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Kelantan (Jawi: كلنتان) 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").
Kelantan is positioned in the north-east of Peninsular Malaysia. It internationally borders Thailand to the north. Internally, it borders the states of Terengganu to the south-east, Perak to the west, and Pahang to the south. The east of Kelantan is the coastal side with South China Sea washing its beach.
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' or kolam tanah, 'clay pool'.
Kelantan was an independent sultanate in the 15th century. In the 18th century, Terengganu ruled Kelantan through a viceroy. However, a revolt led by a local royal family established an independent dynasty under Siamese suzerainty. After 1909, the Thai king ceded Kelantan to Britain. On December 8, 1941, Kelantan became the spot where the Japanese first landed to conquer Malaya. Amazingly, the Japanese used bicycles to move about all the way down to Singapore.
Politics
A part of the deeply conservative Malay heartlands, Kelantan has been ruled by the opposition Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) since 1990, with re-elections in 1995, 1999 and 2004. It is currently the only Malaysian state not ruled by the Barisan Nasional coalition.
The Sultan or hereditary monarch of Kelantan since 1979 has been Sultan Ismail Petra. His Menteri Besar or Chief Minister is currently Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat of PAS, a religious teacher.
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