Kedah
Encyclopedia
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia
. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi
. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice
. Langkawi is an archipelago of islands, most of which are uninhabited. Kedah was called Saiburi
by the Siamese when it was under their influence.
Kedah borders the state of Perlis
and shares an international boundary with the Songkhla
and Yala
provinces of Thailand
to the north. It also borders the state 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.
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. The discoveries in Bujang Valley
also made the ancient Kedah as the oldest civilization of Southeast Asia
.
Reference to ancient Kedah was first mentioned in a Tamil
poem Paṭṭiṉappālai written at the end of 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
). 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. 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
).
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.
In the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of Srivijaya
, later under Siam
, until it was conquered by the Malay sultanate of Melaka in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese
after their conquest of Melaka, 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 conquered Kedah in 1811, and it remained under Siamese control until transferred to the British by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
.
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 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 AD) converted to Islam and changed his name to Sultan Mudzafar Shah I. Since then there have been 27 Sultans who ruled Kedah. The Menteri Besar
(Chief Minister) is currently Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak
of (Pakatan Rakyat
-PAS)
Kedah is the 8th largest state by land area and 8th most populated state in Malaysia, with a total land area of 9500 km² (3,668 sq mi), and a population of 1,890,098.
The Pedu Lake
is the largest man-made lake in the state.
and Indians
, similar to most of the other Malaysian states.
There are 1,336,352 Malays (who make up about 75.5% of the state's population), 252,987 Chinese (or 14.2%), 122,911 Indians (or 6.9%), 35,293 non-citizens (or 1.9%) and 27,532 people from other ethnic groups (or 1.5%) in the state.
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 Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah, who has reigned since 1958.
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). The current Menteri Besar is Dato' Seri
Azizan Abdul Razak
, of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (also referred to as Parti Islam Se-Malaysia or PAS).
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.
s (Majlis Bandaraya/Perbandaran and Daerah):
Kedah is considered the "rice bowl" of Malaysia, accounting for one third of Malaysia's total production of rice
. Other agricultural products, including rubber
, oil palm
and tobacco
are also important. 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. 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 (KHTP) was officially opened as the first high technology industrial park
in Malaysia. The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi²). Many local and foreign companies, such as Intel, Fuji Electric
, SilTerra, Infineon, First Solar
, AIC Semiconductor, and Showa Denko
are operating their manufacturing plants in the site since then.
According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan
, this economic area is part of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). 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.
(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.
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.
This state also has several boarding school
s such as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh
and MARA Junior Science College or MRSM.
, 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 Aman Jaya, SMK Bakar Arang
, SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim
, SMK Jitra
, SMK Mahsuri
, SMK Tunku Panglima Besar
, Keat Hwa Secondary School
and etc. Private secondary school such as Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min.
, the largest island in the archipelago. There are some places of interest on the mainland as well.
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.
In 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO
.
. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Darul Aman Stadium
in Alor Setar.
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. Langkawi is an archipelago of islands, most of which are uninhabited. Kedah was called Saiburi
Syburi
Saiburi is the name for the Malay state of Kedah returned to Thailand when the Japanese occupied British Malaya during World War II....
by the Siamese when it was under their influence.
Kedah borders the state of Perlis
Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
and shares an international boundary with the Songkhla
Songkhla Province
Songkhla is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Satun, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani and Yala. To the south it borders Kedah and Perlis of Malaysia....
and Yala
Yala Province
Yala is the southernmost province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. Yala is the only land-locked province in the south of Thailand...
provinces of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to the north. It also borders the state of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
to the south and Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
to the southwest.
The state's capital is Alor Setar and the royal seat is in Anak Bukit. Other major towns include Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:...
, and Kulim
Kulim
Kulim is the third largest town in Kedah after Alor Star and Sungai Petani is located at the South East of Kedah state and East of Penang state in Malaysia. Kulim is a district consist of 15 smaller sub-districts also known as "mukim"...
on the mainland, and Kuah
Kuah
Kuah is a town and district capital of Langkawi, Kedah, and is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which brings in flocks of tourists each year who come to enjoy the shopping and other attractions of Langkawi...
on Langkawi.
History
Archaeological evidence found in Bujang ValleyBujang Valley
The Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately 224 square km. Situated near Merbok, Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south, it is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia.These archaeological remains show that...
reveals that a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
-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. The discoveries in Bujang Valley
Bujang Valley
The Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately 224 square km. Situated near Merbok, Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south, it is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia.These archaeological remains show that...
also made the ancient Kedah as the oldest civilization of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Reference to ancient Kedah was first mentioned in a Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
poem Paṭṭiṉappālai written at the end of 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
Agni Purana
The Agni Purana, one of the 18 Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts, contains descriptions and details of various incarnations of Vishnu. It also has details account about Rama, Krishna, Prithvi, and the stars...
), Kataha-Dvipa (in Samarāiccakahā), and Kataha (in Kathasaritsagara
Kathasaritsagara
Kathasaritsagara is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales as retold by a Saivite Brahmin named Somadeva....
). In the middle eastern literature, ancient Kedah was referred as Qilah by Ibn Khordadbeh
Ibn Khordadbeh
Abu'l Qasim Ubaid'Allah ibn Khordadbeh , author of the earliest surviving Arabic book of administrative geography, was a Persian geographer and bureaucrat of the 9th century...
in Kitāb al Masālik w’al Mamālik
Book of Roads and Kingdoms (ibn Khordadbeh)
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is a 9th-century geography text by the Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh. It maps and describes the major trade routes of the time within the Muslim world, and discusses distant trading regions such as Japan, Korea, and China...
, 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. The famous Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
Buddhist monk, Yi Jing
I Ching (monk)
Yijing was a Tang Dynasty Chinese Buddhist monk, originally named Zhang Wenming . The written records of his travels contributed to the world knowledge of the ancient kingdom of Srivijaya, as well as providing information about the other kingdoms lying on the route between China and the Nālandā...
who visited Malay archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
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
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
), the capital of Sribogha (Srivijaya
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
).
According to Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa or The Kedah Annals is an ancient Malay literature that chronicles the bloodline of Merong Mahawangsa and the foundation of the Kedah, a state in Malaysia. Though there are historical accuracies, there are many incredible assertions...
or the Kedah Annals, Kedah was founded by a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
king named Merong Mahawangsa
Merong Mahawangsa
Merong Mahawangsa is a legendary warrior and a ruler who is said to be the first king of Langkasuka and later became the modern day, Kedah. The tale of Merong Mahawangsa is mentioned in the Kedah Annals...
. According to the text further, the Sultanate of Kedah started in year 1136 when King Phra Ong Mahawangsa
Sultan Mudzafar Shah I
Sultan Mudzafar Shah I,or Phra Ong Mahawangsa was the first Sultan of Kedah. His reign was from 1136-1179. He was the last King of Kedah. After his conversion to Islam, he later became the founder of the Kedah Sultanate, which still existed to this day....
converted to Islam and adopted the name Sultan Mudzafar Shah.
In the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of Srivijaya
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
, later under Siam
Siam (disambiguation)
Siam is an exonym that was used as the name of Thailand before 24 June 1939 and again from 8 September 1945 to 20 July 1949; see History of Thailand...
, until it was conquered by the Malay sultanate of Melaka in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
after their conquest of Melaka, and by Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
. In the hope that Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
would protect what remained of Kedah from Siam, the sultan handed over Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
and then Province Wellesley to the British at the end of the 18th century. The Siamese nevertheless conquered Kedah in 1811, and it remained under Siamese control until transferred to the British by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 or Bangkok Treaty of 1909 was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam signed on March 10, 1909, in Bangkok. Ratifications were exchanged in London on July 9, 1909....
.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kedah (along with Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
) was the first part of Malaya to be invaded by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The Japanese returned Kedah to their Thai allies who had it renamed Syburi
Syburi
Saiburi is the name for the Malay state of Kedah returned to Thailand when the Japanese occupied British Malaya during World War II....
, but it returned to British rule after the end of the war. Kedah was a reluctant addition to the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
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 AD) converted to Islam and changed his name to Sultan Mudzafar Shah I. Since then there have been 27 Sultans who ruled Kedah. The Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
(Chief Minister) is currently Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak
Azizan Abdul Razak
Dato' Seri Azizan bin Abdul Razak is the Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Kedah. His Parti Islam Se-Malaysia leads a coalition government of Kedah with PKR and the DAP after their victory in the 2008 Malaysian election. Ustaz Azizan is the first Menteri Besar of Kedah from a political...
of (Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....
-PAS)
Geography
The Pedu Lake
Pedu Lake
Pedu Lake is a man made lake located in the State of Kedah, North Malaysia. Located about 5 km from Thailand, this huge lake covers an area of 75 km²....
is the largest man-made lake in the state.
Demographics
Kedah has a relatively heterogeneous populace constituted by the three major ethnic groups; the Malays, ChineseChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
and Indians
South Asian ethnic groups
The ethno-linguistic composition of the population of South Asia, that is the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka is highly diverse. The majority of the population fall within two large Linguistic groups, Indo-Aryan and Dravidian.These groups are further...
, similar to most of the other Malaysian states.
There are 1,336,352 Malays (who make up about 75.5% of the state's population), 252,987 Chinese (or 14.2%), 122,911 Indians (or 6.9%), 35,293 non-citizens (or 1.9%) and 27,532 people from other ethnic groups (or 1.5%) in the state.
Government and politics
Kedah's Constitution was promulgated by its Ruler in July 1950. 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
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the State and the executive power
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
of the state government is vested in him. The current Sultan is Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah, who has reigned since 1958.
The State Executive Council, which along with the Sultan is Kedah's executive branch of government. It is composed of the Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
, 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
Dewan Undangan Negeri
A state legislative assembly is the legislature of each of the 13 Malaysian states. Members of a state legislative assembly comprises elected representatives from single-member constituencies during state elections through the first-past-the-post system....
(State Assembly). The current Menteri Besar is Dato' Seri
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Azizan Abdul Razak
Azizan Abdul Razak
Dato' Seri Azizan bin Abdul Razak is the Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Kedah. His Parti Islam Se-Malaysia leads a coalition government of Kedah with PKR and the DAP after their victory in the 2008 Malaysian election. Ustaz Azizan is the first Menteri Besar of Kedah from a political...
, of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (also referred to as Parti Islam Se-Malaysia or PAS).
List of Chief Ministers
| Incumbent | Tenure | Political Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamad Sheriff bin Osman | 1948–1954 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Tunku Ismail bin Tunku Yahaya | 1954–1959 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Syed Omar bin Syed Abdullah Shahabuddin | 1959–1967 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Tun Dato' Seri Utama Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin was a Malaysian politician. He was the Menteri Besar of Kedah from 1967 to 1978 and the fifth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka state from 1984 until 2004.-Life:... |
1967–1978 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Syed Nahad bin Tun Syed Sheh Shahabuddin | 1978–1985 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Haji Osman bin Haji Aroff | 1985–1996 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Sanusi bin Junid | 1996–1999 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Syed Razak bin Syed Zain Barakhbah | 1999–2005 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Dato' Haji Mahdzir bin Khalid Mahdzir Khalid Dato' Mahdzir bin Khalid served as the ninth Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Kedah, from 28 December 2004 until 8 March 2008... |
2005–2008 | UMNO of Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... |
| Dato' Seri Ustaz Haji Azizan bin Abdul Razak Azizan Abdul Razak Dato' Seri Azizan bin Abdul Razak is the Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Kedah. His Parti Islam Se-Malaysia leads a coalition government of Kedah with PKR and the DAP after their victory in the 2008 Malaysian election. Ustaz Azizan is the first Menteri Besar of Kedah from a political... |
2008–present | PAS of Pakatan Rakyat Pakatan Rakyat Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level.... |
Kedah State Assembly
- See Also:Breakdown of State Seats Representatives elected 2008
The state also has a legislative branch, called the State assembly
Dewan Undangan Negeri
A state legislative assembly is the legislature of each of the 13 Malaysian states. Members of a state legislative assembly comprises elected representatives from single-member constituencies during state elections through the first-past-the-post system....
. It is similar to the Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of 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.
- Kedah Land dan Mineral Office
Administrative divisions
Modern Kedah is divided into 12 administrative districts or "daerah" in Malay. These 12 districts, are further divided into administrative Municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
s (Majlis Bandaraya/Perbandaran and Daerah):
- BalingBalingBaling is a major town in the northern state of Kedah in Malaysia. It is also the name of a district in which Baling town is situated. It is south of Betong, the southernmost town in Thailand.-Origin of name:...
- Majlis Daerah Baling (MDB)
- Bandar BaharuBandar BaharuBandar Baharu is a district in Kedah, Malaysia.It is located between Penang and Perak border. Bandar Baharu District Council is a Local Authority Party that is given the authority under the governments Act of Law 124 for its administration area. Bandar Baharu District Council covers the whole...
contains Serdang
- Majlis Daerah Bandar Baharu (MDBB)
- Kota SetarKota SetarKota Setar is a district in Kedah, Malaysia where the state capital Alor Star is situated.-Origin of name:The name Kota Setar came from the setar or ‘Stak’ tree , an indigenous plant that bore an edible orange coloured fruit....
, contains Alor Setar
- Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar (MBAS)
- Kuala MudaKuala MudaKuala Muda is a district in Kedah, Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the administrative center of the district. Kuala Muda district is in close proximity to the border of Kedah and Penang. Apart from Sungai Petani, other major towns in the district include Tikam Batu, Padang Tembusu, Sungai Lalang,...
contains Sungai PetaniSungai PetaniSungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:...
- Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani (MPSPK)
- Kubang PasuKubang PasuKubang Pasu is the largest district in Kedah, Malaysia. Historically Kubang Pasu was the semi-independent Malay State of Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam, ruled by Phaya or King Tunku Anom Prince of Kedah. It is located on the northern part of Kedah. The district is also known as Education Valley in Kedah...
- Majlis Daerah Kubang Pasu (MDKP)
- KulimKulimKulim is the third largest town in Kedah after Alor Star and Sungai Petani is located at the South East of Kedah state and East of Penang state in Malaysia. Kulim is a district consist of 15 smaller sub-districts also known as "mukim"...
- Majlis Perbandaran Kulim (MPK)
- Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan Perindustrian Hi-Tech Kulim (HI-TECH Kulim)
- Pulau LangkawiLangkawiLangkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
- Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi Bandaraya Pelancongan (MPLBP)
- Padang TerapPadang TerapPadang Terap is a district and also a parliamentary constituency in Kedah, Malaysia....
- Majlis Daerah Padang Terap (MDPT)
- PendangPendangPendang is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia. The district is primarily covered with paddy fields with agriculture being its main economic activity....
- Majlis Daerah Pendang (MDP)
- Pokok SenaPokok SenaPokok Sena is a town in Kedah, Malaysia. It is the 12th district of Kedah which was formerly a subdistrict of Kota Setar. The declaration of the 24,000ha district with a population of 50,000 was made by the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in conjunction with his 81st birthday...
- Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar (MBAS)
- SikSik, KedahSik is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the eastern part of the state, and is bordered by Padang Terap District to the northwest, Thailand to the north, Baling District to the south, Kuala Muda District to the southwest, and Pendang District to the west...
- Majlis Daerah Sik (MDS)
- YanYan, KedahYan is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia.It is bordered by Kota Setar District to the north, Pendang District to the northeast, and Kuala Muda District to the south. Yan District is along the coast of the Straits of Malacca. Yan town is the administrative centre of Yan district, complete...
- Majlis Daerah Yan (MDY)
Economy
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. Other agricultural products, including rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, oil palm
Oil palm
The oil palms comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to...
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
are also important. 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
Modenas
Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd , or known as Modenas for short is a Malaysian national motorcycle company producing various small motorcycle models below 200 cc targeted for local market and export...
and Asian Composites setting up bases here. 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 (KHTP) was officially opened as the first high technology industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
in Malaysia. The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi²). Many local and foreign companies, such as Intel, Fuji Electric
Fuji Electric
, operating under the brand name FE, is a Japanese holding company that retains manufacturing companies of pressure transmitters, flowmeters, gas analyzers, controllers, inverters, pumps, generators, ICs, motors, and power equipments.-History:...
, SilTerra, Infineon, First Solar
First Solar
First Solar, Inc. is an American manufacturer of thin film photovoltaic modules, or solar panels, and a provider to PV power plants of supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling...
, AIC Semiconductor, and Showa Denko
Showa Denko
is a leading Japanese chemical engineering firm.Formed in 1939 by the merger of Nihon Electrical Industries and Showa Fertilizers, Showa Denko K.K. manufactures chemical products and industrial materials. SDK's products serve a wide array of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic...
are operating their manufacturing plants in the site since then.
According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysian Plan abbreviated as '9MP', is a comprehensive blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department and the Finance Ministry of Malaysia with approval by the Cabinet of Malaysia to allocate the national budget from the year 2006 to 2010 to all...
, this economic area is part of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). The Northern Corridor Economic Region is one of three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia; other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia
Iskandar Malaysia
Iskandar Malaysia ', formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region is the main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 30 July 2006...
(or South Johor Economic Region) and the East Coast Development Region.
Public universities and colleges
The state has a campus of Universiti Utara MalaysiaUniversiti Utara Malaysia
Universiti Utara Malaysia is a public university in the town of Sintok, Kedah. Utara means 'northern' in the Malay language. 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...
(UUM), which is located in Bandar Baru Sintok
Sintok
Sintok is a small town in Kedah, Malaysia. Universiti Utara Malaysia is situated here.Sintok is located about 52 kilometres from Alor Setar City and about twelve kilometres from Changlun Town. Sintok is reachable via Kuala Perlis-Changlun-Sintok expressway and via a road from Padang Terap.-...
. 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
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA is a coeducational public university with its main campus located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.It is the flagship institution of the Universiti Teknologi MARA...
(UiTM) in Merbok
Merbok
Merbok is a small town in Kedah, Malaysia. The historical Bujang Valley is located here.-External links:* *...
, 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
AIMST University
The Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, founded on 15 March 2001, is a private university in Malaysia established by the Maju Institute of Educational Development , the educational arm of the Malaysian Indian Congress , a component party of the Barisan Nasional...
) in Bedong
Bedong
Bedong is a small town in Kedah and located 12 km to the north of Sungai Petani, Malaysia. The Permaipura Golf & Country Club is located in Bedong....
, Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) in Mergong and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra
Jitra
Jitra is a town in Kedah, Malaysia. It is located in the Kubang Pasu district.It is the fourth largest town in Kedah after Alor Setar, Sungai Petani and Kulim....
.
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 UniversityOpen University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
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
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
s such as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh
Sekolah Berasrama Penuh
Sekolah Berasrama Penuh or Fully Residential School is a school system established to nurture selected outstanding students in a conducive and educational environment to excel in academics and extracurricular activities, creating a wholesome student. There is about 60 SBPs throughout Malaysia...
and MARA Junior Science College or MRSM.
Private and Public Schools
Consists of several private and public primary school or secondary school. Public secondary school such as Keat Hwa Secondary SchoolKeat Hwa Secondary School
Keat Hwa Secondary School is a cluster high school in Alor Setar, Kedah DA, Malaysia. It was founded in 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia. Keat Hwa Secondary School is widely known as Keat Hwa...
, Convent Secondary School (Formerly known as St. Nicholas Convent Secondary School), Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid,Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Badlishah, Sin Min Secondary School
Sin Min Secondary School
SMJK Sin Min is a government Chinese school which is located at Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia...
, Chio Min Secondary School
Chio Min Secondary School
Chio Min Secondary School is a government Chinese school which is located at Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia.-Background:...
,SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Aman Jaya, SMK Bakar Arang
SMK Bakar Arang
SMK Bakar Arang is a public secondary school in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia....
, SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim
SMK Ibrahim
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ibrahim or Ibrahim Secondary School is a premier public secondary School in the town of Sungai Petani, in the northern Malaysian state of Kedah...
, SMK Jitra
SMK Jitra
SMK Jitra or officially Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jitra, is a Malaysian public secondary school in the township of Jitra, Kedah Darul Aman. SMK Jitra has a few students in the Malaysian Certificate of Education ....
, SMK Mahsuri
SMK Mahsuri
SMK Mahsuri or officially, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Mahsuri, is a public secondary school in the centre of Kuah, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Its students study for the Malaysian Certificate of Education. The school's motto is "Berusaha, Berjaya"....
, SMK Tunku Panglima Besar
SMK Tunku Panglima Besar
SMK Tunku Panglima Besar is a school located in Kulim Bandar Bahru, Kedah, Malaysia. It was known as Sekolah Lanjutan Kulim in 1957. Later it was changed to Sek. Men...
, Keat Hwa Secondary School
Keat Hwa Secondary School
Keat Hwa Secondary School is a cluster high school in Alor Setar, Kedah DA, Malaysia. It was founded in 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia. Keat Hwa Secondary School is widely known as Keat Hwa...
and etc. Private secondary school such as Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min.
Tourism
Tourism is mainly concentrated on Langkawi IslandLangkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
, the largest island in the archipelago. There are some places of interest on the mainland as well.
Kedah Mainland
- Balai Nobat
- Bukit Kayu HitamBukit Kayu HitamBukit Kayu Hitam is Kedah's main border town on the Malaysia-Thailand Border. It marks the end of the North-South Expressway and Malaysia Federal Route 1, the longest Malaysian road which runs from Johor Bahru, Johor in the south till the border at Bukit Kayu Hitam pass. The checkpoint and duty...
- Balai Seni Negeri
- Batu Hampar Waterfall
- Junjong Waterfall
- Kota Kuala Kedah
- Lata Mengkuang Waterfall
- Lembah Bujang Archaeological Park
- Rumah Merdeka
- Seri Perigi Waterfall
- Sungai Merbok Recreation Park
- Sungai Sedim Tree Top Walk
- Ulu Muda Eco Park
- Ulu Paip Recreational Forest
- Hutan Paya Laut
- Ulu Legong Hot Springs
- Titi Hayun Waterfall
- KulimKulimKulim is the third largest town in Kedah after Alor Star and Sungai Petani is located at the South East of Kedah state and East of Penang state in Malaysia. Kulim is a district consist of 15 smaller sub-districts also known as "mukim"...
- Gunung Jerai
Langkawi
The Langkawi International AirportLangkawi International Airport
Langkawi International Airport , is an airport situated on the duty-free island of Langkawi in the state of Kedah in Malaysia. The airport is located at Padang Matsirat and is about 25 minutes of driving from the town centre, Kuah...
is located at Padang Matsirat
Padang Matsirat
Padang Matsirat is a town in Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. It is situated on the western part of the island. The Langkawi International Airport, a major airport is located here....
and it is also considered a tourist attraction as the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition
Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show
Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition brings together the latest technology and products from the aerospace industries. LIMA is now established as one of the major airshows in the world. As a biennial event, the next series will be held in Langkawi Island, Malaysia in 2009...
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.
In 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Sports
In 2006, Kedah hosted the 11th Sukma GamesSukma Games
Sukma Games is a sporting event in Malaysia held once every two years. Sukma is an acronym for Sukan Malaysia; literally Malaysian Games. The first Games was held in 1986 in Kuala Lumpur...
. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Darul Aman Stadium
Darul Aman Stadium
Darul Aman Stadium is an all-seater and a multi-purpose stadium in Alor Star, the capital of state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium was built in 1967. It has a capacity of 32,387 seats after the expansion in 1997. It was one of the venues for the...
in Alor Setar.
See also
- 2005 Malaysian haze2005 Malaysian hazeThe 2005 Malaysian haze was a week-long choking smog-like haze over Malaysia that almost brought the central part of Peninsular Malaysia to a standstill, prompted crisis talks with Indonesia and caused widespread inconvenience. The haze was at its worst on August 11, 2005...
- Kedah FAKedah FAThe Kedah FA are a Malaysian professional football association team based in Kedah, Malaysia also enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Kedah...
- Breakdown of State Seats Representatives, elected in 2008