Langkawi

Langkawi Permata Kedah (Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah)
Motto: Bandaraya Pelancongan (English: City of Tourism)
Langkawi Permata Kedah (Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah) Location of Langkawi
Coordinates: 6°21′N 99°48′E
Country	Malaysia
State	Kedah
Establishment	1957
Granted municipal status	2001
Government
• Yang Di-Pertua (Mayor)	Abdul Aziz bin Hj. Abd Ghani
Area
• City	478.5 km2 (184.7 sq mi)
Population
• City	64,792
• Density	Bad rounding here140/km2 (Bad rounding here350/sq mi)
• Metro	64,792
Time zone	MST (UTC+8)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed (UTC)
Postal code	07xxx
International dialling code prefix	+6049 (landline only)
Website	http://mplbp.gov.my

Map of Langkawi

Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (Malay: Langkawi Permata 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. On July 15, 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah had consented to the change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee Celebration. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of some 64,792, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Langkawi is also an administrative district with the town of Kuah as largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island.

Etymology

Langkawi means reddish brown eagle in colloquial Malay. The Malay word for eagle is helang - which is shortened to "lang". Kawi means the colour reddish brown.^{[citation needed]} It was given the title of "Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah" in 2008 by Kedah's Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah as part of his golden jubilee to impress on tourists that it was part of Kedah.

History

Langkawi was traditionally thought to be cursed. However, in 1986 then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad decided to transform it into a tourist resort, helping to plan many of the islands buildings himself.

PHUKET: In the 1930s, the Thai government used the Andaman island of Tarutao as a prison to incarcerate the country’s most undesirable criminals. When the Japanese Imperial Army brought the Second World War to the footsteps of the kingdom in December of 1941, the Thai government under Field Marshall Phibun Songkram sided with the invaders against the allied forces (click here for article of Thailand’s paradisal prison).

To a certain extent Phibun admired the Japanese and sympathized with their cause. In return for Thailand’s friendship and cooperation, the Japanese had promised to return Thai territories that had been seceded to Britain and France during the late 19th century. When British Malaya fell to the Japanese invaders in 1941, four Malay states, Terenganu, Kedah, Kelantan and Perlis, which used to be under Thai dominion, were returned to Thailand as promised by the Japanese.

Most of the information hereafter is based on a book written by Pongpol Adireksarn, a well-known Thai politician and author of several novels based on Thai history. Better known amongst westerners by his pseudonym Paul Adirex, in 1994 Pongpol wrote a book called The Pirates of Tarutao, based on actual events that happened in the penal colony during the Second World War.

From 1942 onwards many allied prisoners of war were imprisoned on Tarutao Island on orders from the Japanese. Before the war started, food and supplies were regularly shipped to Tarutao from the mainland to sustain the prisoners and the wardens. When war broke out the British navy aggressively blockaded the Malay Peninsula, sinking any ships that dared to deliver supplies to their enemy. As the war dragged on supplies on Tarutao Island began to diminish. Food and medical rations were reduced. Prisoners of war, common criminals and wardens, began to starve alike. The prison system soon began to break down.

During that time there may have been more than 10,000 inmates detained on Tarutao Island. According to Pongpol many high profile political prisoners had already been removed from the island and transferred to Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand, for fear that they may be liberated if the British captured Tarutao.

Out of hunger and desperation, the remaining prisoners took to begging from boats that carried supplies past the island. Guards and inmates were on their own fighting for survival. The number of deaths from starvation and malaria continued to grow day by day.

As the situation continued to worsen and it became clear that simply begging from passing boats was not going to sustain them for long, several inmates banded together and turned to piracy. Initially the inmates attacked boats in order to steal food and medical supplies.

But when it became apparent that the naval powers were too busy fighting each other to safeguard the high seas, the pirates became more audacious and violent. Many more inmates and even prison guards took to piracy. Soon they began to attack ships indiscriminately, stealing all the cargo that the vessels carried. The prolonged war had carved out a huge black market for goods that were in short supply all over the region. As they attacked the passing vessels, the pirates would plunder them of their valuable cargo. Often they would murder the passengers and crews. The boats were then set on fire and sunk to the depths of the sea.

The beautiful landscape of the island; coasts, estuaries, creeks, rivers and narrow channels served to conceal the deadly marauders. According to reports from passing vessels, travellers soon began to fear for their own safety when passing the archipelago as vicious rumors of pirate attacks began to spread throughout the region. Ships that traveled between Penang, Satun and Kantang were vulnerable when they came close enough to Tarutao Island. The pirates also began setting up land bases on Langkawi Island, just south of Tarutao, using motorboats as well as sailboats to intercept merchant vessels.

The war in the Pacific ended in September 1945. After Japan surrendered to the allies, peace returned to the high seas and blockades were lifted as Malaya and Singapore returned to British rule. During this time several merchants in Penang began to lodge complaints with the British Navy about the unabated piracy problem in the Andaman Sea.

Between December 1945 and March 1946, the British Navy launched a large-scale operation to clear the Strait of Malacca of its pirate infestation. At first the British simply used patrol boats to accompany merchant ships along the trade route. But they soon began to actively intercept pirates on the high seas and engage them. British efforts soon drove the pirates back to their bases on Tarutao and Langkawi Islands. In March 1946 the Thai and British navies conducted a joint operation and raided the penal colony of Tarutao.

According to Pongpol, three warships and over 300 troops stormed Tarutao Island in order to arrest the inmates and prison guards that were suspected of piracy during the war years. The raid turned violent and many pirates died in the ensuing fight.

When the joint British-Thai forces managed to secure the island again, order was restored and the inmates were returned to their former prison conditions. A new prison governor was also appointed to manage the prison. The penal colony would survive for another year or so.

In 1947, the Tarutao penal colony was formally closed down. For decades after that the island would remain deserted. The thick tropical forest soon grew to assimilate the prison facilities, the cells, the offices and the kitchens. It would be years before backpackers would venture out to find Tarutao Island again, and put it on the tourist map. By then most of the physical evidence of its horrific past had been erased by nature, leaving behind a clean slate to start over for what would become a very different future for Tarutao Island.

Geography

Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands separated from mainland Malaysia by the Straits of Malacca, is a district of the state of Kedah in Northern Malaysia and lies approximately 51 km west of Kedah. The total land mass of the islands is 47,848 hectares, while the main island of Langkawi itself has a total of 32,000 hectares. The main island spans about 25 km from north to south and slightly more for east and west. The coastal areas consist of flat, alluvial plains punctuated with limestone ridges. Two-thirds of the island is dominated by forest-covered mountains, hills and natural vegetation.^{[citation needed]}

The island's oldest geological formation, Gunung Matchincang, was the first part of South-East Asia to rise from the seabed in the Cambrian period more than half a billion years ago. The oldest part of the formation is observable at Teluk Datai to the north-west of the island, where the exposed outcrop consists of mainly sandstone (quartzite) in the upper parts and shale and mudstone in the lower parts of the sequence.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

Langkawi receives more than 2,400 mm (94 in) of rain annually. Langkawi has a true dry season from December until February while March to November is a long raining season. August is the wettest month, when it normally receives more than 500 mm (20 in).

Langkawi average rainfall statistics can be found at Annual Mean Rainfall Locations In Malaysia 2013

Climate data for Langkawi Precipitation In 2013 (Mean Rainfall : 2002-2012)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Precipitation mm (inches)	1.4 (0.055)	78 (3.07)	97 (3.82)	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rainfall mm (inches)	18.9 (0.744)	42.4 (1.669)	239.6 (9.433)	187.1 (7.366)	204.2 (8.039)	201 (7.91)	241.8 (9.52)	502.1 (19.768)	314.1 (12.366)	272.1 (10.713)	238.9 (9.406)	71.7 (2.823)	2,533.9 (99.757)
Source: Malaysian Meteorological Department

Climate data for Langkawi Precipitation In 2012
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Precipitation mm (inches)	37 (1.46)	152.8 (6.016)	160.8 (6.331)	228.6 (9)	195.4 (7.693)	51 (2.01)	317.6 (12.504)	286.6 (11.283)	301.8 (11.882)	260.6 (10.26)	272.8 (10.74)	61.6 (2.425)	2,326.6 (91.604)
Source: Malaysian Meteorological Department

Climate data for Langkawi Precipitation In 2011
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Precipitation mm (inches)	4.8 (0.189)	5.2 (0.205)	430 (16.93)	113.2 (4.457)	168.8 (6.646)	233.6 (9.197)	140.8 (5.543)	693 (27.28)	426.2 (16.78)	225.4 (8.874)	90.4 (3.559)	46.4 (1.827)	2,577.8 (101.487)
Source: Malaysian Meteorological Department

Principle Meteorological Station - Langkawi

Year	Rainfall
2012	2,326.6 mm (91.60 in)
2011	2,577.8 mm (101.49 in)
2010	2,398.2 mm (94.42 in)
2009	2,801.4 mm (110.29 in)
2008	2,343.3 mm (92.26 in)
2007	2,643.8 mm (104.09 in)
2006	2,960.6 mm (116.56 in)
2005	2,697.6 mm (106.20 in)
2004	1,822.7 mm (71.76 in)
2003	3,166.7 mm (124.67 in)
2002	2,135.6 mm (84.08 in)
Source	Department Of Statistics Malaysia

Demographics

Islam is practised primarily by ethnic Malays. Other major religions are Hinduism (mainly among Indians), Buddhism (mainly among Chinese and Thai) and Christianity (mostly Chinese).

Only four of the 99 islands are inhabited - Pulau Langkawi (the main island), Pulau Tuba, Pulau Rebak and Pulau Dayang Bunting. The population is approximately 99000 of which 90% are Malays. The other ethnic groups consist mainly of Chinese, Indians and Thais.

Politics

Federal Parliament

Langkawi district representatives in the Federal Parliament of Malaysia (Dewan Rakyat):

Parliament	Seat Name	Member of Parliament	Party
P4	Langkawi	YB.Datuk Paduka Abu Bakar bin Taib	Barisan Nasional (BN)

State Assembly Seats

List of Langkawi district representatives in the State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri)

Parliament	State	Seat Name	State Assemblyman	Party
P4	N1	Ayer Hangat	YB Mohd. Rawi Abdul Hamid	Barisan Nasional (BN)
P4	N2	Kuah	YB Dato' IR Nawawi Ahmad	Barisan Nasional (BN)

Economy

An agro-based economy of padi and rubber cultivation and fisheries is fast being overtaken by a tourism-driven economy, taking into consideration the natural, unspoiled, ecological beauty of the island and major governmental emphasis.^{[citation needed]}

The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) development program is a Malaysia Government initiative to accelerate economic growth in the north of Peninsular Malaysia – encompassing the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and the north of Perak.

The target for NCER is to achieve increased tourism receipts per visitor from MYR1,890 (US$600) in 2005 to MYR3,034 (US$963) by 2012.

Annual tourist expenditure is targeted to increase from MYR9.0 billion (US$2.86 billion) in 2005 to MYR21.8 billion (US$6.9 billion) in 2012 and MYR64.5 billion (US$20.4 billion) in 2020.

Tourism

The Langkawi Sky Bridge above the rainforest canopy

On June 1, 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO. Three of its main conservation areas in Langkawi Geopark are Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest park (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake). These three parks are the most popular tourism area within Langkawi Geopark.

The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park (The Kilim River)

This area actually consists of three river estuaries that stretch from the Kisap village approximately 10 km to Tanjung Rhu and they are all interconnected. They are rich in wildlife and tourists may see hairy nosed sea otters, brown winged kingfishers, monitor lizards and swimming macaque monkeys. Limestone, inherently porous, forms caves and there are several in the mangroves. One of Langkawi's natural beauty spots is the Pirate Lagoon just outside the river. Technically this is a collapsed cave (hong) consisting of a cave entrance from the sea emerging into a hidden lagoon with towering, limestone escarpments and smaller caves.^{[citation needed]}

Langkawi Islands

There are two island areas: the Southern Islands, with a heavy tourist population and the islands to the north east which are more secluded without tourist traffic. Langun Island has a fresh-water lake like Pregnant Maiden Lake only without the tourists and has Sand Spit Beach on its south-facing orientation. Dendang Island next to it forms a bay popular with Langkawi sailing yacht tour operators who favour the area for its natural beauty and peace.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the most popular beaches are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Burau Bay, Pantai Kok, and Datai Bay. Pantai Cenang is a picturesque beach with seemingly unending stretches of fine white sand. It has numerous restaurants and bars for evening entertainment, several hosting live music and for watching the sun set. The beach is contoured by tall coconuts and casuarinas. Pantai Tengah is separated from Cenang by a small cape. It too faces the setting sun and is populated more by hotels than bars, making it less busy in the evening. Burau Bay, fringed by rocky outcrops, is the favorite place of migratory birds in Langkawi. Pantai Kok is a peaceful beach with the backdrop of limestone hills. Datai Bay has a combination of forests and sea. The milky beach is backed by lush forest.

The Langkawi Cable Car takes visitors up to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang, where the Langkawi Sky Bridge is located.

Tourists can enter the island via ferry from Kuala Perlis or by flight from Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia and Fireflyz provides budget connection to the island.

Transportation

The island of Langkawi can be reached by sea and air. The Langkawi Jetty Point connects the island to main destinations like Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah, George Town, Penang and Tamalang. There's also ferry service to Satun town and to Ko Lipe island in Thailand. The Langkawi International Airport is one of 7 international airports in Malaysia and connects the island to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Penang, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Phuket and also Subang. On the island, a main road runs through the whole island.

Education

SMK Mahsuri

Secondary

• SMK Ayer Hangat
• SMK Kedawang
• SMK Kelibang
• SMK Langkawi Pulau Tuba
• SMK Mahsuri
• SMK Tunku Putra
• SM Teknik Langkawi
• Maktab Mahmud Langkawi
• Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Langkawi (owned by MARA, a development agency of the government of Malaysia)

Tertiary

• Kolej Komuniti Langkawi

See also

• Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show

Image gallery

• 

  Laman Padi Langkawi

• 

  Langkawi Crocodile Farm

• 

  Langkawi Craft and Cultural Complex

• 

  Langkawi Eagle Square

• 

  Beach monkey at Beras Basah Island

• 

  Beach monkey at Beras Basah Island

• 

  Sunset at Cenang Island on Langkawi, Malaysia.

• 

  Machinchang Range towards Thailand and Pantai Cenang.

Sister cities

• Kish Island, Iran (since 2009)

External links

• Langkawi travel guide from Wikivoyage