Terengganu (;
Terengganu Malay
Terengganu Malay ( ms, Bahasa Melayu Terengganu; Terengganu Malay: ) is a Malayic language spoken in the Malaysian state of Terengganu all the way southward to coastal Pahang and northeast Johor. It is the native language of Terengganu Malays an ...
: ''Tranung'',
Jawi: ), formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu, is a
sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
ate and
constitutive state of federal
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l-
Īmān'' ("Abode of Faith"). The coastal city of
Kuala Terengganu
, image_seal = Seal of Kuala Terengganu City Council.png
, image_flag = Flag of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.svg
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right:The Crystal Mosq ...
, which stands at the mouth of the broad
Terengganu River
The Terengganu River ( ms, Sungai Terengganu) is a river in Terengganu, Malaysia. Originated from Lake Kenyir, it flows through the state capital of Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, and flows into the South China Sea. It is bridged by the Sultan Mahm ...
, is both the state and royal capital as well as the largest city in Terengganu. There are many islands located close to the coast of Terengganu state, such as
Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian Islands (Malay: ''Kepulauan Perhentian'') are islands in Besut District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Greater Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Lesser Perhentian"). The small, uninhabited is ...
and
Redang Island
Redang Island ( ms, Pulau Redang / 中文:热浪岛) is an island in Kuala Nerus District, Terengganu, Malaysia. It is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and as well as one of the most beautiful islands in the ...
.
Etymology
There are several theories on the origin of the name "Terengganu". One theory attributes the name's origin to ''terang ganu'',
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
for 'bright
rainbow
A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows c ...
'.
Another story, said to have been originally narrated by the ninth
Sultan of Terengganu
Sultan of Terengganu () is the title of the constitutional head of Terengganu state in Malaysia. The current Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is the 18th sultan and 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 2006 to 2011. He is the head ...
,
Baginda Omar, tells of a party of
hunters
Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/antler, et ...
from
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
roving and hunting in the area of what is now southern Terengganu. One of the hunters spotted a big
animal fang lying on the ground. A fellow party member asked to which animal did the fang belong. The hunter, not knowing which animal, simply answered ''taring anu'' (Malay: 'fang of something'). The party later returned to Pahang with a rich hoard of game, fur and sandalwood, which impressed their neighbours. They asked the hunters where did they source their riches, to which they replied, from the land of ''taring anu'', which later evolved into Terengganu.
Terengganu was called Trangkanu ( th, ตรังกานู) by the Siamese when it was under their influence. Terengganuans usually pronounce Terengganu as Tranung or Ganu with the G often being emphasized.
Chinese naming
The traditional
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
name for Terengganu has been "丁加奴" (
Pinyin
Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...
: dīngjiānú), which is a direct transcription of the Malay name. However, in recent years, the Chinese community in Terengganu has raised objections to the name, citing that the characters used loosely translate to "giving birth to a child who will become a slave" (Chinese: 添丁加做奴). Therefore, they successfully petitioned the regulatory commission for Chinese language in Malaysia to change the Chinese name for the state to "登嘉楼" (Pinyin: dēngjiālóu), which can be loosely translated to "aspiring/stepping up to a higher level", in September 2004. It is worth noting, however, that the new name was in unofficial use by the state's Chinese community for at least 30 years before its official adoption.
Certain segments of the Chinese community opposed the name change, citing the fact that the new name contains too many character strokes, making it much more difficult to write. They have proposed to revert the name to the version used before 2004, but with the word "奴" (slave, which was mainly the cause of the controversy) to the similar sounding, but more positive "努" (perseverance).
History
Hindu-Buddhist Era
Terengganu's location by the
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
ensured that it was on trade routes since ancient times. The earliest written reports on the area that is now Terengganu were by
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
merchants and seafarers in the early 6th century A.D. Like other Malay states, Terengganu practised a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
–
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
culture combined with
animist
Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, Soul, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct Spirituality, spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—Animal, animals, Plant, plants, Ro ...
traditional beliefs for hundreds of years before the arrival of
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
. Under the influence of
Srivijaya
Srivijaya ( id, Sriwijaya) was a Buddhist thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia), which influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important centre for the expansion of Buddhism from the 7th t ...
, Terengganu traded extensively with the
Majapahit
Majapahit ( jv, ꦩꦗꦥꦲꦶꦠ꧀; ), also known as Wilwatikta ( jv, ꦮꦶꦭ꧀ꦮꦠꦶꦏ꧀ꦠ; ), was a Javanese people, Javanese Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia that was ba ...
Empire, the
Khmer Empire and especially the Chinese.
Medieval Era
Terengganu was the first Malay state to receive Islam, as attested to by the
Terengganu Inscription Stone
Terengganu Inscription Stone ( ms, Batu Bersurat Terengganu; Jawi: باتو برسورت ترڠݢانو) is a granite stele carrying Classical Malay inscription in Jawi script that was found in Terengganu, Malaysia. The inscription, dated poss ...
with Arabic inscriptions found in
Kuala Berang
Kuala Berang (est. pop. : 18764)Dept. of Urban and Rural Planning, Terengganu State Government. ''Rancangan Struktur Negeri Terengganu 2005-2015'' (Malay), 2005 is the seat and largest town of Hulu Terengganu District, Terengganu, Malaysia. The ...
, the capital of the district of
Hulu Terengganu
Hulu Terengganu (Upper Terengganu) is an interior district of Terengganu, Malaysia. The seat of the district is Kuala Berang, located about from the state capital, Kuala Terengganu. The local government of this district is Hulu Terengganu Distri ...
. The inscribed date which is incomplete due to damage can be read as various dates from 702 to 789 AH (1303 to 1387 CE). Terengganu became a
vassal
A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain. W ...
state of
Malacca
Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site si ...
, but retained considerable autonomy with the emergence of
Johor Sultanate
The Johor Sultanate ( ms, Kesultanan Johor or ; also called the Sultanate of Johor, Johor-Pahang, or the Johor Empire) was founded by Malaccan Sultan Mahmud Shah's son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528. Johor was part of the Malaccan ...
.
![Mao Kun map - Songkla, Langkasuka, Kelantan, Trengganu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Mao_Kun_map_-_Songkla%2C_Langkasuka%2C_Kelantan%2C_Trengganu.png)
Terengganu emerged as an independent
sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
ate in 1724. The first sultan was Tun Zainal Abidin, the younger brother of a former sultan of
Johor
Johor (; ), also spelled as Johore, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. Johor has land borders with the Malaysian states of Pahang to the north and Malacca and Negeri Sembilan ...
, and Johor strongly influenced Terengganu politics through the 18th century. However, in the book ''
Tuhfat al-Nafis
''Tuhfat al-Nafis'' (; English: The Precious Gift) is a work of Malay literature written by the Bugis Raja Ali Haji in Jawi in around 1866–1870. who is of Malay-Bugis descent. It records and chronicles events, especially those of the 19th c ...
'', the author, Raja Ali Haji, mentions that in the year 1708, Tun Zainal Abidin was installed as the Sultan of Terengganu by Daeng Menampuk - also known as Raja Tua - under the rule of Sultan
Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah
Paduka Sri Sultan Sulaiman Badr ul-‘Alam Shah Khalifat ul-Muminim ibni Almarhum Sultan ‘Abdu’l Jalil Ri’ayat Shah (11 November 1699 – 20 August 1760) was the 12th Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Johor and Pahang and their dependenci ...
.
In the 19th century, Terengganu became a vassal state of the Thai
Rattanakosin Kingdom, and sent tribute every year called ''
bunga mas
The bunga emas dan perak ( "golden and silver flowers", th, ต้นไม้เงินต้นไม้ทอง ), often abbreviated to bunga mas ( Jawi: "golden flowers"), was a tribute sent every three years to the king of Ayutthaya ( ...
''. This occurred under the reign of
Sultan Omar Riayat Shah, who was remembered as a devout ruler who promoted trade and stable government. Terengganu prospered, and was largely left alone by the authorities in
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
unlike in neighbouring Patani and Kelantan. The period also witnessed the existence of a Terengganuan vassal of
Besut Darul Iman
The Kingdom of Besut Darul Iman ( ms, Kerajaan Besut Darul Iman; Jawi:كراجأن بسوت دارالايمان) was a historical Malay Kingdom located in the northeastern coast of the Malay Peninsula, precursor of the present-day Besut Di ...
.
Modern Era
The terms of the
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 saw power over Terengganu transferred from Siam to
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
. A British advisor was appointed to the sultan in 1919, and Terengganu become one of the
Unfederated Malay States
The term Unfederated Malay States () was the collective name given to five British protected states in the Malay peninsula in the first half of the twentieth century. These states were Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. In contras ...
. The move was highly unpopular locally, and in 1928 the British used military force to suppress a popular uprising.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
occupied Terengganu and transferred sovereignty over the state back to Siam, which had been renamed Thailand in 1939, along with
Kelantan
Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode").
Kelantan is located in the ...
,
Kedah
Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area ...
, and
Perlis
Perlis, ( Northern Malay: ''Peghelih''), also known by its honorific title Perlis Indera Kayangan, is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. Located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, it borders the Thai provinces o ...
. After the defeat of Japan, British control over these Malay states was reestablished. Terengganu became a member of the
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya ( ms, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu; Jawi script, Jawi: ) was a federation of what previously had been British Malaya comprising eleven states (nine Malay states and two of the British Empire, British Straits Settlements, P ...
in 1948, then a state of a sovereign Malaya in 1957, which became Malaysia in 1963.
Following decades of rule by the
Barisan Nasional
The National Front ( ms, Barisan Nasional; abbrev: BN) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1973 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties. It is also the third largest political coalition with 30 se ...
coalition, the
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party
The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS; ms, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia; ms, ڤرتي إسلام سمليسيا, label=Jawi alphabet, Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset) is an Islamist political party in Malaysia. As the party focused on Islamic fundamen ...
(PAS) came to power in
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...
, making Terengganu the second state in Malaysia to be ruled by the Islamist party (the first being neighbouring Kelantan). Terengganu was recaptured in the
2004 Malaysian general election
A general election was held on Sunday, 21 March 2004 for members of the 11th Parliament of Malaysia. Voting took place in all 219 parliamentary constituencies of Malaysia, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant ...
by the Barisan Nasional, which continued to govern it until the
2018 Malaysian general election
The 2018 Malaysian General Election, formally known as the 14th Malaysian General Election (), was held on Wednesday, 9 May 2018, for members of the 14th Parliament of Malaysia. At stake were all 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat (the legislature' ...
.
Geography
Terengganu is situated in eastern
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...
, and is bordered in the northwest by
Kelantan
Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode").
Kelantan is located in the ...
, the southwest by
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
, and the east by the
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
. Several outlying islands, including
Pulau Perhentian
The Perhentian Islands (Malay language, Malay: ''Kepulauan Perhentian'') are islands in Besut District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Greater Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Lesser Perhentian"). The small ...
,
Pulau Kapas and
Pulau Redang, are also a part of the state. The state has a total area of .
Politics and government
Constitution
The Constitution of Terengganu came into force in 1911. It has a supplement that came into force in 1959. The official English title for the 1911 constitution is "The Constitution of the Way of Illustrious Sovereignty". The 1959 constitutional supplement is divided into two sections. The sections' official English language titles are "The Laws of the Constitution of Terengganu (First Part)" and "The Laws of the Constitution of Terengganu (Second Part)"
The Sultan of Terengganu
The Sultan is the constitutional ruler of the state of Terengganu. The State Constitution proclaims that the Sultan is "the Ruler and fountain head of all authority of government in the State and Territory of Terengganu", the Head of the Religion of Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignities in the state. He is also vested with the Executive Power of the State. The hereditary Sultan of Terengganu since 1998 has been Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Regency
As per both the Malaysian and state constitutions, the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The of ...
or King of Malaysia cannot simultaneously reign as federal Head of State and ruler of his own state. This means that a state ruler must appoint a
regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
to govern in his absence. Between 2006 and 2011, the current Sultan served as the 13th King of Malaysia, naming his eldest son and heir apparent,
Tengku Muhammad Ismail
Tengku Muhammad Ismail ibni Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (born 1 March 1998) is the ''Yang di-Pertuan Muda'' (Crown Prince) of Terengganu. He is the son of the current Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and Sultanah Nur Zahirah,the ...
, as Regent (''Pemangku Raja'') of Terengganu. As he was only eight years old upon his father's election, the young Prince co-reigned with a three-member Regency Advisory Council (''Majlis Penasihat Pemangku Raja'') headed by Raja Tengku Baderulzaman (the King's younger brother) as dictated by ''syarat (2) Fasal 16 AA Undang-Undang Bagi Diri Kerajaan Terengganu (Bab Yang Kedua)'' of the Terengganu State Constitution.
Chief Ministers
When Terengganu was an absolute monarchy, the Chief Minister was selected by the Sultan. Since the declaration of independence of Malaysia ''(then called Tanah Melayu)'' and the first general election, the Chief Minister has been the State Assembly (ADUN) member elected by a majority of all State Assembly members, who are themselves elected by universal adult suffrage of the citizens of their constituencies. Below is the list of the Chief Ministers of Terengganu from 1925.
Note:* The state Government formed by
PAS after the
general election in 1959 was turned over to
Perikatan in Nov 1961, due to a
vote of no confidence
A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...
in the State Assembly and the fact that two
PAS assemblymen switched parties
2008 Menteri Besar appointment crisis
Following the ruling party UMNO's return to power over Terengganu after winning 24 out of 32 seats in the
2008 general elections,
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
(PM)
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi ( Jawi: عبد الله بن احمد بدوي; born 26 November 1939) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia from October 2003 to April 2009. He was also the sixth president of ...
put forth the reappointment of Datuk Seri
Idris Jusoh
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Idris bin Jusoh ( Jawi: إدريس بن جوسوه; born 15 November 1955) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) since May 2020. He served as the Minis ...
to a second term as
Menteri Besar
In Malaysia, the Menteri Besar ( Jawi:منتري بسر; literally ''First Minister''), colloquially referred to as MB, is the head of government of each of nine states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For four states without a monarch, the t ...
. In what political analysts described as a possible
constitutional crisis
In political science, a constitutional crisis is a problem or conflict in the function of a government that the political constitution or other fundamental governing law is perceived to be unable to resolve. There are several variations to this d ...
, trouble began to precipitate after the
Sultan of Terengganu
Sultan of Terengganu () is the title of the constitutional head of Terengganu state in Malaysia. The current Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is the 18th sultan and 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 2006 to 2011. He is the head ...
, Tuanku
Mizan Zainal Abidin
Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ; born 22 January 1962) is the 18th and current Sultan of Terengganu. He served as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, th ...
, who is also the then
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The of ...
(King) of Malaysia refused to re-appoint and swear in Idris as Menteri Besar. Similar problems occurred in the state of
Perlis
Perlis, ( Northern Malay: ''Peghelih''), also known by its honorific title Perlis Indera Kayangan, is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. Located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, it borders the Thai provinces o ...
where the PM's choice was also rejected, in which the latter eventually gave in to its Sultan.
The
Sultan of Terengganu
Sultan of Terengganu () is the title of the constitutional head of Terengganu state in Malaysia. The current Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is the 18th sultan and 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 2006 to 2011. He is the head ...
appointed
Ahmad Said
Ahmed Said or Ahmad Said may refer to:
*Ahmad Said (politician), Malay politician and member of the Legislative Assembly
*Ahmed Hassan Said, Egyptian businessman
*Ahmed Said (cricketer), Pakistani cricketer
*Ahmed Said (footballer), Egyptian footb ...
instead for the job, with the Regency Advisory Council handing him the letter of appointment. The PM claimed that the appointment of
Ahmad Said
Ahmed Said or Ahmad Said may refer to:
*Ahmad Said (politician), Malay politician and member of the Legislative Assembly
*Ahmed Hassan Said, Egyptian businessman
*Ahmed Said (cricketer), Pakistani cricketer
*Ahmed Said (footballer), Egyptian footb ...
was unconstitutional as it went against the wishes of the assemblymen and the Prime Minister's office who have supported
Idris Jusoh
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Idris bin Jusoh ( Jawi: إدريس بن جوسوه; born 15 November 1955) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) since May 2020. He served as the Minis ...
candidacy for Menteri Besar.
In spite of threats to strip
Ahmad Said
Ahmed Said or Ahmad Said may refer to:
*Ahmad Said (politician), Malay politician and member of the Legislative Assembly
*Ahmed Hassan Said, Egyptian businessman
*Ahmed Said (cricketer), Pakistani cricketer
*Ahmed Said (footballer), Egyptian footb ...
of his party membership "for disobeying the leadership", he went to the office in Wisma Darul Iman to begin the first day of his new appointment on 25 March 2008. The party announced earlier that they made good on their promise to remove his membership, which technically disqualifies him to be appointed as Menteri Besar in the first place. The ruling also planned to vote down the sultan's choice through a motion of
no-confidence
A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...
by 22 UMNO state assemblymen.
The opposition party
Parti Islam SeMalaysia in the meantime promised that its assemblymen would support Ahmad Said as Menteri Besar.
On 26 March 2008 however, PM
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi ( Jawi: عبد الله بن احمد بدوي; born 26 November 1939) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia from October 2003 to April 2009. He was also the sixth president of ...
and Sultan
Mizan Zainal Abidin
Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ; born 22 January 1962) is the 18th and current Sultan of Terengganu. He served as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, th ...
met at
Istana Negara to resolve the deadlock. The Prime Minister reversed his stance and decided to accept the King's appointment of
Ahmad Said
Ahmed Said or Ahmad Said may refer to:
*Ahmad Said (politician), Malay politician and member of the Legislative Assembly
*Ahmed Hassan Said, Egyptian businessman
*Ahmed Said (cricketer), Pakistani cricketer
*Ahmed Said (footballer), Egyptian footb ...
as Chief Minister of Terengganu. He also apologised to the King for the public spat over the appointment of the Menteri Besar, explaining that there was no intention to disparage or humiliate the royal household.
The apparent backdown was due to threat that the royal household would be prepared to dissolve the state assembly if the motion of no-confidence was initiated against
Ahmad Said
Ahmed Said or Ahmad Said may refer to:
*Ahmad Said (politician), Malay politician and member of the Legislative Assembly
*Ahmed Hassan Said, Egyptian businessman
*Ahmed Said (cricketer), Pakistani cricketer
*Ahmed Said (footballer), Egyptian footb ...
, which would trigger another election in what is already a climate of discontent towards the ruling party and the possibility of dissenting assemblymen defecting to the opposition.
The
UMNO
The United Malays National Organisation (Malay: ; Jawi: ; abbreviated UMNO () or less commonly PEKEMBAR), is a nationalist right-wing political party in Malaysia. As the oldest continuous national political party within Malaysia (since its in ...
Supreme Council proceeded to endorse Ahmad Said as the new Menteri Besar of Terengganu. With the resolution of the impasse, Ahmad Said expressed his gratefulness on his appointment and paid tribute to Idris, an old friend he has known since university, for the work he has done for the Terengganu people so far and to seek his advice. After the swearing in ceremony where the duties are handed over from Idris, he also expressed hopes in moving on to discharge his responsibility to the people and eradicate poverty within the state.
Administrative divisions
Terengganu is divided into 8
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
(''daerah''), 99 ''
mukim
A mukim is a type of administrative division used in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The word ''mukim'' is a loanword in English. However, it was also originally a loanword in Malay from the Arabic word: (meaning ''resident''). The clo ...
s'', and 7 local governments.
On 18 September 2014, it was announced that the
Kuala Terengganu District sub-district of Kuala Nerus would become Terengganu's 8th district, to be called
Kuala Nerus
Kuala Nerus is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is the youngest district in the state, having been declared a separate district in 2014. Formerly it was part of Kuala Terengganu district (North Kuala Terengganu) but still governed by Kuala T ...
by former Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Demographics
Terengganu has a population of 1,015,776 ,
which increase to 1,153,500 in 2015.
In 2006,
Malays make up 94.7% of the population and
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
, 2.6%, while
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
ns 0.2% and other ethnic groups comprise the remainder, 2.4%.
According to the 2010 census, the ethnic composition of Terengganu is 97% Bumiputras, 2.6% Chinese, 0.2% Indian, and 0.1% others.
In 2000, the state's population was only 48.7%
urban
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of people ...
; the majority lived in rural areas.
By the 2005 census, the proportions had changed significantly, with 51% of the population living in urban areas and 49% in the rural areas.
Ethnic groups
Terengganu is one of Malaysia's most
homogeneous
Homogeneity and heterogeneity are concepts often used in the sciences and statistics relating to the uniformity of a substance or organism. A material or image that is homogeneous is uniform in composition or character (i.e. color, shape, siz ...
states along with Kelantan. More than 95% of the population is ethnically Malay, but there are other ethnic groups that live in the state as well including Chinese (mostly Hokkien), Indians (mostly Tamils), Siamese and Orang Aslis (Batek and Semaq Beri).
Malays
Malays are the largest ethnic group in the state with more than 94% of the population. The Malays in Terengganu are distinct from Malays of other parts of the country, they have unique cultures, traditions and spoken language. There are two sub-groups of Malays in the state:
Terengganu Malays
Terengganu Malays are the majority Malay sub-group in the state. They are the dominant Malay sub-group in all districts of Terengganu except for Besut and northern Setiu. They habitually speak Terengganu Malay language which is distinct but closely related to Kelantanese variety in the north. Terengganu Malays are also known for their rich cultures and traditions, one of the most well known is the
Ulek Mayang
Ulek Mayang ( Jawi: ) is a classical Malay dance from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It is a ritualistic dance performed to appease or invoke the spirits of the sea and is always accompanied by a unique song also called Ulek Mayang. An o ...
.
Besut Malays
Besut Malays are predominantly found in the district of Besut and northern Setiu. Despite being Terengganu citizens, they are ethnically, linguistically and culturally closer to, and still maintain strong ties with, Kelantan. Most Malays in Besut and northern Setiu speaks only Kelantanese, although those who have long been exposed to other districts of Terengganu can speak Terengganuan as well.
Chinese
The Chinese Terengganuan form the largest minority ethnic group in the state. They are mostly
Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...
by ancestry and speak a dialect of
Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...
. Unlike other parts of Malaysia, the Chinese in Terengganu are much more assimilated; they speak fluent local Malay (Terengganuan in most parts of Terengganu and Kelantanese in Besut) and also share a similar lifestyle. They also have a local Peranakan culture known as "Mek Awang" which is a mixture of Chinese (mostly Hokkien) and Malay (Terengganu Malay) cultures, which can be seen in their cuisine and clothing and their language as well.
Indian
Indians in Terengganu are mostly
Tamils
The Tamil people, also known as Tamilar ( ta, தமிழர், Tamiḻar, translit-std=ISO, in the singular or ta, தமிழர்கள், Tamiḻarkaḷ, translit-std=ISO, label=none, in the plural), or simply Tamils (), are a Drav ...
and the majority are adherents of Hinduism, although a minority follow
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
. Like their Chinese counterparts, the Indian community in Terengganu are highly assimilated, with many fluent in Terengganu Malay along with Tamil, Standard Malay and English. There is one major Hindu temple in Kuala Terengganu. Most Indians in Terengganu live in urban areas like Kuala Terengganu. A very small number of
Malayalee
The Malayali people () (also spelt Malayalee and also known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They are predomina ...
community exist in Terengganu.
Siamese
The Siamese in Terengganu maintain a small but well-organised community. They can be found in Besut and few in Setiu and Kuala Terengganu. Physically, there is little difference between Malays and Siamese other than their name and religion. Their native language is
Southern Thai language
Southern Thai ( ), also known as Dambro ( ), Pak Tai (), or "Southern language" (), is a Southwestern Tai ethnolinguistic identity and language spoken in southern Thailand as well as by small communities in the northernmost Malaysian states. It ...
but most speak Kelantanese as large numbers of them live in Besut. One of the most well known Terengganuan Siamese is
Siri Neng Buah
Siri ( ) is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.'s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and audioOS operating systems. It uses voice queries, gesture based control, focus-tracking and a natural-language user interface to answer questi ...
, currently the president of the Malaysian Siamese Association.
Orang Asli
The Orang Aslis are the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. In Terengganu they can be found mostly in Hulu Terengganu and Besut districts. There are two Orang Asli ethnic groups in Terengganu, the
Semaq Beris lives near
Lake Kenyir
Tasik Kenyir or Kenyir Lake is an artificial lake located in Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia, nestled deep in the Pantai Timur Range. The lake was created in 1985 by the Kenyir Dam on the Kenyir River, the upper stream of the Terengganu R ...
or other parts of the district, they belong to
Senoi
The Senoi (also spelled Sengoi and Sng'oi) are a group of Malaysian peoples classified among the Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. They are the most numerous of the Orang Asli and widely distributed across the peninsula ...
group. Besides the Semaq Beris, there are also
Batek people
The Batek (or Bateq) people are an indigenous Orang Asli people (numbering about 1,519 in 2000); belonging to the Semang group, who live in the rainforest of peninsular Malaysia. As a result of encroachment, they now primarily inhabit the Taman ...
, a
Semang
The Semang are an ethnic-minority group of the Malay Peninsula. They live in mountainous and isolated forest regions of Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Kedah of Malaysia and the southern provinces of Thailand. The Semang are among the different eth ...
ethnic group mostly found in interior parts of Terengganu, especially in
Taman Negara
Taman Negara is a national park in Peninsular Malaysia. It was established in 1938/1939 as the King George V National Park after Theodore Hubback lobbied the sultans of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to set aside a piece of land that covers the ...
area or in other parts of Terengganu. Both Semaq Beris and Bateks still maintain their semi-nomadic lifestyle although some now lives in permanent homes. Both are also speakers of
Austroasiatic languages
The Austroasiatic languages , , are a large language family in Mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia. These languages are scattered throughout parts of Thailand, Laos, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and southern China and are t ...
.
Languages
The people of Terengganu generally speak Coastal
Terengganu Malay
Terengganu Malay ( ms, Bahasa Melayu Terengganu; Terengganu Malay: ) is a Malayic language spoken in the Malaysian state of Terengganu all the way southward to coastal Pahang and northeast Johor. It is the native language of Terengganu Malays an ...
, which is distinct from standard Malay and
Kelantan-Pattani Malay
Kelantan-Pattani Malay (; ; in Pattani; in Kelantan) is an Austronesian language of the Malayic subfamily spoken in the Malaysian state of Kelantan and the neighbouring southernmost provinces of Thailand. It is the primary spoken language of ...
, except for those in Besut district,
Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian Islands (Malay: ''Kepulauan Perhentian'') are islands in Besut District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Greater Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Lesser Perhentian"). The small, uninhabited is ...
and some parts of Setiu where Kelantanese are more dominant. Those that live in
Hulu Terengganu
Hulu Terengganu (Upper Terengganu) is an interior district of Terengganu, Malaysia. The seat of the district is Kuala Berang, located about from the state capital, Kuala Terengganu. The local government of this district is Hulu Terengganu Distri ...
had their own distinct variant but closely related to Coastal Terengganu Malay. Chinese Terengganuans are predominantly
Hokkein and thus mostly speak
Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...
as their
first language
A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongu ...
, although a number of
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
speakers are increasing. Indians in Terengganu mostly speak
Malaysian Tamil
Malaysian Tamil ( ta, மலேசியத் தமிழ் மொழி, Malēsiyat Tamiḻ Moḻi), also known as Malaya Tamil, is a local variant of the Tamil language
Tamil (; ' , ) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by t ...
. There is also an
Orang Asli
Orang Asli (''lit''. "first people", "native people", "original people", "aborigines people" or "aboriginal people" in Malay) are a heterogeneous indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of ...
languages such as
Batek and
Semaq Beri, spoken in inland parts of Terengganu and is part of the
Austroasiatic language family
The Austroasiatic languages , , are a large language family in Mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia. These languages are scattered throughout parts of Thailand, Laos, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and southern China and are th ...
.
Religion
According to the 2010 Census, the population of Terengganu is 96.9%
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
, 2.5%
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
, 0.2%
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, 0.2%
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
, and 0.2% follower of Chinese folk religions or unknown affiliation.
Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 91.4% of the Chinese population are identified as Buddhists, with significant minorities of adherents identifying as Christians (4.7%),
Chinese folk religion
Chinese folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion comprehends a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. Vivienne Wee described it as "an empty bowl, which can variously be filled ...
s (1.6%) and Muslims (1.4%). The majority of the Indian population are Hindus (69.8%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as Muslims (18.1%), Christians (5.3%) and Buddhists (4.9%). The non-Malay ''
bumiputera Bumiputera or Bumiputra, which is a Malay word, comes from the Sanskrit word ''Bhumiputra'' which may be transliterated as "son of earth" or "son of the soil" (Bhūmi; भूमि = earth; putra = son). It has different definitions in Brunei and Ma ...
'' community are predominantly Muslims (56.8%), with significant minorities identifying as Christians (33.2%) and Buddhists (5.6%). All Malays are Muslims.
Economy
Terengganu used to be Malaysia's poorest state until oil and gas were discovered off its coastline not too long ago. Terengganu's main industry now is
petroleum
Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crud ...
and gas. There are huge
petrochemical
Petrochemicals (sometimes abbreviated as petchems) are the chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sou ...
complexes near
Paka and
Kerteh
Kerteh (est. pop. (2000 census): 3,064) is a mukim in Kemaman District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Economy
Kerteh is the base of operations for Petronas in Terengganu, overseeing the oil platform operations off the state's coast as well as petroc ...
, involving many
joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acces ...
s between the Malaysian national oil company,
Petronas
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (National Petroleum Limited), commonly known as Petronas, is a Malaysian oil and gas company. Established in 1974 and wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with all oil and gas reso ...
, and foreign
multinationals.
Tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...
and fishing are also major industries in Terengganu, a state with a long
coastline
The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in n ...
. Agriculture also remains important, with
banana
A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...
,
rambutan
Rambutan (; taxonomic name: ''Nephelium lappaceum'') is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to s ...
,
durian
The durian (, ) is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus ''Durio''. There are 30 recognised ''Durio'' species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. ''Durio zibethinus'', native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the onl ...
,
watermelon
Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieti ...
, and various other fruits and vegetables available in season. Terengganu was traditionally famous for boatbuilding, with highly decorated carved wooden boats called ''bangau'' to be found in the harbour of every village and town in days not so long gone by, before electric motorboats became standard equipment for the state's fishermen.
Culture and attractions
![Kemaman Museum](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Kemaman_Museum.jpg)
Terengganu did not receive many Indian or Chinese migrants, and therefore
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
cultural influences predominate. Traditional pursuits such as kite-flying contests, top-spinning contests, and traditional
arts & crafts, such as
batik
Batik is an Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth. This technique originated from the island of Java, Indonesia. Batik is made either by drawing dots and lines of the resist with a spouted tool called a ''ca ...
and
songket
''Songket'' is a ''Tenun'' fabric that belongs to the brocade family of textiles of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It is hand-woven in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with gold or silver threads. It is hand-woven in ...
are still very much alive. The people of Terengganu have always had a reputation for being socially conservative and devout
Muslims
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...
.
The major tourist attractions in the state include:
Kuala Terengganu
, image_seal = Seal of Kuala Terengganu City Council.png
, image_flag = Flag of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.svg
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right:The Crystal Mosq ...
, the capital;
Islamic Heritage Park,
Tasik Kenyir, a large artificial lake; Sekayu Waterfalls; Kuala Ibai Lagoons; Batu Burok Beach, Kemasik Beach, Rantau Abang,
Setiu Wetlands Setiu Wetland (Malay: ''Tanah Bencah Setiu'' or ''Laguna Setiu'') is a wetland in Setiu District, Terengganu, Malaysia. It is part of the Setiu River basin, and also of the larger Setiu-Chalok-Bari-Merang basin wetland complex. With the size of 23,0 ...
, Marang,
Chukai
Chukai (Terengganu Malay: ''Chuka'', Jawi: چوكاي), also known by the name of Kemaman Town (Malay: ''Bandar Kemaman'', Terengganu Malay: ''Bando Mamang'', est. pop. (2017): over 170,000) is a mukim and capital of Kemaman District, Terenggan ...
town and several offshore islands such as
Pulau Redang,
Pulau Lang Tengah, and
Pulau Kapas, and the
Pulau Perhentian
The Perhentian Islands (Malay language, Malay: ''Kepulauan Perhentian'') are islands in Besut District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Greater Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Lesser Perhentian"). The small ...
, which attract beachgoers and snorkelers because of their picture perfect beaches. Many travellers find the relatively rural and tranquil atmosphere in the state conducive to a relaxing holiday.
Terengganu has recently been known internationally as the host of
Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup was a yacht race in Malaysia, held in the state of Terengganu.
Overview
The Monsoon Cup was an annual event on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour calendar. It was also widely considered as the most formidable leg of the Tour. A ...
, which was first held in 2005 and then became an annual national sporting event. The event brought millions of
ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit (; plural: ringgit; symbol: RM; currency code: MYR; Malay name: ''Ringgit Malaysia''; formerly the Malaysian dollar) is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 ''sen'' (formerly ''cents''). The ringgit is issued ...
of investment into the state from the private sectors and Malaysian Government. Tourists flocked to
Kuala Terengganu
, image_seal = Seal of Kuala Terengganu City Council.png
, image_flag = Flag of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.svg
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right:The Crystal Mosq ...
and Duyong to witness this event, held during the
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...
season, which had previously been low season for tourism in Terengganu.
Culture
Terengganu, along with Kelantan, is known as the cradle of the Malay civilization in Peninsular Malaysia. There are various traditional dances in the state such as the
Ulek Mayang
Ulek Mayang ( Jawi: ) is a classical Malay dance from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It is a ritualistic dance performed to appease or invoke the spirits of the sea and is always accompanied by a unique song also called Ulek Mayang. An o ...
,
Rodat, Saba, Balai, and Nur Sakti; some even predate the arrival of
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
in the region. Terengganu is also one of few states to adopt the
gamelan
Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
as part of their traditional theatre (after
Riau
Riau is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the central eastern coast of Sumatra along the Strait of Malacca. The province shares land borders with North Sumatra to the northwest, West Sumatra to the west, and Jambi to the south. Accord ...
and
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
); the Terengganu gamelan has developed a distinct identity from
Sundanese
Sundanese may refer to:
* Sundanese people
* Sundanese language
* Sundanese script
Standard Sundanese script (''Aksara Sunda Baku'', ) is a writing system which is used by the Sundanese people. It is built based on Old Sundanese script (' ...
and
Javanese gamelan
Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
. The gamelan was originally brought to Pahang and later to Terengganu, and was played only during royal occasions. Today the gamelan is part of the state's cultural heritage.
Events
* 2008 National Horse Show at Terengganu Equestrian Resort 31 October to 2 November
*
Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup was a yacht race in Malaysia, held in the state of Terengganu.
Overview
The Monsoon Cup was an annual event on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour calendar. It was also widely considered as the most formidable leg of the Tour. A ...
- international sailing event
* Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge - Horse Endurance Race
* Formula Future- speed boat racing for under 15
* Kapas-Marang International Swimathon- International swimming event
* Kenyir Motocross Championship
* Terengganu Masters- Golf
* Kenyir International Mountain Bike Challenge
* 'Candat Sotong' Fiesta - fishing competition
* Kenyir Lake International Triathlon
* Terengganu Starhill Tasik Kenyir 4x4 Challenge
* Tasik Puteri Water Festival
* Terengganu Traditional Games Competition
* Terengganu International 4WD Rainforest Challenge 2007
* FEI World Endurance Championship 2008
*
Le Tour de Langkawi 2012
* Terengganu International Squid Jigging Festival
Cuisine
The most famous local food is ''
Keropok Lekor
Keropok lekor () is a traditional Malaysian Malays, Malay fish cracker snack originating from the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. It is made from fish and sago flour and seasoned with salt and sugar. It is slightly greyish in colour and gives off ...
'', which is made primarily from a combination of dough (sago flour) and pounded fish mainly from mackerel and sardines, fried and served with hot chilli sauce for afternoon tea. ''Keropok Keping'' (fish crackers) are made from sun-dried slices of ''
Keropok Lekor
Keropok lekor () is a traditional Malaysian Malays, Malay fish cracker snack originating from the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. It is made from fish and sago flour and seasoned with salt and sugar. It is slightly greyish in colour and gives off ...
''. Numerous ''
keropok
''Krupuk'' ( Javanese), ''kerupuk'' ( Indonesian), ''keropok'' ( Malay), ''kroepoek'' (Dutch) or ''kropek'' ( Tagalog) is a cracker made from starch or animal skin and other ingredients that serve as flavouring. Most krupuk are deep fried, ...
'' stalls are to be found on the side of the highway that passes through coastal communities. Keropok lekor is best eaten with local chili sauce, made from dried chili, tamarind, sugar and vinegar.
''
Budu'', a very pungent and salty
anchovy
An anchovy is a small, common forage fish of the family Engraulidae. Most species are found in marine waters, but several will enter brackish water, and some in South America are restricted to fresh water.
More than 140 species are placed in 1 ...
sauce is also popular among the locals. It is often mixed with sliced onions and chillies as condiments. Budu made from
ikan bilis
Anchovies are small, common saltwater forage fish in the family Engraulidae that are used as human food and fish bait. There are 144 species in 17 genera found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Anchovies are usually classified as oily ...
fermented with salt. There are other version of budu, known as Pelara were made by using mackerel were popular among the older generation, can be found in traditional market sold in bottles.
''
Laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy coco ...
m'' (or ''
laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy coco ...
ng'' in Terengganu Malay), a modified version of ''
laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy coco ...
'', is made from rice flour (thick and soft slices). It is served in a bowl of light fresh coconut milk mixed with boiled fish flesh (mainly mackerel), finely chopped cucumbers, chillies, onions and long beans. It is eaten cold at breakfast.
Another Terengganu speciality is ''
sata
SATA (Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives. Serial ATA succeeded the earlier Parallel ATA (PATA) standard to ...
'', a type of ''
otak-otak
''Otak-otak'' (lit. brains in Malay and Indonesian) is a Southeast Asian fish cake made of ground fish mixed with spices and wrapped in leaf parcels. ''Otak-otak'' is traditionally served steamed or grilled, encased within the leaf parcel it is ...
'' or fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over a grill. Sata made from combination of fish and grated coconut, with some portion of spice.
Nasi dagang
''Nasi dagang'' ( Jawi: ناسي داڬڠ, lit. 'trader's rice') is a Malaysian dish consisting of rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry and extra ingredients such as pickled cucumber and carrots.
It is a well-known breakfast food in the s ...
is also popular.
Education
There are several institutes of higher learning in Terengganu. They are either categorised as Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA); public university or Institut Pengajian Tinggi Swasta (IPTS); private university. Among public universities which have campus in Terengganu is the
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (abbreviation, abbreviated as UniSZA; Jawi script, Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي سلطان زين العابدين; en, Sultan Zainal Abidin University) is the 18th public institution of higher learning, located ...
and
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
The Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (''University of Malaysia, Terengganu'') or UMT, formerly known as Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (Malaysian Science and Technology University College) or KUSTEM, is a university in Kuala Nerus ...
. Both universities have campus in Gong Badak, in north Kuala Terengganu.
Beside that, Terengganu also had 3
Universiti Teknologi MARA
The MARA Technological University (Malay: ''Universiti Teknologi MARA''; Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي تيكنولوڬي مارا; abbr. UiTM) is a public university based primarily in Shah Alam, Selangor. It was established to help rural Mal ...
branches, in Kuala Terengganu, Dungun and Bukit Besi. Also, Terengganu host several private university and college, such as
TATI University College
University College TATI (UC TATI), formerly known as ''TATI University College'' and ''Terengganu Advanced Technical Institute (TATI)'', is a private university college located in Kemaman, Terengganu, Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a countr ...
in Kemaman, UCSI Terengganu campus in Marang, Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) in Batu Rakit, Kuala Terengganu and Kolej Teknologi Bestari in Setiu, Politechnics Sultan Zainal Abidin, among others.
List of Tertiary Institutes (public and private)
*Politeknik Kuala Terengganu
*Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
*Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
*Universiti Teknologi MARA (3 branches)
*Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)
*Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
*Kolej PTPL
*Kolej Teknologi & Inovasi KRIM
*Institut Teknologi Petronas
*Kolej Seri Iman
*Kolej Ketengah
*RANACO Education and Training Institute (RETI)
*Kolej Teras Timur
*Kolej Islam Sains Teknologi (KIST)
*TATI University College(TATIUC)
*MARA KETENGAH International College (MKIC)
Secondary school (high school) education is provided by Sekolah Kebangsaan (National School, e.g.: Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (National-type School) Chinese primary schools, and Sekolah Ugama (Religious schools, e.g.: SMA Sultan Zainal Abidin Ladang). All of them follow the syllabus and curriculum provided and regulated by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia). Every year the state government spends RM34 million to develop education in Terengganu. Part of these grants ensures that every eligible primary school student in Terengganu is able to get a Netbook worth RM1000 to help in their studies.
Transportation
Air
There are three airports located in Terengganu, of which two of them are open to the public.
Sultan Mahmud Airport
Sultan Mahmud Airport is an airport in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. The airport serves Kuala Terengganu which is located away. In 2017, it handled 943,660 passengers with 11,485 aircraft movements. It was named after the 16th Sultan of Ter ...
located in Gong Badak,
Kuala Nerus
Kuala Nerus is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is the youngest district in the state, having been declared a separate district in 2014. Formerly it was part of Kuala Terengganu district (North Kuala Terengganu) but still governed by Kuala T ...
is the state's main airport and serves as a main gateway by air to and from Terengganu. Other public airport is the
Redang Airport
Redang Airport is an airport on Redang Island, Kuala Nerus District, Terengganu, Malaysia. The airport was briefly closed in 2009 for runway expansion, reopening on April 16, 2009.
The runway lies along the base of a long ridge immediately to ...
, located in
Redang Island
Redang Island ( ms, Pulau Redang / 中文:热浪岛) is an island in Kuala Nerus District, Terengganu, Malaysia. It is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and as well as one of the most beautiful islands in the ...
off the coast of Terengganu.
Kerteh Airport
Kerteh Airport is an airport in Kerteh, Kemaman District, Terengganu in Malaysia.
The airport is owned by Petroleum Nasional Berhad or Petronas via its East Coast Regional Office (ECRO), and was built to serve the purpose of airlifting its emplo ...
, located in the town of
Kerteh
Kerteh (est. pop. (2000 census): 3,064) is a mukim in Kemaman District, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Economy
Kerteh is the base of operations for Petronas in Terengganu, overseeing the oil platform operations off the state's coast as well as petroc ...
,
Kemaman
Kemaman is a Districts of Malaysia, district in Terengganu, Malaysia. Kemaman District is bordered by Dungun District to the north and the state of Pahang to the south and west. It is the southern gateway to the state of Terengganu.
The district ...
is the state's second largest airport but is not open to public because the airport is owned and operated by Petroliam Nasional Berhad or Petronas via its East Coast Regional Office (ECRO), and was built to serve the purpose of airlifting its employees and ExxonMobil employees to their various oil platforms located 100–200 km offshore South China Sea. The airport although small, has a single 1,362 m (4,469 ft) long runway which can accommodate a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
A military air force base,
RMAF Gong Kedak
RMAF Gong Kedak ( ms, TUDM Gong Kedak) is an air force base operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force ( ms, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia). It is located in Gong Kedak, Pasir Puteh District, Kelantan, Malaysia.
History
The RMAF Gong Kedak exi ...
is located between the borders of Kelantan (
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh District is a district (jajahan) in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu. Pasir Puteh district borders Terengganu to its south-east.
...
) and Terengganu (Besut) and has an airstrip which crosses the two state borders.
Sister states
See also
*
Proclamation of Malaysia
The Proclamation of Malaysia (Malay: ''Pemasyhuran Malaysia'' Jawi: ڤمشهوران مليسيا) was a statement, written in English and Malay (in the Jawi script), that declared the merger of the Federation of Malaya with the British crown ...
In popular culture
Movies
*''Tukang Perahu Pulau Duyong'' (2013)
References
External links
Terengganu State Government Information PortalTourism Malaysia - TerengganuTerengganu tourism page
{{Authority control
States of Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
States and territories established in 1724
1724 establishments in Asia
British Malaya in World War II