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Kota Bharu

Coordinates: 6°8′N 102°15′E / 6.133°N 102.250°E / 6.133; 102.250
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This article is about the city in Malaysia. For the federal constituency, see Kota Bharu (federal constituency).
"Kota Baru" redirects here. For the provincial capital of Papua, Indonesia, see Jayapura. For the Thai town, see Kota Baru, Thailand.
Kota Bharu
كوت بهارو
State Capital
Tuan Padang roundabout clock tower at Kota Bharu.
Tuan Padang roundabout clock tower at Kota Bharu.
Flag of Kota Bharu
Flag
Nickname(s): 
Bandaraya Islam
The Islamic City
Kota Bharu is located in Malaysia
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Coordinates: 6°8′N 102°15′E / 6.133°N 102.250°E / 6.133; 102.250
Country Malaysia
State Kelantan
District Kota Bharu District
First settled1844
Granted Municipality status1 January 2005
Government
 • PresidentZamri Ismail (Since August 2003)
Area
[1]
 • Total
115.64 km2 (44.65 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total
314,964
 • Density2,700/km2 (7,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postcode
15xxx
Area code+60-09-7
Websitempkbbri.gov.my

Kota Bharu (Jawi: كوت بهارو; Chinese: 哥打峇鲁; occasionally referred to as Kota Baharu) is a city in Malaysia that serves as the state capital and royal seat of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory (jajahan) or district in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies near the mouth of the Kelantan River at 6°8′N 102°15′E / 6.133°N 102.250°E / 6.133; 102.250. The northeastern Malaysian city is close to the Thailand border.

Kota Bharu is home to many mosques, various museums, the unique architecture of the old royal palaces (still occupied by the sultan and sultanah and off-limits to visitors but viewable from outside) and former royal buildings (which can be visited) in the centre of town.

The City is served by Keretapi Tanah Melayu's East Coast Line at the nearby Wakaf Bharu Terminal Station, in the town of Wakaf Bharu across the Kelantan River and Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, located in Pengkalan Chepa.

History

Kota Bharu was founded during the late 19th century. Before the establishment, Kota Bharu was home to Kelantan's Royal Palace, then established by Sultan Muhammad II of Kelantan in 1844 as Kelantan's state capital who wanted the new state capital built in his honour.[3] Prior to this, Kota Bharu was known as Kuala Kelantan. Before Kota Bharu assumed the role, the Kelantanese capital was divided into two which were Kota Kubang Labu and Kota Pengkalan Datu.[4] During the 19th century, Kelantan was a prosperous and populous state with a population of around 30,000 to 50,000 people including a thousand Chinese. Production from within the state include gold, tin ore, black pepper, areca nut, rice, rattan, bamboo, agarwood and songket. Kota Bharu acts as entrepot for goods due to its strategic location beside the Kelantan River.[5]

Pantai Sabak, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from Kota Bharu, was the initial landing point of the Japanese invasion forces on 8 December 1941 in their Malayan campaign, when they successfully engaged the British in jungle warfare[6] and ultimately captured Singapore.

Demographics

The vast majority of Kota Bharu's population is ethnically Kelantanese Malay. The language spoken in Kota Bharu is Bahasa Melayu Kelantan, which is a dialect commonly referred to as "Kelate". There is also a fairly large Chinese, a minority Indian, Siamese and Orang Asli population within the city. The total population of Kota Bharu city as of 2010 is 314,964. [2]

Religion

Kota Bharu city's population is 93% Muslim with the remainder consisting of Buddhists, Hindus and Christians. The indigenous people that reside in the city's outskirts are generally practicing Christians. The predominantly urban local Chinese community mainly practices Buddhism. The local state government is helmed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and thus has pursued a stricter form of Islam in the city and state; Kota Bharu was declared an Islamic City vis-à-vis Kota Bharu Bandaraya Islam. Morality police are common and apprehend people who engage in acts perceived as immoral. The Jawi script is used in street names and restaurants.

Social activities that do not contradict Islamic norms are allowed. Government offices and many stores are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, but the vibrant markets remain open except during Islamic prayer times. The conservative Kelantanese state government under PAS has implemented some Islamic laws. These include switching on lights in cinemas during screening time until cinemas were closed down, separate check-out counters in supermarkets for males and females, and khalwat, the Islamic rule on proximity between males and females.

The Kota Bharu Municipal Council, the local government authority, discourages the use of "indecent attire" by female employees in retail outlets and restaurants.[7] Those who are caught for "dressing indecently" may be fined up to RM 500. The definition of "indecent dressing" includes "body hugging outfits which show off the body, blouses which show the navel, see through blouses, mini-skirts and tight pants."[7]

Culture

Burung Petala Indra, as seen in Padang Bank, Kota Bharu.

The Kelantanese culture is highly distinctive as compared to other state of Malaysia but also with some influences from Thailand due to its geographical proximity. The Chinese and Indians are much more assimilated to local culture than those in other parts of Malaysia. Much of the food is sweet, with rice as the primary staple. Traditional dances like Mak Yong and Wayang Kulit were once widely practised, but are actively suppressed by local authorities because of perceived Hindu influences thought to contradict Islam.

Food

Nasi berlauk, nasi dagang, nasi lemak and nasi kerabu are popular elements of the local cuisine. Sweet cakes, or kuih, are also popular amongst the Kelantanese. Other popular foods include nasi tumpang, etok, apom, akok, lompat tikam, netbak, pisang goreng, and curry puffs.

Climate

Kota Bharu features a tropical monsoon climate bordering on a tropical rainforest climate. Kota Bharu does not have a true dry season although the city experiences noticeably heavier rainfall from August through January. Also, Kota Bharu experiences slightly cooler temperatures between December and February than during the rest of the year, making it one of the most "seasonal" cities in Malaysia. The city sees on average about 2,600 millimetres (100 in) of precipitation annually.

Climate data for Kota Bharu (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.0
(84.2) 		29.9
(85.8) 		31.1
(88.0) 		32.4
(90.3) 		32.7
(90.9) 		32.3
(90.1) 		31.9
(89.4) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.5
(88.7) 		30.8
(87.4) 		29.4
(84.9) 		28.6
(83.5) 		30.9
(87.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.6
(78.1) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.9
(80.4) 		27.8
(82.0) 		28.0
(82.4) 		27.5
(81.5) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.9
(80.4) 		26.7
(80.1) 		26.6
(79.9) 		25.9
(78.6) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.7
(80.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5) 		22.7
(72.9) 		23.1
(73.6) 		23.8
(74.8) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.8
(74.8) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.3
(73.9) 		23.4
(74.1) 		22.9
(73.2) 		22.7
(72.9) 		23.3
(73.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 126.6
(4.98) 		50.1
(1.97) 		90.0
(3.54) 		85.6
(3.37) 		99.1
(3.90) 		122.8
(4.83) 		154.8
(6.09) 		172.3
(6.78) 		202.1
(7.96) 		268.7
(10.58) 		656.1
(25.83) 		571.0
(22.48) 		2,599.2
(102.33)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8 5 6 5 9 9 11 12 14 14.6 20 17 130.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 212.4 227.4 259.2 266.2 240.8 210.5 223.1 214.1 201.4 184.9 141.9 148.3 2,530.2
Source: NOAA[8]

Transportation

Starting from 12th April 2017, Kota Bharu has been provided Grab Car service for 24 hours[9]

Kota Bharu is serviced by Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (IATA: KBR).

In terms of rail transport, the closest station to Kota Bharu will be the Wakaf Bharu station.

Highway 8 is the main highway leading Kota Bharu to the federal capital Kuala Lumpur. Highway 3 connects Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas and the Thailand border in the west, or Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan or even Johor Bahru due south. Connection to Penang is possible via highway 4. The Lebuhraya Rakyat, or People's Expressway, is a planned expressway that is to connect Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai in southern Kelantan. The project has been integrated into the Central Spine Road project (assigned as highway 34), scheduled to be complete by 2020.

Education

Tertiary education

Private schools

Primary and secondary national schools

Shopping

See also: List of shopping malls in Malaysia

The most famous shopping destination in Kota Bharu is Siti Khadijah Market. Most of its sellers are women. Next to Central Market is the Kota Bharu Trade Centre (KBTC) which was opened in August 2009, with Parkson and Giant Hypermarket as the anchor tenants for the mall.

Other shopping centres in Kota Bharu are the KB Mall, Kota Seri Mutiara, Pantai Timur, The Store and the Nirwana Maju (in Bandar Baru Kubang Kerian). A new Tesco hypermarket opened in 2008. In March 2010, the Mydin Mall in Bandar Baru Kubang Kerian opened. AEON Mall in Lembah Sireh opened in April 2016. A new Giant Hypermarket hypermarket located in Bandar Baru Tunjong will be opened by mid-2016,[10]as well as a Mydin store at Al-Waqf Mall in Bandar Baru Tunjong by 2017.

Tourism

Beaches

Strong surf threatens all major beaches in the vicinity of Kota Bharu with substantial erosion. The community has been implementing wave breakers by piling up massive amounts of boulders in an effort to protect the coastline. Regular beach activity has become impossible as visitors frequent beaches further south. In terms of tourism, the most famous beach in Kota Bharu is Pantai Cahaya Bulan.

Wreck diving

Diving in Kota Bharu is a relatively new activity. At present, only one dive shop operates in the area. Trips out to the wreck of the IJN Awazisan Maru (known locally as the "Japanese Invasion Wreck") are among the sites offered. This Japanese transport ship was the very first vessel to sink in the Pacific War. The wreck is a 30-minute boat journey from a jetty which is 10 minutes outside of Kota Bharu.

Notable people

Academician & Corporate Figure
Athletes
Entertainers
Politics
  • World War Memorial, Padang Merdeka
    World War Memorial, Padang Merdeka
  • Istana Jahar
    Istana Jahar
  • Sultan Ismail Petra Arch
    Sultan Ismail Petra Arch
  • Sultan Ismail Petra Airport
    Sultan Ismail Petra Airport
  • Kampung Laut Mosque
    Kampung Laut Mosque
  • Looking north from near the clocktower along Jalan Temenggong in Kota Bharu
    Looking north from near the clocktower along Jalan Temenggong in Kota Bharu
  • Palace of the Sultan of Kelantan, 1912.
    Palace of the Sultan of Kelantan, 1912.
  • 1941 photo of a decoy Lockheed Hudson aircraft at RAF Kota Bharu
    1941 photo of a decoy Lockheed Hudson aircraft at RAF Kota Bharu
  • Bachok Beach
    Bachok Beach
  • KB Mall
    KB Mall

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malaysia

Sister cities

As of 2018, Kota Bharu has one sister city:

References

  1. ^ primuscoreadmin (13 November 2015). "Latar Belakang".
  2. ^ a b "TABURAN PENDUDUK MENGIKUT PBT & MUKIM 2010". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Kota Bharu Municipal Council official website". Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Pusat Internet 1 Malaysia". Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ "The Historical Development of the Malay Peninsula Economic And Malay Society Economic Nature Pre-Colonial Era" (PDF). International Journal of the Malay World and Civilisation. 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ Malaysian Armed Forces Official Website
  7. ^ a b "MPKB:Cover up of else". The Star. 5 December 2006.
  8. ^ "Penang/Bayan Lepas Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Grab Now Provides the Widest Rides Network in Malaysia with its Expansion into Four New Cities - Grab MY". 20 April 2017.
  10. ^ "GCH Retail to upgrade Giant hypermarkets". www.thesundaily.my.
  11. ^ "A giant among men". 15 August 2015.
  12. ^ "友好握手都市＜コタバル市（マレーシア）／モービィロンガコミューン（スウェーデン）＞" (in Japanese). Kasaoka City. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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