Terengganu
Terengganu (
Jawi: ترڠڬانو, formerly spelled
Trengganu or
Tringganu) is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal
Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific,
Darul Iman ("Abode of Faith").
It is situated on the north-eastern coast of
Peninsular Malaysia, and is bordered on the north and west by
Kelantan, the south by
Pahang, and the east by the
South China Sea. The
Pulau Perhentian are also a part of the state. The state has a total area of 12,955 km².
The ethnic composition in 1995 was: Malay (859,402 or 94%), Chinese (42,970 or 5%), Indian (4,355), Others (3,238).
The coastal city of
Kuala Terengganu, at the mouth of the broad
Terengganu River, is both the state and royal capital and is the largest city in Terengganu.
Terengganu's location by the
South China Sea ensured that it was on trade routes since ancient times. The earliest written reports on the area that is now Terengganu were by
Chinese merchants and seafarers in the early centuries A.D. Like other Malay states, Terengganu practiced a
Hindu–
Buddhist culture combined with
animist traditional beliefs for hundreds of years before the arrival of
Islam. Under the influence of
Srivijaya, Terengganu traded extensively with the
Majapahit Empire, the
Khmer Empire and the Chinese. Terengganu was perhaps the first Malay state to receive Islam, as attested to by a
stone monument dated 1303 with Arabic inscriptions found in
Kuala Berang, the capital of the district of
Ulu (upriver) Terengganu. Terengganu became a vassal state of
Melaka, but retained considerable autonomy with the emergence of
Riau-Johor.
Terengganu emerged as an independent
sultanate in
1724. The first
Sultan was Tun Zainal Abidin, the younger brother of a former sultan of
Johor, and Johor strongly influenced Terengganu politics through the 18th century. However, in the book
Tuhfat al-Nafis written by Raja Ali Haji, 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. In the 19th century, Terengganu became a vassal state of
Siam, and sent tribute every year to the Emperor of Siam in the form of
bunga mas (a tree with flowers and leaves made of gold). Under Siamese rule, Terengganu prospered, and was largely left alone by the authorities in
Bangkok. The terms of the
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 saw power over Terengganu transferred from Siam to
Great Britain. A British advisor was appointed to the sultan in
1919, and Terengganu become one of the
Unfederated Malay States. The move was highly unpopular locally, and in
1928 the British used military force to suppress a popular uprising. During
World War II,
Japan transferred Terengganu back to Siam, along with
Kelantan,
Kedah, and
Perlis, but after the defeat of Japan, these Malay states returned to British control. Terengganu became a member of the
Federation of Malaya in
1948, and a state of independent
Malaya in
1957.
In
1999, following decades of rule by
UMNO—the senior partner in the
Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition —the
Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) won the 1999 local election, making Terengganu the second state in Malaysia to be ruled by PAS (the first being neighboring Kelantan). However, in the
general election of 2004 Terengganu was recaptured by
UMNO.
The hereditary Sultan of Terengganu since
1998 has been Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is concurrently Deputy
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of
Malaysia. The Chief Executive or Menteri Besar is currently
Dato' Idris Jusoh of
Barisan Nasional, a businessman.
Terengganu is divided into seven administrative districts, namely:
(Administrative towns are in parentheses)
*
Dungun (
Kuala Dungun).
*
Besut (Kampung Raja).
*
Setiu (Bandar Permaisuri).
*
Kemaman (
Chukai).
*
Marang (Bandar Marang).
*
Hulu Terengganu (
Kuala Berang).
*
Kuala Terengganu (
Kuala Terengganu).
One of Terengganu's main industries is now
petroleum. There are huge
petrochemical complexes near Paka and Kijal, involving many
joint ventures between the Malaysian national oil company,
Petronas, and foreign
multinationals. Tourism and fishing are also major industries in Terengganu, a state with a long coastline. Agriculture also remains important, with
banana,
rambutan,
durian,
watermelon, and various other fruits and vegetables available in season. Terengganu was traditionally famous for boat-building, with highly decorated carved wooden boats called
bangau to be found in the harbor of every village and town in days not so long gone by, before electric motorboats became standard equipment for the state's fishermen.
Terengganu did not receive many Indian or Chinese migrants, and therefore
Malay cultural influences predominate. Traditional pursuits such as kite-flying contests, top-spinning contests, and traditional
arts & crafts, such as
batik and
songket are still very much alive. Terengganu has always had a reputation for being socially conservative and deeply
Islamic in religion.
The most famous local food is Keropok Lekor, 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. Numerous keropok stalls are to be found on the side of the highway that passes through coastal communities.
Budu, a very pungent and salty anchovy sauce is also popular among the locals. It is often mixed with sliced onions and chillies as condiments.
Laksang or Laksam; a modified version of Laksa 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.
The major tourist attractions in the state include:
Kuala Terengganu, the capital;
Tasik Kenyir, a large artificial lake; Sekayu Waterfalls; Kuala Ibai Lagoons; Batu Burok Beach, Pantai Rantau Abang and several offshore islands such as
Pulau Redang,
Pulau Lang Tengah, and
Pulau Kapas, and the
Pulau Perhentian, which attract beachgoers and snorkelers. Many travelers find the relatively rural and tranquil atmosphere in the state conducive to a relaxing holiday.
*
Terengganu State Government Information Portal*
Articles on Terengganu*
Caves of Tasik Kenyir*
RoyalArk- Malaysia- Trengganu website on the dynastic history and traditions
