Sintok is a small town located in the Kubang Pasu District , Kedah , Malaysia . It is best known as the location of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) , one of the prominent public universities in the country.
116-513: Sintok lies approximately 52 kilometers from Alor Setar , the state capital, and about 12 kilometers from Changlun . The town is accessible via the Kuala Perlis-Changlun-Sintok Expressway as well as a road connecting it to Padang Terap . The name "Sintok" is taken from the name of a type of tree. The town was originally a remote settlement area for tin miners. However, due to its close proximity to
232-447: A campaign characterising this as a violation of the social contract and constitution . At UMNO's general assembly in 2002, he announced that he would resign as prime minister, only for supporters to rush to the stage and convince him tearfully to remain. He subsequently fixed his retirement for October 2003, giving him time to ensure an orderly and uncontroversial transition to his anointed successor, Abdullah Badawi. On 29 October 2003,
348-594: A career in medicine, becoming a physician. His involvement in politics began when he joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia's leading political party advocating Malay interests. His dedication to the party led him to enter the parliament of Malaysia in the 1964 general election , where he served one term before losing his seat. His relationship with the then-Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman , deteriorated, leading to his expulsion from UMNO. During his time outside
464-664: A city. The city's previous name was restored on 15 January 2009. Alor Setar was established on 31 December 1735 by Kedah's 19th Ruler, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II and was the state's eighth administrative centre since the establishment of the Kedah Sultanate in 1136. The earlier administrative centres were located in Kota Bukit Meriam, Kota Sungai Emas, Kota Siputeh, Kota Naga, Kota Sena, Kota Indera Kayangan and Kota Bukit Pinang. The pre-existing settlement
580-421: A leading Anwar supporter, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi , criticised the government for not doing enough to combat corruption and cronyism . As Mahathir took the reins of Malaysia's economic policy over the coming months, Anwar was increasingly sidelined. On 2 September, he was dismissed as deputy prime minister and finance minister and promptly expelled from UMNO. No immediate reasons were given for the dismissal. However,
696-413: A local coach criticised his decision, Iskandar ordered him to his palace and beat him. The federal parliament unanimously censured Iskandar, and Mahathir took the opportunity to remove the constitutional immunity of the sultans from civil and criminal suits. The press backed Mahathir and, in an unprecedented development, started airing allegations of misconduct by members of Malaysia's royal families. As
812-592: A narrow margin, receiving the votes of 761 party delegates to Razaleigh's 718. Ghafar defeated Musa by a slightly larger margin. Mahathir responded by purging seven Team B supporters from his ministry. At the same time, Team B refused to accept defeat and initiated litigation. In an unexpected decision in February 1988, the High Courts ruled that UMNO was an illegal organisation as some of its branches had not been lawfully registered. Each faction raced to register
928-574: A new party under the UMNO name. Mahathir's side successfully registered the name "UMNO Baru" ("new UMNO"), while Team B's application to register "UMNO Malaysia" was rejected. Nevertheless, UMNO Malaysia registered the party as Semangat 46 instead under Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's leadership. The Lord President of the Supreme Court , Salleh Abas , sent a letter of protest to the Agong, which criticised
1044-876: A person from the city is "Orang Alor Setar"; the term derived from Malay where people is being referred to "Orang". The following is based on Department of Statistics Malaysia 2010 census. The city of Alor Setar recorded a population of 357,176, according to 2010 census data. The 2010 Malaysian census reported that ethnic Malays formed the majority of the city with 262,027 (73.3%), predominantly of Kedahan Malay origin, with smaller numbers of Malays from other territories. The Alor Setar-Chinese forming 78,542 (21.9%). The local Chinese community are mainly Hokkien -speaking together with other Chinese-dialect minorities. Other visible communities includes Indians (mostly Tamils ) with 8,298 (2.3%) and other Bumiputeras with 610 (0.1%), as well as other ethnicities (mainly Siamese ) with 1,253 (0.3%). The Non-Malaysian constitute 6,446 (1.8%) of
1160-686: A pivotal role on maintaining the political and economic interest of Kedah. The city is the seat of the local government where all of the state ministries and agencies are primarily located. The Office of the Chief Minister and the Kedah State Legislative Assembly are both based in Wisma Darul Aman. The official residence of Sultan of Kedah, is located in Anak Bukit . Alor Setar has been governed by
1276-406: A series of bold infrastructure projects. Under his leadership, Malaysia transformed from being an agricultural country to a modern, industrial nation. Between 1988 and 1996, Malaysia experienced an 8 percent economic growth rate, during which Mahathir introduced an economic plan, known as The Way Forward or Vision 2020 , aiming for the country to achieve fully developed nation status by 2020. Mahathir
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#17327720030111392-446: A small settlement into a bustling town designated to accommodate further population growth, commerce and administration. The British especially, was quite drawn to the potential of Kota Setar (as it was then known). Gradually, Kota Setar thrived and further evolved into a commercial, transportation and communication hub of Kedah. The name was then changed from Kota Setar into Alor Setar, a reflection of its geographical features located in
1508-709: A small stream (known as "Alor" in Malay) which was frequented by the Malay traders from the neighbouring states. However, the name Kota Setar was retained as sub-district under Alor Setar. Other significant events during the turn of the 20th century includes the reunification of Perlis and Setul (now Satun ) to Kedah by the Siamese in May 1897 (both provinces had been separated from Kedah in 1821) held in Balai Besar. The event
1624-569: A state of Malaysia . He vociferously attacked Singapore's dominant People's Action Party for being "pro-Chinese" and "anti-Malay" and called its leader, Lee Kuan Yew , "arrogant". Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in Mahathir's first full year in parliament. Despite Mahathir's prominence, he lost his seat in the 1969 election , defeated by Yusof Rawa of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Mahathir attributed
1740-698: A state of emergency. However, if he refused to assent to a bill, the bill would return to Parliament, which could then override Agong's veto. On the economic front, Mahathir inherited the New Economic Policy from his predecessors, which was designed to improve the economic position of the bumiputera —Malaysia's Malays and Indigenous peoples —via targets and affirmative action in areas such as corporate ownership and university admission. Like many of his economic liberal contemporaries such as British prime minister Margaret Thatcher , Mahathir actively pursued privatisation of government enterprises from
1856-636: A town council form of government since 1905 following the establishment of Alor Star Sanitary Board. By 2013, it was elevated to be a city status by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and being administered as Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar . The current mayor of Alor Setar is Mohd Zohdi Saad. Alor Setar is located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia, at the edge of the Malacca Strait which separates Malaysia from Indonesia . The Kota Setar district includes Alor Setar, and borders
1972-634: A type of tree that can be found in the area. A new administration institution was constructed in the settlement, with the sultan resided in Istana Kota Setar. However, the capital suffered a major attack when the Bugis armanda led by Raja Haji managed to destroy both the Istana Kota Setar (Royal Palace) and Balai Besar (Grand Hall) in 1770. In 1771, the British represented by Francis Light and Sultan Abdullah Mukaram Shah entered an agreement to halt
2088-674: Is a Malaysian politician, author, and doctor who served as the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. With a cumulative tenure of 24 years, making him the longest-serving prime minister in Malaysian history. Before becoming premier, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and in other cabinet positions. He was a Member of Parliament for Langkawi from 2018 to 2022, Kubang Pasu from 1974 to 2004, and Kota Star Selatan from 1964 to 1969. His political career spanned more than 78 years, from joining protests opposing citizenship policies for non-Malays in
2204-466: Is a 217.9m (715 feet) high mogote , Mount Keriang (Gunung Keriang), where there is a network of limestone caves located within it, as well as housing geodes of calcite crystals. Alor Setar features a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Köppen climate classification . Alor Setar has a very lengthy wet season . As is common in several regions with this climate, precipitation is seen even during
2320-1109: Is approached from the east coast via East–West Highway (Lebuhraya Timur Barat). Towns such as Butterworth and Kangar etc., can also be accessed from Alor Setar. Car rental services are available. Most of bus companies in Peninsular Malaysia provide air-conditioned express bus services. Tickets can be bought at bus terminals or ticket offices. All buses that arrive in Alor Setar stop at Shahab Perdana Terminal Bus. Those who wish to travel to other towns, including Thailand , can board their bus at this terminal. Local bus services are also available, serving almost all towns in Kedah . Train services are provided by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) through their ETS services. Train are available between Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Padang Besar, and Gemas. The city' two railway stations are Alor Setar railway station and Anak Bukit railway station . Tickets can be obtained from
2436-582: Is located 15 km (9.3 mi) west of the city. Travellers can take bus, taxi or e-hailing from the city centre to the jetty. Mahathir Mohamad UMNO (1964–2016) BERSATU (2016–2020) PEJUANG (2020–2023) PUTRA (2023–present) Alliance Party (1964–1974) Barisan Nasional (1974–2016) Pakatan Harapan (2017–2020) Gerakan Tanah Air (2022–2023) [REDACTED] Mahathir bin Mohamad ( Jawi : محاضر بن محمد ; IPA: [mahaðɪ(r) bɪn mohamad] ; born 10 July 1925)
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#17327720030112552-440: Is revered in developing and Islamic nations for Malaysia's economic progress and support of liberal Muslim values . He also champions Malay nationalism , although he has evolved from supporting " Ketuanan Melayu " to advocating a " Bangsa Malaysia " that assimilates non-Malays into Malay culture , strictly rejecting multiculturalism . He criticizes neoliberalism and Western influence , controversially suggesting that
2668-547: Is the only Roman Catholic Church that exist within the city. While for Sikh adherents, Gurdwara Sahib Alor Setar is the only worship place for Sikhs that can be founded in the same road, not far from the Church of St. Michael. Alor Setar is one of the important commercial and industrial centres in Kedah, alongside Sungai Petani and Kulim . There are many international and national-level commercial banks established their branches in
2784-563: Is the state capital of Kedah , Malaysia . It is the second-largest city in the state after Sungai Petani and one of the most-important cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia . It is home to the third-tallest tower in Malaysia , the Alor Setar Tower . Its location along the main travel corridor from Malaysia to Thailand has long made it a major transportation hub in the northern Malay Peninsula . Alor Setar sits along
2900-501: Is well connected to all parts of Peninsular Malaysia by all transport modes. The North–South Expressway , which extends from Bukit Kayu Hitam (Malaysia–Thai border town) to Singapore, has made it easy to drive to Kedah. It is a 6–7-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and a 1.5-hour drive from Penang via expressway. Songkhla province in Thailand is also about a 1-hour drive from Alor Setar via Padang Besar–Sadao Highway . Alor Setar
3016-647: The 1990 election . Semangat 46 failed to make any headway outside Razaleigh's home state of Kelantan. The expiry of the Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1990 allowed Mahathir to outline his economic vision for Malaysia. In 1991, he announced Vision 2020 , under which Malaysia would aim to become a fully developed country within 30 years. The target would require average economic growth of approximately seven per cent of gross domestic product per annum. One of Vision 2020's features would be to gradually break down ethnic barriers. Vision 2020
3132-515: The 1MDB corruption scandal in 2016, joining BERSATU and leading the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition to victory in the 2018 general election . During his second tenure , he pledged to investigate the 1MDB scandal, combat corruption, and cut spending on large infrastructure projects. He also secured the pardon and release of Anwar Ibrahim . Mahathir resigned in 2020 amidst a political crisis . Despite losing his parliamentary seat in
3248-460: The 2022 general election , he remained active in politics and shifted party affiliation several times. Mahathir's political views have shifted throughout his life, and are shaped by his Malay nationalism and Islamic religious beliefs . Initially, he was aligned with Third-Worldism in the 1980s and later advocated for " Asian values " and globalization . He has consistently maintained Islamic political views throughout his political career. He
3364-651: The Abdul Razak government , returning to UMNO's Supreme Council in 1973. He was appointed to Cabinet in 1974 as the Minister for Education . He returned to the House of Representatives in the 1974 election , winning the Kedah-based seat of Kubang Pasu unopposed. One of his first acts as Minister for Education was to introduce greater government control over Malaysia's universities , despite strong opposition from
3480-619: The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 on 7 July 1909, the transfer of power from the Siamese to British administration was held on 15 July 1909 Balai Besar. Alor Setar fell to the Japanese occupation on 13 December 1945 and was annexed to the Siamese until 1946. The handover ceremony from Siamese to the British was held in Padang Court, Alor Setar 18 October 1946. The town joined the protest against Malayan Union during
3596-486: The Asian financial crisis . The 1997 Southeast Asian haze , the worst haze event in history caused by Indonesian forest fires , was a major air pollution crisis for the country; Mahathir launched a cross-border firefighting operation in response. In 1997, the Asian financial crisis threatened to devastate Malaysia's economy. The value of the ringgit plummeted due to currency speculation, foreign investment fled, and
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3712-534: The Bangsa Malaysia policy, which aimed to facilitate greater representation of non-Malay ethnicities in Malaysia . Mahathir's government cut corporate taxes and liberalised financial regulations to attract foreign investment. The economy grew by over nine per cent per annum until 1998, prompting other developing countries to emulate Mahathir's policies. Much credit for Malaysia's economic development in
3828-687: The British grouped the Malay states and the Straits Settlements into the Malayan Union , and granted citizenship to non-Malays. This caused major backlash from Malays and a wave of Malay nationalism swept across the country. Mahathir became politically activated by these changes, joining protests and activism against the new citizenship policies. Mahathir later argued for affirmative action for Malays at medical college. While at college, he contributed to The Straits Times under
3944-474: The Internal Security Act . This included journalist Samad Ismail and Abdullah Ahmad , who was a former deputy minister in the former government but was suspected of being an underground communist . He appointed Musa Hitam as deputy prime minister. Mahathir exercised caution in his first two years in power, consolidating UMNO's leadership and, with victory in the 1982 general election ,
4060-540: The Malayan Union in the 1940s to forming the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition in 2022. He was granted the soubriquet "Father of Modernisation" (" Bapa Pemodenan ") for his pivotal role in transforming the country's economy and infrastructure. At the age of 99, he is currently the oldest living former Malaysian prime minister. Born and raised in Alor Setar , Kedah, Mahathir excelled in his studies and pursued
4176-481: The National Justice Party ( Keadilan ) to contest in the 1999 election . UMNO lost 18 seats and two state governments as large numbers of Malays voted for PAS or Keadilan in protest of Anwar's treatment. In September 2001, debate aroused after Mahathir announced that Malaysia was already an Islamic state ; this caused uneasiness among non-Muslims in Malaysia, whilst the opposition DAP launched
4292-643: The US government was involved in the 9/11 attacks and a group of international elites control every aspects of life with the aim of establishing global hegemony . He has also been accused of antisemitism for his comments , which include stereotypes about Jews' financial skills and media control . On environmental issues, he criticizes the Global North countries for " eco-imperialism " and defends Malaysia's palm oil industry as sustainable, despite international scrutiny linking it to deforestation . Mahathir
4408-635: The West . As prime minister, he was an advocate of Asian values and development models , and was particularly prominent across the Muslim world . In 2002, Mahathir announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister, officially stepping down in 2003 after 22 years in office, but remained politically influential and was critical of his successors. Mahathir also served as the Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) from 2004 to 2016. He quit UMNO over
4524-609: The capital of Kedah, Alor Setar is regarded as one of the core cultural centres for the Kedahan Malays . It is also among the key pioneer in the Malayan transportation history, the railway station is commissioned in 1915 followed by its airport in 1929. Alor Setar is home to the Central State Administration Centre and is the administrative centre of Kota Setar District . At present,
4640-511: The silver jubilee of Sultan Abdul Halim in 1983. The change of status of Alor Setar throughout the 20th century was also closely parallel by the rise of its urban development, demographic and population growth. The council was upgraded to Kota Setar Municipal Council on 1 February 1978, which traced its origin to Kota Setar District Council on 1 March 1976, Alor Star Municipal Board in 1958 and Alor Star Sanitary Board in 1905. The town celebrated its 250th birthday in 1985. A proposal to upgrade
4756-614: The 1970s, responded to the resurgence by taking an increasingly strident Islamist stand under the leadership of Yusof Rawa . Mahathir tried to appeal to religious voters by establishing Islamic institutions such as the International Islamic University of Malaysia which could promote Islamic education under government oversight. He managed to draw Anwar Ibrahim , the leader of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM), into
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4872-516: The 1990s went to Anwar Ibrahim, appointed by Mahathir as finance minister in 1991. The government rode the economic wave and won the 1995 election with an increased majority. Mahathir initiated a series of major infrastructure projects in the 1990s. One of the largest was the Multimedia Super Corridor , a new information technology district south of Kuala Lumpur modelled after Silicon Valley . Other Mahathir projects included
4988-504: The 1990s, Mahathir found himself at odds with Malaysian royalty over conflicting economic interests. In response to conflicts between Malaysian royals and prospective business leaders, Mahathir's government passed a resolution on royal activities. In the 1992 Gomez Incident , Sultan Iskandar's son, a representative field hockey player, was suspended from competition for five years for assaulting an opponent. Iskandar retaliated by pulling all Johor hockey teams out of national competitions. When
5104-520: The 84 seats it contested, leaving PAS with just one Member of Parliament (MP). In 1987, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah , who had been demoted from Finance Minister to Trade and Industry Minister , challenged Mahathir for UMNO's presidency , and effectively the prime ministership. Razaleigh's bid was supported by Musa, who had resigned as deputy prime minister the previous year. While once close allies with Mahathir, both fell out with Musa claiming that Mahathir no longer trusted him. Razaleigh and Musa ran for
5220-734: The Bugis influence in Kedah. During the coronation ceremony of Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II of Kedah on 17 March 1805, Siamese forces managed to occupy the capital . The sultan was forced to retreat to Penang and later Malacca. The settlement was put on a standstill for 20 years. He was restored to the crown in 1842 and the capital was temporary relocated to Kota Kuala Muda before returning to Kota Setar. In October 1883, James F. Agustin, an Englishmen arrived in Kuala Sungai Kedah (now known as Kuala Kedah ) about 10 km from
5336-538: The English student newspaper and winning a series of language awards, he won a position in a selective English-medium secondary school Government English School in 1933. With schools closed during the Japanese occupation of Malaya in World War II , he started a small business, selling coffee and snacks such as pisang goreng (banana fritters). After the war, Mahathir graduated from secondary school with
5452-457: The IMF – Malaysia recovered from the crisis faster than its Southeast Asian neighbours. In the domestic sphere , it was a political triumph. Amidst the economic events of 1998, Mahathir had dismissed Anwar as finance minister and deputy prime minister, taking credit for the economy's recovery despite Anwar's policies. Anwar led the reformasi movement against Mahathir's government in response. In
5568-542: The Internal Security Act. Mahathir argued that the detentions were necessary to prevent a repeat of the 1969 race riots. Most of the detainees were prominent opposition activists, including the DAP leader, Lim Kit Siang , and nine of his fellow MPs. Three newspapers sympathetic to the opposition were shut down. Mahathir suffered a heart attack in early 1989. He recovered to lead Barisan Nasional to victory in
5684-487: The Malay community. The book argued that a balance had to be achieved between government support for Malays, so that their economic interests would not be dominated by the Chinese, and exposing Malays to sufficient competition. Mahathir saw Malays as typically avoiding hard work and failing to "appreciate the real value of money and property", and hoped this balance would rectify this. Mahathir criticised Tunku's government in
5800-577: The Tou Mu Kung Temple (Chinese: 斗母宫), is a Taoist temple situated on Jalan Gangsa. Worshipping the Empress Registrar of Birth or Dou Mu (斗母) and Nine Emperor (九皇大帝/九皇大帝) deities, the temple has both Taoist and Buddhist influences. In addition to Islam and Buddhism, other religions and faiths are also practiced in the city, including Hinduism , Christianity and Sikhism . There are many house of worship constructed to accommodate
5916-405: The UMNO presidency and deputy presidency on a joint ticket against Mahathir and his new choice for deputy Abdul Ghafar Baba . Mahathir's Team A enjoyed the press's support, most party heavyweights, and even Iskandar, now the Agong. However, other prominent figures such as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supported Team B. In the election, held on 24 April 1987, Team A prevailed. Mahathir was re-elected by
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#17327720030116032-403: The academic community. He moved to limit politics on university campuses, giving his ministry the power to discipline students and academics who were politically active and making scholarships for students conditional on the avoidance of politics. In 1975, Mahathir ran for one of the three vice-presidencies of UMNO. The contest was regarded as a struggle for the party's leadership succession, as
6148-457: The airport also served flights connecting Alor Setar to Johor Bahru four times per-week from 1 October 2018. Since 9 September 2013, Malaysian Airline System connects Alor Setar with a seasonal international direct flights to Madinah and Jeddah for the Hajj pilgrims. Passenger ferry services to and from Langkawi to Kuah Ferry Service are provided at Jeti Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar. The jetty
6264-465: The book, which led to it being banned in Malaysia. The ban was only lifted in 1981 under Mahathir's premiership. Academics R. S. Milne and Diane K. Mauzy argue that Mahathir's relentless attacks were the principal cause of Tunku Abdul Rahman's downfall and subsequent resignation as prime minister in 1970. Tunku's successor Abdul Razak Hussein encouraged Mahathir to return to UMNO and appointed him Senator for Kedah in 1973. Mahathir rose quickly in
6380-463: The border of Malaysia - Thailand , Sintok was exposed to threats from the banned communist group. Hence, the government had to migrate all the original residents to a safer area, and declared the town are as a 'black area'. History recorded many killings of members of the security forces in the area. By mid 1980s, the federal and state government agreed on building a university in Sintok. The university
6496-408: The cabinet paid tribute to Mahathir for his invaluable service to the nation as Prime Minister for the last 22 years. He also received a record-breaking outpouring of public gratitude, marked by a 5.5 km-long banner displaying messages from over 50,000 Malaysians. Having spent over 22 years in office, Mahathir was the world's longest-serving elected leader when he retired. For his contributions to
6612-473: The capital. He and a few other English explorers embarked their journey towards inland areas of Kedah where he met several Malay settlement on the riverbanks of the Kedah river. Upon his arrival in Kampung Kota Setar, he befriended several local Malays and they invited him to the sultan's palatial residence. Agustin remarked on the beauty of the palatial architecture and its landscape covered with
6728-483: The car manufacturer Proton as a joint venture between the Malaysian government and Mitsubishi . By the end of the 1980s, with the support of protective tariffs , Proton became a profitable enterprise and the largest carmaker in Southeast Asia . In Mahathir's early years as prime minister, Malaysia experienced a resurgence of Islam and conservatism among Malays. PAS, which had joined UMNO in government in
6844-399: The ceremony, the city was formally renamed as "Alor Star", the third time the city has changed its name, from Kota Setar to Alor Setar and Alor Star. On 15 January 2009, the historical spelling "Alor Setar" was returned to be its official designation. Alor Setar is being represented by three Members of Parliament and nine State Legislative Assembly . As the state capital, Alor Setar holds
6960-496: The city covers a land area of 666 km (257 sq mi), which is occupied by more than 400,000 inhabitants (as per the 2020 census). At the local-government level, Alor Setar is administered by the Alor Setar City Council. It is the birthplace of two pivotal prime ministers of Malaysia ; namely Tunku Abdul Rahman , the founding father of the nation (in office from 1957 to 1970) and Mahathir Mohamad ,
7076-470: The city includes Masjid Al Bukhary, completed in 1999, its design draws inspiration from a fusion in the Islamic World , especially from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi , Medina ; Qaytbay Mosque , Cairo and Imam al-Bukhari Complex , Samarkand . There is also a gallery located together with the mosque. The Muslim life in Alor Setar is centered on the 69 mosques and a large numbers of suraus located around
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#17327720030117192-526: The city's two main mosque - Masjid Zahir and Masjid Al Bukhary. Zahir Mosque is the state mosque of Kedah and enjoys a royal history and patronage. Built in 1912, its official opening ceremony was held on 15 October 1915 by the late Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah . The architecture of the mosque was inspired by the Azizi Mosque, the state mosque of Langkat Sultanate in Sumatera. Other major mosque in
7308-655: The city, together with a few insurance companies. Agricultural industry , especially rice production was traditionally the economic core of the community. However, by the 21st century the local economy is also equally driven by various forms of primary-based industry and tertiary sector . Other significant economic activities in Alor Setar includes manufacturing, commerce and retail, hospitality and tourism, financial services, food processing and fishery. The main industrial areas located in Alor Setar includes Mergong Barrage, Mergong 1 & 2, Tandop, Kristial Light Industrial Park and 2010 Industrial Park. The capital of Kedah
7424-458: The city. Buddhism also have a large number of followers in the city, mainly amongst the ethnic Chinese and Siamese communities. Among the main Buddhist shrine located in the city includes Wat Nikrodharam. Its architecture reflects strong Thai elements with minor Chinese motifs. It offers a quiet oasis in the city centre. Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions are observed here. While
7540-475: The country's longest expressway, located 430 km (270 mi) from Kuala Lumpur and 79 km (49 mi) north of George Town , Penang . From Thailand, the city is easily accessible via the Padang Besar–Sadao Highway , it is 51.8 km (32.2 mi) from Sadao and 106 km (66 mi) from Hat Yai . The city was originally founded as Kota Setar in 1785. Owing to the long status as
7656-418: The country's longest-serving prime minister of 24 years (in office from 1981 to 2003, from 2018 to 2020). The name came from the combination of two Malay words: Alor ("small stream") and Setar ( Bouea macrophylla Griff.; known as the marian plum, gandaria, or plum mango), a tree which is related to mango . The city's name was changed to Alor Star during a 21 December 2003 ceremony proclaiming it
7772-578: The development of Putrajaya as the home of Malaysia's public service and bringing a Formula One Grand Prix to Sepang . One of the most controversial developments was the Bakun Dam in Sarawak. The ambitious hydro-electric project was intended to carry electricity across the South China Sea to satisfy electricity demand in peninsular Malaysia. Work on the dam was eventually suspended due to
7888-478: The districts of Kubang Pasu, Pokok Sena and Pendang. The city encompasses an area of 666 km (257 sq mi), including the neighbouring district of Pokok Sena which falls under the jurisdiction of the Alor Setar City Council . Alor Setar is surrounded by important river systems such as the Kedah, Langgar, Tajar, Anak Bukit, Alor Malai and Alor Merah Rivers. Alor Setar's Hausberg
8004-407: The early 1980s. Mahathir believed this would provide economic opportunities for bumiputera and their businesses. His government privatised airlines , utilities and telecommunication firms , accelerating to a rate of about 50 privatisations a year by the mid-1990s. While privatisation generally improved the working conditions of Malaysians in privatised industries and raised significant revenue for
8120-400: The government, also sending an open dissenting letter to Tunku for failing to uphold Malay interests and calling for his resignation. By the end of the year, Mahathir was fired from UMNO's Supreme Council and expelled from the party. Tunku had to be persuaded not to have him arrested. Expelled from UMNO, Mahathir wrote his first book, The Malay Dilemma , in which he set out his vision for
8236-534: The government, many privatisations occurred in the absence of open tendering processes and benefited Malays who supported UMNO. One of the most notable infrastructure projects at the time was the construction of the North–South Expressway , a motorway running from the Thai border to Singapore. The contract to construct the expressway was awarded to a business venture of UMNO. Mahathir oversaw the establishment of
8352-501: The government. In 1983, Mahathir undertook one of the first challenges he had with Malaysia's royalty . The position of Yang di-Pertuan Agong , the Malaysian head of state, was due to rotate into either the elderly Idris Shah II of Perak or the controversial Iskandar of Johor , who had only a few years earlier been convicted of manslaughter. Mahathir had grave reservations about the two Sultans, who were both activist rulers of their own states. Mahathir tried to pre-emptively limit
8468-656: The health of Abdul Razak and his deputy, Hussein Onn , waned. Each of Abdul Razak's preferred candidates was elected: former Chief Minister of Melaka, Ghafar Baba ; Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah , a wealthy businessman and member of Kelantan 's royal family; and Mahathir. When Razak died the following year, Hussein, as his successor, had to choose between the three men, alongside the Minister of Home Affairs Ghazali Shafie , to be deputy prime minister. Mahathir's rivals had significant political liabilities: Ghazali, having been defeated by
8584-649: The highest rank and enrolled to study medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore . Mahathir studied medicine at what was then called University of Malaya, later renamed University of Singapore . When the university granted him an honorary degree in November 2018, he said "I will always value my stay in Singapore for nearly six years." Mahathir married Hasmah in 1956,
8700-597: The local Chinese. Additionally, there are also pockets of Hakka , Teochew and other Chinese dialects. Other languages spoken in Alor Setar includes Tamil , among the Alor Setar Indian population and Southern Thai by the Kedah-Siamese community. A majority of the population adhered to the Islamic faith, which correlates to the strong Malay/Muslim ethnoreligious identity. This is signified with
8816-572: The local population. The dominant Malay dialect spoken is the Kedah-Northern Malay dialect and functioned as the lingua franca . However, standard Malay (sometimes Johor-Riau Malay dialect), English and Manglish (the latter being a localised vernacular version of English) are still widely understood in the city. The Han Chinese , the second largest community in Alor Setar are primarily Hokkien -speaking. However, significant Mandarin and Cantonese are also well known amongst
8932-751: The loss of his seat to ethnic Chinese voters switching support from UMNO to PAS. Being a Malay-dominated seat, only the two major Malay parties fielded candidates, leaving Chinese voters to choose between the Malay-centric UMNO and the Islamist PAS. Large government losses in the election were followed by the race riots of 13 May 1969 . Hundreds of people were killed in clashes between Malays and Chinese. In 1968, Mahathir had expressed concern over escalating racial tensions in two newspaper articles, and feared preventative measures would be needed to avoid violence. Outside parliament, he openly criticised
9048-551: The main stock exchange index fell by over 75 per cent. At the urging of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government cut government spending. It raised interest rates, which only served to exacerbate the economic situation. In 1998, Mahathir went against the advice of IMF and Anwar by increasing government spending and fixing the ringgit to the US dollar. The result confounded his international critics and
9164-536: The media speculated that it related to lurid allegations of sexual misconduct circulated in a "poison pen letter" at the general assembly. As more allegations surfaced, large public rallies were held in support of Anwar. On 20 September, he was arrested and placed in detention under the Internal Security Act. Anwar stood trial on four charges of corruption, arising from allegations that Anwar abused his power by ordering police to intimidate persons who had alleged Anwar had sodomised them. Before Anwar's trial, Mahathir told
9280-472: The mid-1990s, Mahathir had become the country's "uncrowned king". His policies during his first premiership were later described as " authoritarian " by the BBC . According to biographer Ian Stewart, by the mid-1990s Anwar's leadership ambition was the most serious threat to Mahathir's power. Anwar began to distance himself from Mahathir, overtly promoting his superior religious credentials and suggesting loosening
9396-596: The ministry promoting Malaysia through overseas visits. However, Mahathir did not have much influence as deputy prime minister. Hussein was a cautious leader who rejected many of Mahathir's bold policy proposals, such as a freeway the length of Peninsular Malaysia and heavy industries cooperation. Hussein remained distant from Mahathir while keeping Ghazali and Razaleigh as his close advisors, who often outmanoeuvred Mahathir to reach Hussein. Nonetheless, when Hussein relinquished power due to ill health in 1981, Mahathir succeeded him unopposed and with his blessing. Mahathir
9512-548: The name UMNO. According to Milne and Mauzy, the episode destroyed the independence of Malaysia's judiciary. At the same time as the political and judicial crises, Mahathir initiated a crackdown on opposition dissidents using the Internal Security Act . Mahathir later declared that it was only used to lock up people accused of riots, unlawful assembly, terrorism and those who have murdered police officers. The appointment of several administrators who did not speak Mandarin to Chinese schools provoked an outcry among Chinese Malaysians to
9628-406: The national economy. In 1976, he advanced to the position of deputy prime minister, and in 1981, he was sworn in as prime minister, embarking on a historic tenure that would span 22 years and transform Malaysia's political and economic landscape. During Mahathir's first tenure, Malaysia underwent modernisation and economic growth when his government initiated widespread industry privatisation and
9744-432: The others for a vice-presidency, lacked the support of UMNO members. Ghafar had no higher education and was not fluent in English. Razaleigh was young, inexperienced and unmarried. However, Hussein and Mahathir were not close allies, and Hussein knew Mahathir's choice would displease Abdul Razak. After six weeks of indecision, Mahathir was, much to his surprise, appointed as Hussein's deputy. The appointment meant that Mahathir
9860-523: The party, Mahathir published his book The Malay Dilemma in 1970, a work that explored the socio-political and economic challenges facing the Malay community and drew significant attention for its bold views. After Tunku Abdul Rahman's resignation, Mahathir rejoined UMNO and regained his seat in parliament. His political ascent continued as he was appointed Minister of Education from 1974 to 1978. He subsequently became Minister of Trade and Industry from 1978 to 1981, promoting industrialization to strengthen
9976-693: The point where UMNO's coalition partners the Malaysian Chinese Association and Gerakan joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in protesting the appointments. UMNO's Youth wing held a provocative protest that triggered a shooting by a lone Malay gunman. Only Mahathir's interference prevented UMNO from staging a larger protest. Instead, Mahathir ordered what Wain calls "the biggest crackdown on political dissent Malaysia had ever seen". Under Operation Lalang , 119 people were arrested and detained without charge under
10092-459: The post-war period. The mass protest was attended by 10,000 against the British backed-proposal . It was led by Tunku Abdul Rahman together with key leaders from UMNO . The town also witnessed the 4th UMNO General Assembly which lay the draft for the foundation of the present-day Constitution of Malaysia . The coronation ceremony of Abdul Halim of Kedah , the 28th Sultan of Kedah was held in Balai Besar on 20 February 1959. The city celebrates
10208-470: The power that the new Agong could wield over his government. He introduced to parliament amendments to the Constitution to deem the Agong to assent to any bill that had not been assented within 15 days of passage by Parliament. The proposal removed the power to declare a state of emergency from the Agong and placed it with the prime minister. The Agong at the time, Ahmad Shah of Pahang , agreed with
10324-423: The press revealed examples of the rulers' extravagant wealth, Mahathir resolved to cut financial support to royal households. With the press and the government pitted against them, the sultans capitulated to the government's proposals. Their powers to deny assent to bills were limited by further constitutional amendments passed in 1994. With the status and powers of the Malaysian royalty diminished, Wain writes that by
10440-474: The press that he was convinced of Anwar's guilt. He was found guilty in April 1999 and sentenced to six years in prison. In another trial shortly after, Anwar was sentenced to another nine years in prison on a conviction for sodomy. The sodomy conviction was overturned on appeal after Mahathir left office. Anwar's conviction drew criticism from the international community and led to a loss in domestic support for
10556-497: The prime minister for his comments on the judiciary and called for them to be stopped. Mahathir then suspended Salleh for "gross misbehaviour and conduct", ostensibly because the letter was a breach of protocol. A tribunal set up by Mahathir found Salleh guilty and recommended to the Agong that Salleh be dismissed. Five other judges of the court supported Salleh and were suspended by Mahathir. A newly constituted court dismissed Team B's appeal, allowing Mahathir's faction to continue to use
10672-479: The proposals in principle, but baulked when he realised that the proposal would deem Sultans to assent to laws passed by state assemblies. Supported by the Sultans, the Agong refused to assent to the constitutional amendments, which had passed both houses of Parliament with comfortable majorities. When the public became aware of the impasse, and the Sultans refused to compromise with the government, Mahathir took to
10788-423: The pseudonym "C.H.E. Det" and a student journal, in which he fiercely promoted Malay rights, such as calling for the restoration of Malay as an official language. While practising as a physician in Alor Setar, Mahathir became active in UMNO. By the time of the first general election for the independent state of Malaya in 1959, he was the chairman of the party in Kedah. Despite his prominence in UMNO, Mahathir
10904-416: The ranks of UMNO. In some cases, Mahathir's government employed repression against more extreme exponents of Islamism. Ibrahim Libya , a popular Islamist leader, was killed in a police shoot-out in 1985. Al-Arqam , a religious sect, was banned, and its leader, Ashaari Mohammad , was arrested under the Internal Security Act . Mahathir comprehensively defeated PAS at the polls in 1986 , winning 83 seats of
11020-781: The religious observance of these communities. For Hindus, one of the main temples that can be visited is Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Hindu Temple, located in Jalan Bakar Bata. For Christian adherents, almost all churches located in the city are from various Protestant churches such as Alor Setar Baptist Church located in Jalan Mahdali, just behind Alor Setar Tower and Alor Setar (Chinese & Tamil) Methodist Church located in Lebuhraya Darulaman. In addition, Church of St. Michael, located in Jalan Langgar
11136-483: The restrictions on civil liberties. However, Mahathir continued to back Anwar as his successor until the collapse of their relationship during the Asian financial crisis , with Mahathir abandoning the tight monetary and fiscal policies urged by the IMF. Anwar refused to bail out Malaysian International Shipping Corp , in which Mahathir's son Mirzan had interests. At the UMNO General Assembly in 1998,
11252-467: The ruling coalition. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright defended Anwar as a "highly respectable leader" who was "entitled to due process and a fair trial" and met with Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail . At the APEC summit in 1999, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien refused to meet Mahathir, while his foreign minister also met with Wan Azizah. Wan Azizah had formed a liberal opposition party,
11368-401: The short dry season. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, with average high temperatures around 32 degrees Celsius and average low temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius. Alor Setar has an average 2,300 mm (91 in) of annual precipitation. There is no well-known nor formal adjective or demonyms for the people from Alor Setar. A casual way to address
11484-411: The stalk trees. He was well received by the sultan and both parties exchanged goods between one another. The visit by Agustin spurred a growth for a more active and direct trade relations between the area and outside commercial powerhouse. The city attracted various cosmopolitan trading activities from the British, Indian, Chinese together with other local and regional merchants. The town prospered from
11600-401: The streets to demonstrate public support for his position in mass rallies. The press took the side of the government. A large minority of Malays, including conservative UMNO politicians, and an even larger proportion of the Chinese community supported the Sultans. After five months, the crisis was resolved, as Mahathir and the Sultans agreed to a compromise. The Agong retained the power to declare
11716-477: The town into a city status was proposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 2000. Alor Setar was proclaimed a city – the ninth in Malaysia – on 21 December 2003. A ceremony was held at Dataran Tunku, Alor Setar, attended by the Kedah's Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah , his consort Che' Puan Haminah Hamidun, the heir apparent, other royalty and politicians. During
11832-510: The train station or online booking. Built in 1929, the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar Airport, IATA code: AOR) is the second oldest airport in Malaysia. It is located at Kepala Batas, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the city. It caters almost exclusively on domestic routes. Malaysia Airlines , Firefly , Malindo Air , and AirAsia provides multiple daily connections to and from Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur ;
11948-405: The two having met in medical college. He returned to Alor Setar in 1957 to establish his practice, Maha Clinic. He was the town's first Malay physician and a successful one. He built a large house, invested in various businesses, and employed a Chinese man to chauffeur him in his Pontiac Catalina (most chauffeurs at the time were Malay). After World War II ended and the Japanese withdrew,
12064-654: Was a dominating political figure, winning five consecutive general elections and fending off rivals for UMNO's leadership. He continued pro- bumiputera policies, and oversaw Malaysia's relatively fast recovery from the 1997 Asian financial crisis . Critics argue that he centralized power by undermining judicial independence and supported a constitutional amendment to remove legal immunity for royalty . In 1987, he detained various activists and religious figures under Operation Lalang , and in 1998, had his deputy Anwar Ibrahim arrested. His record of authoritarianism and curtailment of civil liberties strained relationships with
12180-547: Was a significant enough slight to delay his entry into national politics in protest. He contested in the following general election in 1964, and was elected as the federal parliamentarian for the Alor Setar-based seat of Kota Setar Selatan . Elected to parliament in a volatile political period, Mahathir, as a backbencher , launched himself into the main conflict of the day: Singapore 's future, with its large and economically powerful ethnic Chinese population , as
12296-529: Was accompanied by the NEP's replacement, the National Development Policy (NDP), under which some government programs designed to benefit the bumiputera exclusively were opened up to other ethnicities. The NDP achieved one of its main aims — poverty reduction. By 1995, less than nine per cent of Malaysians lived in poverty, and income inequality had narrowed. Mahathir also introduced
12412-597: Was attended by the Crown Prince of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Aziz as a representative of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. In 1904, the city witnessed the grand wedding of the five children of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah , lasting for 3 months and the cost estimated to be 3 million Ringgit. On 25 July 1905, the Legislative Council of Kedah (Majlis Mesyuarat Negeri) was formed in Alor Setar, with the Crown Prince, Tuanku Abdul Aziz held as its president. Following
12528-415: Was born at his parents' home in a poor neighbourhood at Lorong Kilang Ais, Alor Setar , in the capital of the Malay sultanate of Kedah under a British protectorate , on 10 July 1925. Mahathir's mother, Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi, was a Malay from Kedah. His father, Mohamad Iskandar, was from Penang of Malay and Indian descent. Mahathir's paternal grandfather had come from Kerala , British India . He
12644-526: Was born with six half-siblings and two full-siblings. His childhood home, with a single shared bedroom and no electricity supply, was later converted to a tourist attraction and opened to the public. Mahathir began his education at Seberang Perak Malay Boys School, Alor Setar, Kedah in 1930. Mahathir was a hard-working student. Discipline imposed by his father motivated him to study, and he showed little interest in sports. Having become fluent in English well ahead of his primary school peers, including editing
12760-485: Was named Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), literally translated as "Northern University of Malaysia", and construction started in the late 1980s to replace the temporary campus in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Jitra . As a memorial to the sacrifice by the security forces, a memorial structure was built in that UUM campus. A list of names of the members of the security forces that was killed by the communists
12876-465: Was not a candidate in the 1959 election , ruling himself out following a disagreement with then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman . Their relationship had been strained since Mahathir had criticised Tunku's agreement to retain British and Commonwealth forces in Malaya after independence. Tunku opposed Mahathir's plans to introduce minimum educational qualifications for UMNO candidates. For Mahathir, this
12992-404: Was originally a small village. However, the sultan found the area to be in a strategic location, he was drawn to the area as it was covered in a lush greenery and a center between the two estuaries of Kedah River converged. Upon the agreement with fellow Kedahan ministers, they agreed to institute a new town known as "Kota Setar" (the "Town of Setar"). The name was derived from Bouea macrophylla ,
13108-505: Was placed at this memorial structure. The establishment of UUM campus has expedited the growth of new settlements like Bandar Baru Sintok and Bukit Kachi which is located opposite of Sungai Badak Forest Reserve. 6°26′N 100°31′E / 6.433°N 100.517°E / 6.433; 100.517 This Kedah location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Alor Setar Alor Setar ( Kedah Malay : Loqstaq , Jawi : الور ستار )
13224-403: Was sworn in as prime minister on 16 July 1981, at the age of 56. He was the first commoner to hold that office. In an interview, Mahathir remarked that major power rivalry in Southeast Asia is dangerous, but "on the other hand, a lack of U.S. interest is also problematic. It creates the impression that Russia can act as it pleases." One of his first acts was to release 21 detainees held under
13340-437: Was the anointed successor to the prime ministership. Mahathir is regarded as having been a successful Minister for Education and then Minister for Trade and Industry (1978–81). In the latter post, he implemented a "heavy industries policy", establishing a HICOM , a government-controlled corporation, to invest in the long-term development of manufacturing sectors such as an indigenous car industry. He spent much of his time in
13456-403: Was the first prime minister that was not born into the aristocracy or a prominent religious or political family. Mohamad Iskandar was the principal of an English-medium secondary school, whose lower-middle-class status meant his daughters were unable to enrol in a secondary school. Wan Tempawan had only distant relations to members of Kedah's royalty. Both had been married previously. Mahathir
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