahawangsa. According to the text further, the Sultanate of Kedah started in year 1136 when King Phra Ong Mahawangsa
converted to Islam and adopted the name Sultan Mudzafar Shah. However,
an Acehnese account gave a date of 1474 for the year of conversion to
Islam by the ruler of Kedah. This later date accords with an account in
the Malay Annals
where a raja of Kedah visited Malacca during the reign of its last
sultan seeking the honour of the royal band that marks the sovereignty
of a Muslim ruler.[14]
It was later under Siam, until it was conquered by the Malay sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese after their conquest of Malacca, and by Aceh. In the hope that Great Britain would protect what remained of Kedah from Siam, the sultan handed over Penang and then Province Wellesley to the British at the end of the 18th century. The Siamese nevertheless invaded Kedah in 1821,[15] and it remained under Siamese control under the name of Syburi. In 1896, Kedah along with Perlis and Setul was combined into the Siamese province of Monthon Syburi which lasted until transferred to the British by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909.
Incorporation into Malaya
In World War II, Kedah (along with Kelantan) was the first part of Malaya to be invaded by Japan. The Japanese returned Kedah to their Thai allies who had it renamed Syburi, but it returned to British rule after the end of the war. Kedah was a reluctant[citation needed] addition to the Federation of Malaya in 1948.
Since 1958, the hereditary Sultan of Kedah has been Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
The Kedah Sultanate began when the 9th Kedah Maharaja Derbar Raja or
Phra Ong Mahawangsa, converted to Islam and changed his name to Sultan
Mudzafar Shah I. Since then there have been 27 Sultans who ruled Kedah.[16]
Geography
Menara Alor Setar is the tallest tower in Kedah.
Kedah is the 8th largest state by land area and 8th most populated state in Malaysia, with a total land area of 9,500 km2 (3,700 sq mi),[17] and a population of 1,890,098.[1]
The Pedu Lake is the largest man-made lake in the state.
Demographics
Kedah has a relatively heterogeneous populace constituted by three major ethnic groups; the Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as some Malaysian Siamese ethnic groups, similar to most of the other Malaysian states. Prior to the formation of the Federation of Malaya, there was an ethnic group known as the Sam Sam people. They are culturally Malay Muslim but speak Siamese language.
Most of these communities are almost extinct due to assimilation with
the Malays. In some places in Kedah, the Sam Sam people still retain
their Siamese language as their mother tongue. These communities can be
found in Pendang District, Kuala Nerang District and Kubang Pasu
District (Changlun, Kodiang, Jitra, Wang Tepus, Guar Napai, Malau, Ason
and Napoh). Kedah has a very small Orang Asli community. Orang Asli only can be found in the Baling district.[citation needed]
Language
Kedah
is a multilingual state with various spoken indigenous and
non-indigenous languages. Kedah also has its own distinct variety of
Malay, Kedah Malay or Pelat Utagha
as it is known by locals. Kedah Malay is divided into several mutually
intelligible dialects which also span outside of Kedah to Satun
(Thailand), Perlis and Penang. Another distinct variant of Malay is
Baling Malay which is closer to East Coast Malay languages such as Kelantan-Pattani Malay and Terengganu Malay than to Kedah Malay. Besides Malay varieties, other indigenous languages in Kedah belongs to the Aslian (spoken by the Orang Aslis) branch which is unrelated to Malay, which include Jahai, Kensiu and Kintaq.
The Kedah Siamese language was spoken by Siamese communities across the
state and has broad differences from the Thai Language and Kelantanese
Siamese.
Ethnicity
The
population of Kedah in 2015 was 2,071,900. It was made up of 76%
Bumiputra (Malays and others), 12.7% Chinese, 6.9% Indian, 0.9% others
and 3.4% non-Malaysian. The following is based on 2015 figures from the
Department of Statistics Malaysia.[2]
| Ethnic groups in Kedah, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
| Bumiputera | 1,574,400 | 76.0% |
| Chinese | 263,200 | 12.7% |
| Indian | 143,200 | 6.9% |
| Others | 19,600 | 0.9% |
| Non-Malaysian | 71,500 | 3.4% |
Religion
As of 2010 the population of Kedah is 77.2% Muslim, 14.2% Buddhist, 6.7% Hindu, 0.8% Christian, 0.6% unknown / none, 0.3% Taoist or Chinese religion followers, 0.1% followers of other religions, and 0.1% non-religious.[18]
Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 94.3% of the Chinese
population are identified as Buddhists, with significant minorities of
adherents identifying as Christians (2.4%), Chinese folk religions
(2.4%) and Muslims (0.4%). The majority of the Indian population are
Hindus (91.7%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as
Christians (3.7%), Muslims (2.4%) and Buddhists (1.3%). The non-Malay bumiputera
community are predominantly Christians (39.7%), with significant
minorities identifying as Muslims (26.9%) and Buddhists (26.3%). All
Malays are Muslims.[19]
Governance
Kedah's Constitution was promulgated by its Ruler in July 1950.[citation needed]
The various provisions laid down in the Constitution include the role
and powers of the Monarch, the State Parliament and the State's Civil
Service.
The Sultan of Kedah
is the constitutional ruler of the State. His position is hereditary
and he holds office for life. The Ruler is the head of the religion of Islam in the State and the executive power of the state government is vested in him. The current Sultan is Tunku Mahmud Sallehuddin, who has reigned on September 12, 2017 after his elder brother Abdul Halim of Kedah died on September 11, 2017.
The State Executive Council, which along with the Sultan is Kedah's executive branch of government. It is composed of the Menteri Besar,
who is its chairman and Kedah's head of government, and ten other
members. The Menteri Besar and other members of the council are
appointed by the Sultan of Kedah from members of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Assembly).
Kedah State Assembly
The state also has a legislative branch, called the State assembly. It is similar to the Parliament
but is limited to making laws relating to the state. Its members are
elected in elections which are usually held simultaneously with federal
elections. The term of each state assembly member is limited to five
years. The state assembly must be dissolved before or once it expires
its term for a fresh election to elect its members.
Administrative divisions
Modern Kedah is divided into 12 administrative districts. These 12 districts, are further divided into administrative Municipal councils (Majlis Bandaraya/Perbandaran and Daerah):
- Majlis Daerah Baling (MDB)
- Bandar Baharu contains Serdang
- Majlis Daerah Bandar Baharu (MDBB)
- Kota Setar, contains Alor Setar
- Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar (MBAS)
- Kuala Muda contains Sungai Petani
- Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani (MPSPK)
- Majlis Daerah Kubang Pasu (MDKP)
- Majlis Perbandaran Kulim (MPK)
- Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan Perindustrian Hi-Tech Kulim (HI-TECH Kulim)
- Pulau Langkawi contains Kuah
- Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi Bandaraya Pelancongan (MPLBP)
- Majlis Daerah Padang Terap (MDPT)
- Majlis Daerah Pendang (MDP)
- Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar (MBAS)
- Majlis Daerah Sik (MDS)
- Majlis Daerah Yan (MDY)
Economy
A paddy field in Kedah.
Kedah is considered the "rice bowl"[20][21] (Malay: Jelapang Padi)
of Malaysia, accounting for about half of Malaysia's total production
of rice. In 2008, the state government banned the conversion of paddy fields to housing and industrial lots to protect the rice industry.[22]
Tourism, particularly on the island of Langkawi is of growing importance.
More recently, Kedah has forged its economy towards the automotive and aerospace industries with Modenas and Asian Composites setting up bases here.[citation needed] One of the main advantages is the low labour costs and the infrastructure in place with the North–South Expressway and the Penang International Airport close by. In 1996, the Kulim Hi-Tech Park was officially opened as the first high technology industrial park in Malaysia.[citation needed] The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi²).
According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this economic area is part of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).[23] The Northern Corridor Economic Region is one of three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia; other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia (or South Johor Economic Region) and the East Coast Development Region.
Education
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AIMST University
Public universities and colleges
The state has a campus of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which is located in Bandar Baru Sintok.
It was formally incorporated on 16 February 1984. The University was
established with the specific mission of providing a leadership role for
management education in the country. The academic establishments in UUM
include College of Business (COB), College of Law, Government and
International Studies (COLGIS) and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
Kedah also has several public universities and colleges such as Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Merbok, the Malaysian Spanish Institute of Universiti Kuala Lumpur
(UniKL MSI) and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultanah Bahiyah (PSB) in
Kulim, the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST University) in Bedong, Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) in Mergong and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra.
There are 2 teacher training institution in Kedah, Institut
Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH) in Sungai Petani and
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Darul Aman (IPGKDA) in Bandar Darulaman
that are set up by the government to provide teaching courses for
trainee teachers.
Private universities and colleges
Private universities and colleges that are located in Kedah include the Open University
of Malaysia (OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah and
Perlis at Sungai Petani, the Albukhary International University in Alor
Setar, Pusat Bahasa Titian Jaya the PTPL College and the Cosmopoint
College.
Technical institutes
Kedah
houses three technical institutes that are affiliated with MARA, that
is Institut Kemahiran MARA Sungai Petani, Institut Kemahiran MARA Alor
Setar and Institut Kemahiran MARA Sik.
Boarding schools
MRSM Merbok in Kedah
This state also has several boarding schools such as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh and MARA Junior Science College or MRSM.
Private and public schools
Chio Min Secondary School, Kulim, Kedah.
Consists of several private and public primary school or secondary school. Public secondary school such as SMK Taman Jelutong, Keat Hwa Secondary School,
Convent Secondary School (Formerly known as St. Nicholas Convent
Secondary School), Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan
Sultan Badlishah, Sin Min Secondary School, Chio Min Secondary School, SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Convent Father Barre, SMK Khir Johari, SMK Aman Jaya, SMK Bedong, SMK Bakar Arang, SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim, K Jit, SMK Mahsuri, SMK Tunku Panglima Besar, Keat Hwa Secondary School, SMK Guar Chempedak, SMK Yan etc. Private secondary school such as Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min.
Tourism
Masjid Zahir built in 1912
Tourism is mainly concentrated on Langkawi Island, the largest island in the archipelago. There are some places of interest on the mainland as well.
Kedah Mainland
Bukit Kayu Hitam
- Alor Setar Tower – One of the tallest telecommunications tower in the world, standing tall at 165.5-metre in height[24]
- Balai Nobat
- Bukit Kayu Hitam
- Balai Seni Negeri
- Batu Hampar Waterfall
- Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum – The only museum in Malaysia to display archaeological artefacts proving the existence of international trade and development of the Hindu Buddha religion in South-East Asia in the 3rd – 12th century[25]
- Junjong Waterfall
- Kota Kuala Kedah
- Lata Mengkuang Waterfall
- Lembah Bujang Archaeological Park
- Pekan Rabu (Wednesday Market) – A multi-storey arcade selling a wide range of traditional delicacies, handicraft products and apparel[26]
- Rumah Merdeka
- Seri Perigi Waterfall
- Sungai Merbok Recreation Park
- Sungai Sedim Tree Top Walk – The longest canopy walk in the world stretching 950m-long, visitors can enjoy the fabulous sight of rushing streams and truly fascinating flora and fauna all from 50m up[27]
- Ulu Muda Eco Park
- Ulu Paip Recreational Forest
- Hutan Paya Laut
- Ulu Legong Hot Springs – The only 24-hours hot spring, located 22 km from Baling[28]
- Titi Hayun Waterfall
- Kulim
- Gunung Jerai
- Zahir Mosque (Masjid Zahir) – One of Kedah's most distinctive architectural landmarks, it is one of the oldest mosques in the country[29]
Langkawi
The Langkawi International Airport is located at Padang Matsirat and it is also considered a tourist attraction as the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition
takes place every 2 years near the airport. The airport handled almost
1.2 million passengers and over 41,000 aircraft movements in 2008. It
serves as the primary gateway into Langkawi.
Places of interest[31]
- Mount Mat Cincang (Gunung Mat Cincang)
- Field of Burnt Rice
- Hot Springs
- Telaga Tujuh (The Seven Wells)
- Beach of Black Sand
- Tasik Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden)
- Gua Cerita (Cave of Stories)
- Gua Langsir (Curtain Cave)
Sports
In 2006, Kedah hosted the 11th Sukma Games. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar.
Bibliography
See also
- 2005 Malaysian haze
- Breakdown of State Seats Representatives, elected in 2013
- Kedah FA
- Kingdom of Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam
- Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara
- Proclamation of Malaysia
References
- "Langkawi Island". Tourism Malaysia. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kedah. |
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