Langkawi
Encyclopedia
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.
. The Malay word for eagle is helang - shortened is "lang". Kawi means the colour reddish brown. 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.
ridges. Two-thirds of the island is dominated by forest-covered mountains, hills and natural vegetation.
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.
is practised primarily by the 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
.
Langkawi district representatives in the Federal Parliament (Dewan Rakyat)
List of Langkawi district representatives in the State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri
)
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.
To enhance Langkawi’s position as a world-class tourist destination,the NCER is working to attract further world-class hotels and holiday resorts to the island.
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.
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 10km to Tanjung Rhu and they are all interconnected. They are rich in wild life 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. In the days when Kedah formed the gateway into China for the silk route, pirates on Langkawi used these caves to secure their profits.
Pregnant Maiden Lake
Pregnant Maiden lake lies on Dayang Bunting Island and is an extremely popular tourist attraction playing host to thousands of tourists a day. With most of the resorts and budget accommodation more readily accessible to the Southern islands this area receives the bulk of pressure from exploitative tourism.
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 form a spectacular bay popular with Langkawi sailing yacht tour operators who favour the area for its natural beauty and peace.
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 connections to the island.
, Kuala Kedah
, George Town, Penang
and Tamalang (also nearby towns in Thailand). The Langkawi International Airport
is one of the 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.
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
: Langkawi Permata Kedah) is an archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of 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...
, which is adjacent to the Thai
Thailand
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...
border. On July 15, 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim 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...
had consented to the change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
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
Districts of Malaysia
Districts in Malaysia are known as Daerah or Jajahan . A district governed directly by the federal government is known as a Federal Territory, and they are Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan....
with the town of Kuah
Kuah
Kuah is a town and district capital of Langkawi, Kedah, and is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which brings in flocks of tourists each year who come to enjoy the shopping and other attractions of Langkawi...
as largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island.
Etymology
Langkawi means reddish brown eagle in colloquial MalayMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
. The Malay word for eagle is helang - shortened is "lang". Kawi means the colour reddish brown. 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
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
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.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 limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
ridges. Two-thirds of the island is dominated by forest-covered mountains, hills and natural vegetation.
The island's oldest geological formation, Gunung Matchincang, was the first part of South-East Asia to rise from the seabed
Seabed
The seabed is the bottom of the ocean.- Ocean structure :Most of the oceans have a common structure, created by common physical phenomena, mainly from tectonic movement, and sediment from various sources...
in the Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
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
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
, where the exposed outcrop consists of mainly sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
(quartzite) in the upper parts and shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
and mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
in the lower parts of the sequence.
Demographics
IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is practised primarily by the Malays. Other major religions are Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
(mainly among Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
), Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
(mainly among Chinese and Thai
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
) and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
(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
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
, Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
and Thais
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
.
Federal Parliament
Langkawi district representatives in the Federal Parliament (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
Dewan Undangan Negeri
A state legislative assembly is the legislature of each of the 13 Malaysian states. Members of a state legislative assembly comprises elected representatives from single-member constituencies during state elections through the first-past-the-post system....
)
| 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.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.
To enhance Langkawi’s position as a world-class tourist destination,the NCER is working to attract further world-class hotels and holiday resorts to the island.
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
On June 1, 2007, Langkawi Island has been given a World GeoparkInternational Network of Geoparks
The Global Geoparks Network is a UNESCO programme established in 1998. Managed under the body’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division, the GGN seeks the promotion and conservation of the planet’s geological heritage, as well as encourages the sustainable research and development by the concerned...
status by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. 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 10km to Tanjung Rhu and they are all interconnected. They are rich in wild life 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. In the days when Kedah formed the gateway into China for the silk route, pirates on Langkawi used these caves to secure their profits.
Pregnant Maiden Lake
Pregnant Maiden lake lies on Dayang Bunting Island and is an extremely popular tourist attraction playing host to thousands of tourists a day. With most of the resorts and budget accommodation more readily accessible to the Southern islands this area receives the bulk of pressure from exploitative tourism.
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 form a spectacular bay popular with Langkawi sailing yacht tour operators who favour the area for its natural beauty and peace.
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
Langkawi Cable Car
The Langkawi Cable Car or Panorama Langkawi Cable Car is one of the major attractions in Langkawi Island, Kedah, Malaysia. It provides an aerial link from near Burau Bay Resort at Teluk Burau to the peak of Gunung Machinchang, which is also the location of the Langkawi Sky Bridge. The total length is...
takes visitors up to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang, where the Langkawi Sky Bridge
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Langkawi Sky Bridge is a curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia. It is located above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang on Pulau Langkawi, an island in the Langkawi archipelago in Kedah. The last scene of Indian movie Don: The Chase Begins Again was filmed here. The Langkawi...
is located.
Tourists can enter the island via ferry from Kuala Perlis or by flight from Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia
AirAsia
AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost...
and Fireflyz provides budget connections to the island.
Transportation
The island of Langkawi can be reached through sea and air. The Langkawi Jetty Point connects the island to main destinations like Kuala PerlisKuala Perlis
Kuala Perlis is the second largest town and the main port of Perlis in Malaysia. It is in extreme northwest Peninsular Malaysia, near the border with Thailand. The older part of town has houses and mosques built on stilts over mangrove swamps....
, Kuala Kedah
Kuala Kedah
Kuala Kedah is a town and parliamentary constituency in Kedah, Malaysia. It is a fishing port, located at the mouth of the Kedah River, and serves as a terminus for ferries to the tourist island of Langkawi...
, George Town, Penang
George Town, Penang
George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
and Tamalang (also nearby towns in Thailand). The Langkawi International Airport
Langkawi International Airport
Langkawi International Airport , is an airport situated on the duty-free island of Langkawi in the state of Kedah in Malaysia. The airport is located at Padang Matsirat and is about 25 minutes of driving from the town centre, Kuah...
is one of the 7 international airports in Malaysia and connects the island to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, 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...
, 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...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Phuket and also Subang. On the island, a main road runs through the whole island.
Secondary
- SMK Ayer Hangat
- SMK Kedawang
- SMK Kelibang
- SMK Langkawi Pulau Tuba
- SMK MahsuriSMK MahsuriSMK Mahsuri or officially, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Mahsuri, is a public secondary school in the centre of Kuah, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Its students study for the Malaysian Certificate of Education. The school's motto is "Berusaha, Berjaya"....
- SMK Tunku Putra
- SM Teknik Langkawi
- Maktab Mahmud Langkawi
- Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Langkawi