Sunday, February 01, 2009

Kelantan 2009


Kelantan is the greenest of all Malaysia states. I am referring, not to environmental green, but to Islamic green.

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I first visited Kelantan several years ago. Then, I was on a “round-the-peninsula” trip with my friends. We reached Kota Bharu (KB), the state capital of Kelantan, in the evening, and left the following morning. I only had a glimpse of the “Islamic capital of Malaysia”. This year, during Chinese New Year festival, I traveled to Kelantan again, this time with my parents.

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Kelantan bills itself as “the Cradle of Malay Culture”. The truth is: the conservative state government bans or discourages pre-Islam Malay culture.

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Before going to Kelantan, I wondered if I would be able to find Chinese food there. My worry turned out to be unfounded. There were quite many ethnic Chinese living in KB, and restaurants and hawker centers serving Chinese food could be found in the city center.

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Since Islam’s influence was strong in Kelantan, I expected all Malay women to wear tudung, or headscarves. Nonetheless, during my trip, I saw quite a few young Malay girls who defied the norm.

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Most motorcyclists in Kelantan don’t wear helmets. In this conservative society, Islamic law comes first. Secular laws take a backseat.

23 comments:

  1. Dude, it's better to pay a visit then belief what the media in Malaysia say... kakaka :p

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  2. cheh I thought GREEN as in flora & fauna...

    "-_-

    anyway, although it is strict over there but I guess they just can't go check one by one to make sure everyone follows ...

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  3. Interesting that the first ever documented coutry's constitution was made by the Prophet Muhammad for Medina city which involved the Muslim, Jews and Christian. And they able to live harmoniously.

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  4. Maybe PAS led state is better? You never know - they could be better than BN : )

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  5. Is Sarawak the greenest (the environmental green)?

    I thought you got a few shots of the few young Malay girls who defied the norm? :)

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  6. Happy Birthday 2 u 2!

    WIsh you have a long healthy life!

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  7. Islamic Green?

    Good post! Wait for more updates...

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  8. TZ, Tranquility
    Yes, Kelantan is not a scary place as many people think. Will write more about this in my coming posts :-)

    Lisa
    If they really want to check each and everyone, all they need to do is to award whoever providing information.

    neo
    Unfortunately I had no gut to do so :-(

    kai
    Thanks.

    Cheddarina
    More to come. Stay tuned :-)

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  9. foongpc
    I can't comment on that...

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  10. as i know, most of the chinese living there are rich ppl...rite ma?

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  11. interesting insight. i have a friend in kelantan. maybe i could visit her and get first hand experience!

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  12. christine
    Eh... I don't know if Kelantan Chinese are rich. Will ask my Kelantan friends...

    renaye
    Yeah go ahead. Support domestic tourism :-)

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  13. neo
    According to National Geographic, illegal logging is rampant in Sarawak. Sabah has better record.

    So Sabah is the other greenest state.

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  14. I never been to Kelantan. Maybe can go when I go back Malaysia. but dunno when.. :p LOL

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  15. Interesting to read about your travels and your observations, KS. Egypt is the only Muslim state that I have ever visited... the overwhelming presence there was not Islamic but military. Armed security men literally everywhere, bristling with everything from pistols to submachine guns, lining the major traffic arteries and every historical site. We were never anywhere without armed guards around us.

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  16. Interesting. :-)

    What other Islamic laws are there?

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  17. Kikey
    Maybe you should return to Malaysia 2 years later before proceed to NZ :)

    Peter
    That's the problem. Egypt government rules with military power, but the people support Islamists.

    宝茹
    Actually there are 2 branches of Islamic laws. Syaria is equivalent to civil law, and is already enforced throughout Malaysia. Hudud is equivalent is to criminal law. The Kelantan state government wants to enforce it, but is met with resistance.

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  18. You can find Chinese people in every city in Malaysia. After all, we are urban dwellers. :)

    Last time I dined at a KB Chinese vegetarian restaurant, and guess what, the waitresses are all Malays instead of Chinese!

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  19. kyh
    Malay waitresses in Chinese vegetarian restaurant? Could they be Thais or Indons???

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  20. Don't think so cause the ladies wear tudung and speak BM, not indon. :P

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  21. Nice, an eye opener for someone like me who has never been to Kelantan before. I'm sure that first-hand witness accounts beat mainstream medias anytime. lol

    PS: First timer here, hope to meet you more often and post more!! *Puts this blog on my readlist* :D

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  22. kyh
    OK confirmed they were Malays.

    JL
    Thanks for dropping by :)
    But I won't say my first-hand experience beats mainstream media. I was there for 3 days only.

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  23. The hudud is not really enforced? So there must be a bit of craziness over there.

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