Kelantan (Jawi: كلنتن, Thai:กลันตัน), is one of the states in Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, (“The Beautiful Abode”).

The “Cradle of Malay Culture”, Kelantan offers a delightful profusion of colourful traditions, charm and scenic beauty. Located in the north-eastern corner of the peninsula, Kelantan, which translates as the “Land of Lightning” is an agrarian state with lush paddy fields, rustic fishing villages and casuarina-lined beaches.

Nature-based activities range from simple river cruises, rafting, and bird watching to jungle trekking. Caving, a goldmine, and deer park, ethno-botanical garden and aboriginal settlements are also in Kelantan.

Kelantan is positioned in the north-east of Peninsular Malaysia. It is bordered by Thailand to the north, Terengganu to the south-east, Perak to the west, and Pahang to the south. To the north-east of Kelantan is the South China Sea.

With the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) in power for many years, Kelantan is also Malaysia’s most socially conservative Islamic state.

History

The name Kelantan is said to be a corruption of gelam hutan, i.e. the Malay name for the cajuput, or swamp tea tree (Melaleuca leucadendron). Other theories claim the name comes from the Malay word kilatan, ‘shiny/glittery’, kolam tanah, ‘clay pool’, or kali intan, ‘diamond river’.

The early history of Kelantan is rather obscure, but archaeological finds indicate traces of human settlement dating to prehistoric times. Early Kelantan had links to the Funan Kingdom, the Khmer Empire, Srivijaya and Champa. In the 1400s, Siam extracted tribute from Kelantan.

Around 1411, Raja Kumar or Sultan Baki Shah, the ruler of Kelantan, became independent of Siam, and Kelantan became an important centre of trade by the end of the 15th century.

In 1499, Kelantan became a vassal state of the Malacca Sultanate. With the fall of Malacca in 1511, Kelantan became a protectorate of Johor. Siam returned to impose tribute in 1603.

The state gradually splintered into petty chiefdoms. Around 1760, a petty chieftain of Kubang Labu in Kelantan succeeded in unifying the territory of the present Kelantan.

Shortly thereafter, in 1764, Long Yunos seized the throne and proclaimed himself Raja of Kelantan. However, with his death, Kelantan came under the influence of neighboring Terengganu.

In 1800, Raja Muhammad declared himself as the Sultan of Kelantan. In 1812, he broke from Terengganu’s influence and became a separate tributary of Siam.

In the 1820s, Kelantan was one of the most populous and prosperous states in the Malay Peninsula, having avoided the wars and disputes which plagued the southern and western states. Siam continued to play an important role in Kelantan throughout the 19th century.

Under the terms of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, Siam surrendered its claims over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis to Great Britain, and Kelantan thus became one of the Unfederated Malay States with a British Adviser.

Kelantan was the first place in Malaya to be occupied by the Japanese, who invaded on December 8, 1941. During the Japanese occupation, Kelantan came again under control of Siam, but after the defeat of Japan in August 1945, Kelantan reverted to British rule.

Kelantan became part of the Federation of Malaya on February 1, 1948 and together with other states attained independence on August 31, 1957. On September 16, 1963, Kelantan became one of the component states of Malaysia.

Geography

Rising high on the slopes of Gunung Korbu, the second highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia, the Nengiri River flows east to merge first with the Galas, and then with the Lebir — the latter born in the wilds of Taman Negara National Park — before turning decisively northwards and emptying into the shallow waters of the South China Sea.

From Kuala Krai the conjoined streams become the Kelantan River, a broad, mud-coloured stream which dominates the fertile coastal plains and defines the geography of the region. The Kelantan River valley is a fertile rice-bowl, rich in hardwoods and rubber and lush with tropical fruits.

For centuries, Kelantan was all but separated from the rest of the country by the Titiwangsa Mountains, a mountain range running from north to south through the peninsula.

Weeks of hard travel were required to reach Kelantan. The “easy way” to Kelantan was to sail around the peninsula, braving the sea and pirates. For this reason Kelantan’s history often involves the sea, and boats.

Even today, many of its people are very much tied to the sea. A discussion with many coastal residents will confirm that their ancestors, as far back as they know, were “of the sea.”

In the early 1980s, trunk roads were built to link it with nearby states. Presently, one can travel by road from the capital city Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu through the mountain range within 5 hours.

Economy

Kelantan has a chiefly agrarian economy dominated by padi, rubber and tobacco. Fishing along its 96-kilometre coastline is also an important economic activity. Cottage industries which employ traditional skills in handicraft production such as batik, woodcarving and songket weaving are also evident.

Logging activities are active given the vast remaining area of forest. In recent years, tourism, especially to offshore islands, has increased in importance. A few reputable hotels have been established and more modern shopping malls have been opened to cater for urban folks.

The main market at the Kota Bharu city centre is still the main attraction. Notably, most of the stall operators are women with a good business sense.

Kota Bharu, the capital, is the major urban centre, and there are also plans to open up the southern portion of the state under an ambitious multi-million-dollar development project.

Kelantan remains one of the poorest states of Malaysia, with a GDP per capita at about RM6000, which is about one-third that of other richer states like Selangor and Pulau Pinang.

Source: Wikipedia