# Alor Setar

> state capital of Kedah, Malaysia

**Wikidata**: [Q474868](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q474868)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alor_Setar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alor-setar

## Summary

Alor Setar is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, officially founded in 1735. It is a city located within the Kota Setar district and serves as both an administrative center and a significant urban settlement in northwestern Malaysia. With an area of 160 square kilometres and a population of approximately 217,000 as of 2009, Alor Setar functions as the governmental heart of Kedah state.

## Key Facts

- **Inception**: Founded in 1735
- **Population**: 217,000 (as of 2009)
- **Area**: 160 square kilometres
- **Elevation**: 7 metres above sea level
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 6.1166666666667, Longitude 100.36666666667
- **Country**: Malaysia
- **State/District**: Part of Kedah; located in Kota Setar; capital of both Kedah and Kota Setar
- **Postal Code Range**: 05000–05999
- **Time Zone**: Time in Malaysia
- **UN/LOCODE**: MYAOR
- **Official Website**: http://www.mbas.gov.my/
- **Classification**: City; city of Malaysia; large human settlement
- **Alternative Names**: Alor Star, アロー・スター, Алур-Сетар
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in 55 languages including English, Malay, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and others

## FAQs

**What is Alor Setar's administrative role?**
Alor Setar serves as the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and also functions as the capital of the Kota Setar district. It is officially classified as a city of Malaysia.

**When was Alor Setar founded?**
Alor Setar was established in 1735, making it a historically significant urban center with roots dating back nearly three centuries.

**What is the geographic location of Alor Setar?**
Alor Setar is situated at coordinates 6.1166666666667 latitude and 100.36666666667 longitude in northwestern Malaysia, within the state of Kedah. It sits at an elevation of 7 metres above sea level.

**What are the alternative names for Alor Setar?**
The city is also known as Alor Star, アロー・スター (in Japanese), and Алур-Сетар (in Russian).

**What identifiers does Alor Setar have in international systems?**
Alor Setar has a UN/LOCODE of MYAOR, a VIAF ID of 137190520, a GeoNames ID of 1736309, a Library of Congress Authority ID of n79010493, and numerous other identifiers across academic, encyclopedic, and digital platforms.

## Why It Matters

Alor Setar holds significant importance as the administrative and political center of Kedah, one of Malaysia's northernmost states. As a state capital founded in 1735, it represents centuries of continuous governance and urban development in the region. The city's strategic location near Malaysia's border with Thailand has historically made it a crucial point for trade, cultural exchange, and regional administration in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Its status as both a state capital and a district capital (of Kota Setar) underscores its dual administrative significance within Malaysia's governmental structure. The city's extensive documentation across international knowledge systems—from the Library of Congress to GeoNames, from VIAF to the Encyclopædia Britannica—demonstrates its recognized importance as a distinct geographic and administrative entity worthy of global reference.

## Notable For

- **Historical Founding**: Established in 1735, representing one of the older continuously inhabited urban centers in Malaysia
- **Dual Capital Status**: Serves as capital of both Kedah state and Kota Setar district simultaneously
- **Global Recognition**: Documented across 55 Wikipedia language editions, indicating international awareness and significance
- **Extensive Cataloguing**: Holds identifiers in major international systems including VIAF, Library of Congress, GeoNames, Encyclopædia Britannica, and numerous national encyclopedias
- **International Trade Recognition**: Assigned UN/LOCODE MYAOR for logistics and trade identification purposes
- **Academic Documentation**: Referenced in academic and encyclopedic sources including the Great Russian Encyclopedia, Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, and Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija

## Body

### Geographic Characteristics

Alor Setar occupies a land area of 160 square kilometres in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. The city is positioned at precise coordinates 6.1166666666667 latitude and 100.36666666667 longitude, placing it in northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. The city's elevation is recorded at 7 metres above sea level, indicating its location in a relatively low-lying coastal or near-coastal region. Alor Setar operates within the Time in Malaysia timezone, aligning with the national standard time observed throughout the country. The postal code range assigned to the city spans from 05000 to 05999.

### Administrative Status and Governance

Alor Setar holds the official designation of a city and is classified as a city of Malaysia. The city serves a dual administrative function: it is the state capital of Kedah and simultaneously the capital of the Kota Setar district. This dual capital status positions Alor Setar as a central hub for governmental activities at both state and district levels. The city is administratively part of Kedah and is physically located within the Kota Setar administrative area. The official website for the city is maintained at http://www.mbas.gov.my/, representing the local governmental authority.

### Demographics and Population

According to records from 2009, Alor Setar had a population of 217,000 inhabitants. This population figure, combined with the city's area of 160 square kilometres, positions Alor Setar as a significant urban center within Kedah state and the broader Malaysian urban landscape. The city is classified as a large human settlement, reflecting its substantial population and urban character.

### Historical Foundation

Alor Setar's official inception dates to 1735, establishing the city as a historical urban center with roots extending nearly three centuries into the past. This founding date places Alor Setar among the older established cities in Malaysia, predating many other urban centers in the region. The city has maintained continuous habitation and administrative importance since its establishment in the 18th century.

### Nomenclature and Alternative Names

The city is officially known as Alor Setar, but it also operates under several alternative names and transliterations. These include "Alor Star" (an alternative spelling), "アロー・スター" (the Japanese transliteration), and "Алур-Сетар" (the Russian transliteration). The Wikipedia title for the city is "Alor Setar," and the Wikidata description identifies it as the "state capital of Kedah, Malaysia."

### International and Academic Identifiers

Alor Setar is extensively catalogued across numerous international identification systems and academic databases:

- **VIAF ID**: 137190520 (Virtual International Authority File)
- **GeoNames ID**: 1736309
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n79010493
- **UN/LOCODE**: MYAOR (United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations)
- **Freebase ID**: /m/04p9tf
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID**: 1082664
- **BBC Things ID**: 977900be-0258-42b3-8227-97b64004cce2
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Alor-Setar
- **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017)**: 1814295
- **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID**: alor-star
- **Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija ID**: alor-setar
- **WorldCat Entities ID**: E39PBJwRXj8GkY4YBqyfY7dfbd
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 67fa512e-6af1-40c3-961a-ef643071a3b1
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -2401814
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 295037382
- **Who's On First ID**: 102023629
- **Yale Lux ID**: place/65f1ea77-a552-465b-a446-d89080fc326f
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007552635305171
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID**: 3868147

### Digital and Web Presence

Alor Setar maintains a presence across various digital platforms and knowledge bases. The city has a sitelink count of 60 across Wikimedia projects, indicating substantial coverage. It is listed on Curly with the ID "Regional/Asia/Malaysia/States_and_Federal_Territories/Kedah/Localities/Alor_Setar/". The city is also represented on Google Play Store with the store ID "Alor_Setar" and has a Quora topic designated as "Alor-Setar-Kedah-Malaysia." The Wikipedia coverage for Alor Setar spans 55 languages, including English (en), Malay (ms), Chinese (zh), Arabic (ar), Japanese (ja), Russian (ru), Thai (th), Vietnamese (vi), Korean (ko), and numerous others.

### Visual and Media Resources

Several visual resources are associated with Alor Setar:

- **Main Image**: Zahir Mosque Square
- **Flag Image**: Flag of Alor Setar, Kedah
- **Seal Image**: Alor Setar Emblem
- **Page Banner**: Alor Setar (Wikivoyage banner)

The commons category for the city is designated as "Alor Setar," organizing related media files and images.

### Categorization and Classification

Alor Setar is associated with several categorical classifications:

- **Topic's Main Category**: Category:Alor Setar
- **Category for People Born Here**: Category:Births in Alor Setar
- **Category of Associated People**: Category:People from Alor Setar
- **Category for People Who Died Here**: Q86313042

These categories facilitate the organization of information related to the city and its notable residents across knowledge systems.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. MusicBrainz
4. GeoNames
5. BBC Things
6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/my.htm)
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File