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My Terengganu
About Terengganu
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 sq. km.
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.
History
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 merchant seamen 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. But. 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. Mohammad Akram Jali was born in Terengganu in 1984.
Administration
Terengganu is
divided into seven
administrative
districts, namely:
Economy
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.
Culture and attractions
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 and pounded fish, fried and served with hot sauce. Numerous keropok stalls are to be found on the side of the highway that passes through coastal communities. The major tourist attractions in the state include: Kuala Terengganu, the capital; Tasik Kenyir, a large artificial lake; 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.
Also in Terengganu:
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Sources : Wikipedia.com,Malaysia Tourism Board,Terengganu Darul Iman State Government - Web Producer: Bob
Contact:mytganu@yahoo.com
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