Sungai Petani
Encyclopedia
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
.
. Sungai Petani in full means "Farmer's River", due to the huge concentration of paddy fields and farmer
s in the state. The word "petani" may also refer to "Pattani", a city in present day Thailand to which the river was once connected. Even the old spelling of Sungai Petani was "Sungei Patani", without any reference to farming.
.
The parliamentary area of Merbok and part of parliamentary area of Yan (Gurun) is also part of Sungai Petani Municipal administrative area.
tubes and from textile
to wood products.
Sungai Petani has many malls and shopping centers such as Central Square, Village Mall, Lagenda Height Tesco, Sungai Petani North Tesco
, Sungai Petani South Tesco
, Giant Hypermarket
, Econsave, Billion, Sp Plaza and Parkson
.
and Singapore
.
Sungai Petani also has a relatively below average local bus service called City
Liner, with air-conditioned red coaches.The express bus station not far from Sungai Petani Railway Station. The railway station is managed by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.
The nearest airport is the Penang International Airport on Penang
Island. Another alternative airport is the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
, Alor Star
(the state capital of Kedah).
, a USD150-million hospital and various private medical facilities. It is a 498-bed hospital which provides secondary and tertiary specialist services.
There are also two private hospitals: Metro Specialist Hospital and Hospital Pantai Utara.
Sungai Petani hosts a large number of reputable schools such as the famous Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ibrahim
, and Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa.
Other schools include Convent Father Barre (Primary and Secondary), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bakar Arang, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Khir Johari, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Sungai Petani, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Ismail, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Pasir and Sekolah Menengah Teknik Sungai Petani 1 & 2.
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Amanjaya, Sg. Lalang (6 km north of Sungai Petani) and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bedong (7.5 km north of Sungai Petani) is the most crowded school in Kedah state and second most crowded school in the country.
SRJK(T) Saraswathi is also one of the premier Tamil
primary schools in Kedah
. Recently the school celebrated its 85th anniversary.
Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Sin Min （新民国民型中学）
and its Chinese primary school counterpart, SJK(C) Sin Min, are both also famous nationally for its academic performance. Besides, there is also a well established Chinese primary school called SJK(C) Sin Kwang which built at the year of merdeka .
There is also a Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Merbok (MRSM) located in Merbok about 11 km north west of Sungai Petani.
, (the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology), was previously situated in Amanjaya. In April 2007, the university moved to its new futuristic Semeling campus.
Universiti Teknologi Mara
has a branch campus located at Merbok
, Sungai Petani. Universiti Utara Malaysia
also has a branch campus here.
Other government institutions with campuses in Sungai Petani include Institusi Kemahiran Malaysia (IKM). Located ten minutes from Sungai Petani town, Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPG KSAH) is an institution set up by the government to provide teaching courses for trainee teachers.
One of the country's fastest growing private universities, the Open University Malaysia
(OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah
and Perlis
are also located in Sungai Petani. There are also private colleges like PTPL College and Cosmopoint College offering a variety of courses.
The Kolej Universiti Insaniah
(KUIN) is a private university operating from two campuses in Kedah and one of them is located in Sungai Petani.
to George V
and Queen Mary
to commemorate the Silver Jubilee.
In the heart of the town is the famous Jubli Perak (Silver Jubilee) public park and also Bird Park. There are more than five golf courses around Sungai Petani as well as various streams and rivers. Many lakes dot the land and have been attracting fishing fans for years.
, Pantai Merdeka
itself and also at Pulau Sayak. Pantai Merdeka is also a gateway to island activities in small islands called Pulau Bidan and Pulau Telor which are a few minutes boat ride away. These areas are good for fishing and its beaches. In addition to that Kota Kuala Muda has an old fort used to be the fort of the Raja Muda of Kedah during its time. There is also an archeology site in Kota Kuala Muda where precious stones panning were done few hundred years ago.
Hindu Civilization.
Tanjung Dawai
is a place which is known as a seafood spot in Sungai Petani. It is located 30 minutes from Sungai Petani. It has about twenty seafood restaurants.
or Lembah Bujang, sometimes referred to as the Ancient Wonder of Kedah, is a rich historical site covering an area of about 400sq. km situated in Merbok (17 km from Sungai Petani), bounded by Bukit Coras (Choras Hill) and Gunung Jerai. This archaeological area was the site of an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that ruled the region from the 4th century AD. There i also an archaeological museum situated here which is known as The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the state
States of Malaysia
Malaysia is a federation which consists of thirteen states and three federal territories . Eleven states and two federal territories are located on the Malay Peninsula while the remaining two states and one federal territory are on the island of Borneo.-The states and federal territories:Malaysia...
of Kedah
Kedah
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...
, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star
Alor Star
Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment...
.
Etmylogy
The name Sungai Petani has its roots from sungai meaning river and petani meaning farmer in the Malay languageMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
. Sungai Petani in full means "Farmer's River", due to the huge concentration of paddy fields and farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s in the state. The word "petani" may also refer to "Pattani", a city in present day Thailand to which the river was once connected. Even the old spelling of Sungai Petani was "Sungei Patani", without any reference to farming.
Politics
Sungai Petani is designated as a parliamentary area in its own right, with an electorate of 983,851 people (2008). It is currently represented by Johari Abdul from Parti Keadilan RakyatParti Keadilan Rakyat
The People's Justice Party , often known simply as KeADILan) is a centrist political party in Malaysia formed in 2003 by a merger of the National Justice Party and the older Malaysian People's Party...
.
The parliamentary area of Merbok and part of parliamentary area of Yan (Gurun) is also part of Sungai Petani Municipal administrative area.
Economy
Sungai Petani has a high and medium sized business community. Small and medium industry also play a part in the local economy, producing numerous products, from semiconductors to televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
tubes and from textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
to wood products.
Sungai Petani has many malls and shopping centers such as Central Square, Village Mall, Lagenda Height Tesco, Sungai Petani North Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, Sungai Petani South Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, Giant Hypermarket
Giant Hypermarket
Giant Hypermarket is a major supermarket and retailer chain in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and UAE. It is a subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings .-History:...
, Econsave, Billion, Sp Plaza and Parkson
Parkson
Parkson is a popular department store company in Malaysia which offers items at a medium rate. Parkson was established in 1987 as one of the largest retail chains in Malaysia at that time...
.
Transportation
The town is accessible through the Federal Route 1 and also the North-South Expressway. Sungai Petani has two highway exits while the Federal Route I runs across the city. Apart from that, it also has a train station and an make-shift express bus hub that caters to any destination within Peninsular Malaysia, ThailandThailand
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...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Sungai Petani also has a relatively below average local bus service called City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
Liner, with air-conditioned red coaches.The express bus station not far from Sungai Petani Railway Station. The railway station is managed by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.
The nearest airport is the Penang International Airport on 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...
Island. Another alternative airport is the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport is an airport that serves Alor Setar, a city in the state of Kedah in Malaysia.The airport, located in Kepala Batas, 13 km away from town, can handle up to 800,000 ppa. The new terminal is already operational by 5 May 2006 to cater for future traffic growth...
, Alor Star
Alor Star
Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment...
(the state capital of Kedah).
Health
Sungai Petani has various health amenities such as the Sultan Abdul Halim HospitalSultan Abdul Halim Hospital
Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital , formerly known as Hospital Sungai Petani, is a government-funded public hospital situated in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia...
, a USD150-million hospital and various private medical facilities. It is a 498-bed hospital which provides secondary and tertiary specialist services.
There are also two private hospitals: Metro Specialist Hospital and Hospital Pantai Utara.
Schools
The District Education Department located in Sungai Petani administers two districts of Kuala Muda and Yan with the highest number of primary and secondary schools in the state of Kedah.Sungai Petani hosts a large number of reputable schools such as the famous Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan 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...
, and Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa.
Other schools include Convent Father Barre (Primary and Secondary), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bakar Arang, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Khir Johari, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Sungai Petani, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Ismail, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Pasir and Sekolah Menengah Teknik Sungai Petani 1 & 2.
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Amanjaya, Sg. Lalang (6 km north of Sungai Petani) and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bedong (7.5 km north of Sungai Petani) is the most crowded school in Kedah state and second most crowded school in the country.
SRJK(T) Saraswathi is also one of the premier 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...
primary schools in Kedah
Kedah
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...
. Recently the school celebrated its 85th anniversary.
Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Sin Min （新民国民型中学）
Sin Min Secondary School
SMJK Sin Min is a government Chinese school which is located at Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia...
and its Chinese primary school counterpart, SJK(C) Sin Min, are both also famous nationally for its academic performance. Besides, there is also a well established Chinese primary school called SJK(C) Sin Kwang which built at the year of merdeka .
There is also a Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Merbok (MRSM) located in Merbok about 11 km north west of Sungai Petani.
Tertiary
The AIMST UniversityAIMST 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...
, (the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology), was previously situated in Amanjaya. In April 2007, the university moved to its new futuristic Semeling campus.
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...
has a branch campus located at Merbok
Merbok
Merbok is a small town in Kedah, Malaysia. The historical Bujang Valley is located here.-External links:* *...
, Sungai Petani. Universiti Utara Malaysia
Universiti 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...
also has a branch campus here.
Other government institutions with campuses in Sungai Petani include Institusi Kemahiran Malaysia (IKM). Located ten minutes from Sungai Petani town, Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPG KSAH) is an institution set up by the government to provide teaching courses for trainee teachers.
One of the country's fastest growing private universities, the Open University Malaysia
Open University Malaysia
- About OUM :Open University Malaysia or OUM is the 7th Malaysian private university and it is owned by the , a consortium of 11 public universities in Malaysia. It leverages on the quality, prestige and capabilities of its owners - a consortium of 11 Malaysian public universities.Currently, the...
(OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah
Kedah
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...
and 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...
are also located in Sungai Petani. There are also private colleges like PTPL College and Cosmopoint College offering a variety of courses.
The Kolej Universiti Insaniah
Kolej Universiti Insaniah
The Kolej Universiti Insaniah is a private university operating from two campuses in Kedah.- Organisation and administration :KUIN is wholly owned and managed by the State Government of Kedah- Campuses and faculties :...
(KUIN) is a private university operating from two campuses in Kedah and one of them is located in Sungai Petani.
Clock Tower
The major of Sungai Petani is a clock tower located on the main street, Jalan Ibrahim. The clock tower was built in 1936. It is 12.1 m in height. It is topped by a dome-shaped and gold coloured structure. The tower was a present from Lim Lean TengLim Lean Teng
Lim Lean Teng was a millionaire born in 1860 in China. He migrated to Penang, the then Malaya seeking for a better life.-Career:Lim Lean Teng ventured into business in Penang. He turned out successful, and was one of the richest persons in Penang during his life. He had a huge bungalow and a few...
to George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
to commemorate the Silver Jubilee.
Parks
Sungai Petani is also known for its green lungs and attractions.In the heart of the town is the famous Jubli Perak (Silver Jubilee) public park and also Bird Park. There are more than five golf courses around Sungai Petani as well as various streams and rivers. Many lakes dot the land and have been attracting fishing fans for years.
SP Club
A recreational venue for the residents of Sungai Petani is the Sungai Petani Club, or SP Club. Situated in the middle of the town, it is the oldest golf club in the State of Kedah, having been established in 1922 by British planters. The club was upgraded in 1991. The unique colonial facade and antique wooden interiors of the clubhouse would render it as a heritage site in Sungai Petani. The 9-hole golf course covering 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of prime land.The Carnivall
The Carnivall is a newly opened water park in Sungai Petani within the grounds of Cinta Sayang Golf and Country Resort. The Carnivall is the first water park in Kedah. It was opened on 25 December 2006. Weekdays rates are cheaper than weekend rates, and the good accessibility of the place makes it one of the most well known attractions in Sungai Petani.Pantai Merdeka
The only beach in mainland Kedah, it is a major attraction for beach goers from all over mainland Penang and Kedah State. Various accommodation is available for rent to experience the beach and other attractions in the area which includes harvesting Kepah, Siput Kemudi and Kerang (local seafood) in Kampung Tepi Sungai, Kota Kuala MudaKota Kuala Muda
Kota Kuala Muda is a small town in Kedah state, Malaysia. Near the town is Pantai Merdeka ....
, Pantai Merdeka
Pantai Merdeka
Pantai Merdeka is the only sand beach in the mainland Kedah, it is the major attraction for beach goers from all over northern Penang and Kedah State...
itself and also at Pulau Sayak. Pantai Merdeka is also a gateway to island activities in small islands called Pulau Bidan and Pulau Telor which are a few minutes boat ride away. These areas are good for fishing and its beaches. In addition to that Kota Kuala Muda has an old fort used to be the fort of the Raja Muda of Kedah during its time. There is also an archeology site in Kota Kuala Muda where precious stones panning were done few hundred years ago.
Sri Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam Temple
Sri Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam temple in Jalan Kuala Ketil is a 97 year old temple. The temple was built by philanthropist Sri Annaasamy Pillai, in 1914. The temple, held its first "Maha Kumbhabhishekam" (part of the consecration ceremony in a Hindu temple) in 1924. It has a majestic looking monumental tower, or "Raja Goburam", at the entrance. The temple has 70-year-old wooden chariot, bearing the statue of Lord Muruga. Thaipusam is celebrated grandly every year with 10 days of Ubayam and 3 days of offering milk pots and kavadis. Around 6000 milk pots and 700 Kavadis are carried by devotees from local and other states.Cinemas
There are two cinemas, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) Central Square Sungai Petani and Grand Cineplex Village Mall Sungai Petani, that are operating at Sungai Petani. GSC Central Square is a three-screen cinema located on the fifth floor of Central Square, one of the famous shopping complexes at Sungai Petani, while the newly opened Grand Cineplex is a four-screen cineplex located on level two of the Village Mall. The seating capacity of GSC Central Square and Grand Cineplex are 666 and 680 respectively. Before February 2010, the only place to watch a movie was GSC Central Square as it was the only one that has been operating since 1997. Grand Cineplex Village Mall is located near Tesco Sungai Petani, Lagenda Heights, which is at the northern part of Sungai Petani that is growing rapidly at the moment. The opening of Grand Cineplex on 2010 provides patrons with another choice on where to watch a movie at Sungai Petani.Attractions near Sungai Petani
About 30 kilometres away, is Gunung Jerai. Gunung Jerai is 1,217 metres from the sea level. This is the tallest mountain in the northern region and is surrounded by a vast jungle. It is a navigational point for ships entering the Straits of Malacca from the north because it is visible from far. There is an 18 km trekking route to the top of the mountain through a winding road. Atop the Jerai is a resort and the mountain boasts some tall and cooling waterfalls. Historically, the Jerai mountain served as the navigational point for traders from the east and west. There was a Hindu temple on top of the mountain that was built nearly a thousand years ago during the 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...
Hindu Civilization.
Tanjung Dawai
Tanjung Dawai
Tanjung Dawai is a small town in Kedah, Malaysia. It is located 30 kilometer from Sungai Petani. Tanjung Dawai is a place which is known as seafood spot in Sungai Petani. a top place in Tanjung Dawai is Telok Bala beach....
is a place which is known as a seafood spot in Sungai Petani. It is located 30 minutes from Sungai Petani. It has about twenty seafood restaurants.
Cuisine
Sungai Petani is known for its Nasi Kandar and Mee Goreng Mamak which is a Indian Muslim cuisine. Sungai Petani also has various selection of franchise restaurant and cafesBujang Valley
The 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...
or Lembah Bujang, sometimes referred to as the Ancient Wonder of Kedah, is a rich historical site covering an area of about 400sq. km situated in Merbok (17 km from Sungai Petani), bounded by Bukit Coras (Choras Hill) and Gunung Jerai. This archaeological area was the site of an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that ruled the region from the 4th century AD. There i also an archaeological museum situated here which is known as The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum.