The Derivation of Urban Design Principles in Malay-Islamic Town of Kuala Terengganu

Abstract

Islam took root in the Malay Sultanate kingdom when trade flourished through the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Islamic teaching was accepted by the locals and Islam became the country’s official religion. Islam has been assimilated in the way of life of the Malays, including the physical built environment of its cities. However, after colonisation, many of the Malay town structure had changed tremendously following the western planning. Remnants of the Malay-Islamic state footprint can still be traced in the town of Kuala Terengganu. This paper aims to establish the urban design principles influenced by the Islamic values which are embedded in and characterised in Kuala Terengganu. Employing a qualitative method, secondary and primary data (observation using photography) were collected. Content analysis were conducted on the observation data, archival documents, historical literatures and morphological study on Kuala Terengganu Town and triangulated with the literature on principles gathered from the characteristic of Islamic cities. The findings revealed that Kuala Terengganu has similar characteristics to other Islamic cities however it is translated in the local context. The comparison revealed fifteen Urban Design principles related to the Malay-Islamic Town of Kuala Terengganu that are well-assimilated and embedded within the local culture, geography and climate for the reference of future city planners.

The Development and Obstacles in Applying the Islamic Criminal Law in the State of Kelantan, Malaysia

“…The coming of Islam to the State of Kelantan has brought changes to customs, cultures and religions of the local community. The vast acceptance by the king and the people has made the religion in a special position (Jong, 1963 ).It was believed that the administration of Islamic law in Kelantan have started from the 10th or 11 century, as the arrival of Islamic' preachers and merchants to Kelantan (Razi, 1982).The acceptance of Islam not just in term of faith, but also in the matter of jurisprudence that was practiced among people (Al-Attas, 1969).The facts were in line with the provisions that the Islamic law was promulgated during the reign of Long Sayyid al-Rahman (Abdullah, 1986). In governing judicial matters, akathi court was established which was believed to functionsince 1830s during the reign of Sultan Muhammad I (1800-1835.Jurisdiction of the court involves all offenses and punishments under the Islamic criminal law (Hassan, 1996).This situation proved that the Islamic law has a strong influence and jurisdiction at that time.…”

“…In this case, Roff (1974, p. 106) have added that the palace's chamber functioned as a court of appeal from lower court that heard either in mosque or in front of Penghulu. The references and sources of law at that time were Quran, Hadith and customary traditions (Hassan, 1996).The judicial system is in the form of not formal which was authorized to discuss any dispute in society (Sadka, 1968).Nevertheless some historians denied that there were evidence indicating that Kelantan had a complete Islamic regulations (Abdullah, 1986)covering Islamic criminal law as were marked in HukumKanunMalacca, the Law of 99 Perak, Terengganu engraving stone, Kedah Law covering the Port Law and the Dato 'Setar Code.…”