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Alor Setar

Alor Setar
City and State Capital
Alor Setar Zahir.jpg
Flag of Alor Setar
Flag
Official seal of Alor Setar
Seal
Nickname(s): AS, Bandaraya Bertamadun
Alor Setar is located in Peninsular Malaysia
Alor Setar
Alor Setar
Location in Peninsular Malaysia
Coordinates: 6°7′N 100°22′E / 6.117°N 100.367°E / 6.117; 100.367
Country Malaysia
State Kedah
Establishment 1735
Granted city status 2003
Government
 • Mayor Dato' Haji Mat Noh Bin Ahmad (new-2011)
Area
 • City and State Capital 160 km2 (60 sq mi)
Elevation 7 m (23 ft)
Population (2010)
 • City and State Capital 405,523
 • Density 1,358.55/km2 (3,518.6/sq mi)
 • Metro 600,000
 • Demonym Alor Setarian
Time zone MST (UTC+8)
 • Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC)
Postal code 05xxx
International dialling code prefix +6047 (landline only)
Website mbas.gov.my

Alor Setar, (Jawi: الور ستار; Tamil:அலோர் ஸ்டார்;Chinese: 亚罗士打; formerly Alor Star from 2004–2008) is a city and the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia; which is the second largest city in the state after Sungai Petani, Kedah (taking over the position in 2010); important cities in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the longest expressway, located 400 km from Kuala Lumpur. The city is home to the Central State Administration Centre and Administrative Centre Kota Setar District in the City of Muadzam Shah and Kedah the royal town of Bandar Anak Bukit.

Alor Setar is unique for Malaysia because the government sector and schools in 'tip of Malaysia' city here operate from Sunday to Thursday every week, which is different from neighbouring states.

Its location along the main travel route from Malaysia to Thailand has long made it a major transportation hub in the northern Malay Peninsula. At present, the city covers a land area of 666 square kilometres, which is occupied by more than 300,000 inhabitants (as per the 2010 census). At the local government level, Alor Setar is administered by the Alor Setar City Council.

The city is served by the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, which began operations in 2006. The airport is not served by any commercial international flights; however, during the Haj season, there are special flights available for Muslim pilgrims journeying to Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj. The city is connected to other parts of Peninsular Malaysia by the North-South Expressway, the Shahab Perdana Bus Station and the Alor Setar railway station. The city's Kuala Kedah Jetty is served by ferries linking the city with the popular resort island of Langkawi.

Alor Setar is the birthplace of two Prime Ministers, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister.


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