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| Kedah–Perlis | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kedah–Perlis |
| Settlement type | Region |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Malaysia |
Kedah–Perlis.
Kedah–Perlis denotes the contiguous northwestern Malaysian region comprising the states of Kedah and Perlis. Situated on the Malay Peninsula bordering Thailand and the Straits of Malacca, the area features coastal plains, inland highlands and cross-border corridors used by historical polities such as the Sultanate of Kedah and modern institutions including the Royal Malaysian Police and Malaysia–Thailand border checkpoints. The region's landscape, economy and social fabric have been shaped by interactions with neighbors like Penang, Perak, Thailand–Malaysia relations, and transnational flows via ports and air hubs such as Penang International Airport and Sultan Abdul Halim Airport.
The geography of Kedah–Perlis spans the Muda River basin, the Kepala Batas coastal belt, and upland zones adjacent to the Titiwangsa Mountains and Bintang Range. Coastal wetlands and mangrove systems near the Straits of Malacca interface with rice paddies of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority command area, while karst hills like those in Kepala Batas and limestone formations near Gunung Jerai create biodiversity corridors linked to Sungai Petani wetlands and Kuala Perlis estuaries. Proximity to the Thailand Strait and shared waters with Langkawi influence fisheries tied to Malacca Strait shipping lanes and to protected areas administered under national frameworks such as Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The region's soil and hydrology have been central to projects by agencies like the Irrigation and Drainage Department and transboundary initiatives involving ASEAN partners.
Historically, Kedah–Perlis formed part of maritime networks involving the Srivijaya, Champa, and Majapahit polities, with archaeological links to sites documented by scholars working on Malay Annals traditions and Tambralinga chronicles. The Sultanate of Kedah maintained tributary ties with Ayutthaya and later negotiated relations with the British Empire under treaties such as those involving Fitzgerald-era colonial administrators and officials from the East India Company footprint in Penang. The Anglo-Siamese Treaty era affected borders that later involved actors such as Siam and the Anglo-Siamese Convention of 1909. During the World War II period the region experienced occupations linked to forces including the Imperial Japanese Army and resistance tied to groups influenced by Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army networks. Postwar adjustments saw incorporation into the Federation of Malaya and interactions with federal institutions including the Malaysian Parliament and Prime Minister's Department.
Population centers such as Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Kuala Perlis, and Padang Besar reflect demographic mixes composed of ethnic Malays with ties to Aceh and Sumatra migrations, large communities linked to Chinese Malaysians descended from Hakka and Hokkien traders, and indigenous Orang Asli groups with cultural links to wider Austronesian networks noted in research by Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia. Religious landscapes include Kebatinan-influenced Malay Islamic practices under local sultanates, Chinese Buddhist and Taoist temples tied to Hokkien lineages, and Christian congregations connected to denominations such as Methodist Church in Malaysia and Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang. Educational institutions like Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah University and Kolej Matrikulasi Kedah serve diversified populations including migrants from Indonesia and cross-border workers from Thailand.
The economy of Kedah–Perlis combines irrigated rice agriculture managed by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority with manufacturing clusters linked to Sungai Petani Industrial Estate and export-oriented firms that interface with Port of Penang logistics. Tourism anchors include Langkawi connections, heritage sites in Alor Setar, and eco-tourism around Gunung Jerai promoted by agencies such as Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Malaysia). Fisheries landings at Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis connect to markets in Butterworth and Butterworth Wharves, while smallholder commodities include rubber historically tied to British Malaya trade routes and modern palm oil estates associated with companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. Infrastructure investments by federal bodies and development corporations like Kedah State Development Corporation and Perlis State Economic Planning Unit aim to integrate value chains with regional corridors under initiatives comparable to Northern Corridor Economic Region planning.
Administratively, Kedah and Perlis operate as states within Malaysia, each overseen by sultans—the Sultan of Kedah and the Raja of Perlis—with legislative assemblies modeled after procedures in the Dewan Rakyat and interactions with ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia). Political dynamics feature parties such as United Malays National Organisation, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, Democratic Action Party (Malaysia), and coalitions like Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan that contest state elections in constituencies including Alor Setar (federal constituency) and Kedah state constituencies. Law enforcement and border security involve agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Navy for maritime domains and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department at checkpoints like Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Cultural life includes traditional performances such as Mak Yong and local variants of Wayang Kulit, culinary specialties like Nasi Lemak and Laksa Kedah, and artisan crafts maintained by guilds linked to markets in Alor Setar and Kuala Perlis. Festivals include regional observances of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, and harvest celebrations tied to rice cultivation under rites recorded in manuscripts similar to the Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa tradition. Museums such as the Kedah State Museum and institutions like Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara curate histories of sultanates, maritime trade, and textile crafts associated with songket weaving and maritime iconography found in local shrines.
Transport networks encompass federal routes, rail links on lines operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu including the BTS Line connections to Padang Besar customs, and ports such as Port of Kuala Kedah serving ferry services to Langkawi. Air services operate from Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, while cross-border land transit at Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Besar railway station facilitates trade and passenger flows tied to agreements between Malaysia and Thailand. Utilities and telecommunications are delivered through agencies like Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Telekom Malaysia, with infrastructure projects coordinated by federal planners and multilevel agencies including Public Works Department (Malaysia).
Category:Regions of Malaysia