Terengganu (Jawi: ترڠڬانو, formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu) is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman ("Abode of Faith"). The coastal city of Kuala Terengganu which stands at the mouth of the broad Terengganu River is both the state and royal capital as well as the largest city in Terengganu.

Etymology

There are several theories on the origin of the name 'Terengganu'. One theory attributes the name's origin to terang ganu, Malay for 'bright rainbow'. Another story, said to have been originally narrated by the ninth Sultan of Terengganu, Baginda Omar, tells of a party of hunters from Pahang roving and hunting in the area of what is now southern Terengganu. One of the hunters spotted a big animal fang lying on the ground. A fellow party member asked to which animal did the fang belong. The hunter, not knowing which animal, simply answered taring anu (Malay: 'fang of something'). The party later returned to Pahang with a rich hoard of game, fur and sandalwood, which impressed their neighbors. They asked the hunters where did they source their riches, to which they replied, from the land of taring anu, which later evolved into Terengganu.. By the 2005 census, the proportions had changed significantly, with 51% of the population living in urban areas and 49% in the rural areas

! Party |- | April 1925 | June 1940 | Dato' Seri Amar Diraja Ngah Muhamad bin Yusof | |- | June 1940 | May 1942 | Tengku Seri Setia Raja Tengku Omar bin Othman | |- | May 1942 | Dec 1945 | Dato' Jaya Perkasa Da Omar bin Mahmud | |- | Dec 1945 | Dec 1949 | Tengku Panglima Perang Tengku Muhamad bin al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad | |- | Dec 1949 | June 1959 | Dato' Perdana Menteri Di Raja Dato' Seri Setia Raja Kamaruddin bin Idris | |- | June 1959 | Nov 1961 | Mohd Daud bin Abdul Samad | PAS* |- | Nov 1961 | Sep 1970 | Tan Sri Ibrahim Fikri bin Mohammad | Perikatan |- | Sep 1970 | Sep 1971 | Dato' Mahmood bin Sulaiman | Perikatan |- | Sep 1971 | Aug 1974 | Dato' Nik Hassan bin Wan Abdul Rahman | Perikatan |- | Sep 1974 | Dec 1999 | Dato Seri Amar Diraja Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad | Barisan Nasional |- | Dec 1999 | March 2004 | Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang | PAS |- | March 2004 | March 2008 | Dato Seri Idris Jusoh | Barisan Nasional |- | March 2008 | Current | Datuk Ahmad Said | Barisan Nasional |}

note:* The state Government formed by PAS after the general election in 1959 was turned over to Perikatan in Nov 1969 due to a vote of no confidence in the State Assembly and 2 PAS assemblyman switched parties

2008 Menteri Besar appointment crisis

The state of Terengganu, which Barisan Nasional won with a two-thirds majority, was the last state to have no appointed Menteri Besar. In the formation of the new Terengganu state government, the federal government under Prime Minister Abdullah recommended Idris Jusoh as Menteri Besar, who received full support of twenty-three of the 24 Barisan Nasional state assemblymen elected. However, on 22 March, the office of the Sultan of Terengganu announced the appointment of Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said instead of Idris Jusoh.

The Prime Minister claimed that the appointment of Ahmad Said was unconstitutional as it went against the wishes of the assemblymen and the Prime Minister's office who have supported Idris Jusoh candidacy for Menteri Besar. Ahmad Said was subsequently stripped of his UMNO membership "for disobeying the party's leadership".

On 26 March, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin met at Istana Negara to resolve the impasse. The Prime Minister accepted the King's appointment of Ahmad Said as Chief Minister of Terengganu. He also apologised to the King for the public spat over the appointment of the mentri besar, explaining that there was no intention to disparage or humiliate the royal household. This apparent backdown was due to threat that the royal household would be prepared to dissolve the state assembly if there had been a motion of no-confidence against Ahmad Said by the 22 Umno state assemblymen.

The State Executive Council

The state executive council (EXCO) is established by the constitution. It is composed of the Menteri Besar, who is its chairman, and ten other members. The Menteri Besar and the other members of the council are appointed by the Sultan ( or Regent ) from the members of the State Assembly. The Menteri Besar is currently Ahmad Said of the Barisan Nasional.

The Terengganu EXCO(2004-2008) consisted of:

1. Y.B. Dato' Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Awang, D.P.M.T.,K.M.N., P.K.T., P.J.K.(ADUN Bukit Payung, Marang) (Chairman of State Education, Science and Technology and Human Resources Committee)

2. Y.B. Dato' Rosol bin Wahid, D.P.M.T., P.J.K. (ADUN Ajil, Hulu Terengganu) (Chairman of State Islam Hadhari Development)

3. Y.B. Dato' Ahmad bin Said, D.P.M.T., A.S.M., P.J.K. (ADUN Kijal, Kemaman) (Chairman of State Housing and Local Government Committee)

4. Y.B. Dato' Mohamed bin Awang Tera,D.P.M.T.,D.I.M.P., S.A.P., A.M.P. (ADUN Chukai, Kemaman) (Chairman of State Industry Develompent and Tourism Committee)

5. Y.B. Dato' Haji Wan Hisham bin Wan Salleh, D.P.M.T., D.J.N., P.J.K. (ADUN Ladang, Kuala Terengganu) (Chairman of State Infrastructure Development, Public Services and Communication Committee)

6. Y.B. Haji Din bin Adam, S.M.T.,P.J.K. (ADUN Bukit Besi, Dungun) (Chairman of State Cultural, Youth, Sports and NGO Committee)

7. Y.B. Datuk Haji Mohd Jidin bin Shafee, D.M.S.M., A.M.N. (ADUN Permaisuri, Setiu) (Chairman of State Agriculture and Regional Development Committee)

8. Y.B. Datuk Abdul Rahin bin Dato' Mohd Said, D.M.S.M., A.M.N. (ADUN Teluk Pasu, Kuala Nerus) (Chairman of State Entrepreneur Development Committee)

9. Y.B. Haji Wan Mohd bin Wan Hassan, P.J.K. (ADUN Kota Putera, Besut) (Chairman of State Welfare, Women and Community Development Committee)

10. Y.B. Encik Toh Chin Yaw (ADUN Bandar, Kuala Terengganu) (Chairman of State Environment, Consumer Affair and Health Committee)

Economy

Terengganu used to be Malaysia's poorest state until oil and gas were discovered off its coastline not too long ago. Terengganu's main industry now is petroleum and gas. There are huge petrochemical complexes near Paka and Kerteh, involving many joint ventures between the Malaysian national oil company, Petronas, and foreign multinationals. Tourism and fishing are also major industries in Terengganu, a state with a long coastline. Agriculture also remains important, with banana, rambutan, durian, watermelon, and various other fruits and vegetables available in season. Terengganu was traditionally famous for boat-building, with highly decorated carved wooden boats called bangau to be found in the harbor of every village and town in days not so long gone by, before electric motorboats became standard equipment for the state's fishermen.

Events

• Monsoon Cup- international sailing event
• Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge - Horse Endurance Race
• Formula Future- speed boat racing for under 15
• Kapas-Marang International Swimathon- International swimming event
• Kenyir Motocross Championship
• Terengganu Masters- Golf
• Kenyir International Mountain Bike Challenge
• 'Candat Sotong' Fiesta - fishing conmpetition
• Kenyir Lake International Triathlon
• Terengganu Starhill Tasik Kenyir 4x4 Challenge
• Tasik Puteri Water Festival
• Terengganu Traditional Games Competition
• Terengganu International 4WD Rainforest Challenge 2007

Cuisine

The most famous local food is Keropok Lekor, which is made primarily from a combination of dough (sago flour) and pounded fish mainly from mackerel and sardines, fried and served with hot chilli sauce for afternoon tea. Keropok Keping (fish crackers) are made from sun-dried slices of Keropok Lekor. Numerous keropok stalls are to be found on the side of the highway that passes through coastal communities.

Budu, a very pungent and salty anchovy sauce is also popular among the locals. It is often mixed with sliced onions and chillies as condiments.

Laksam (or laksang in local Malay dialect), a modified version of Laksa is made from rice flour (thick and soft slices). It is served in a bowl of light fresh coconut milk mixed with boiled fish flesh (mainly mackerel), finely chopped cucumbers, chillies, onions and long beans. It is eaten cold at breakfast.

Another Terengganu specialty is sata, a type of otak-otak or fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over a grill.

References

External links

• Terengganu State Government Information Portal
• RoyalArk- Malaysia- Trengganu website on the dynastic history and traditions
• Terengganu Royal Family Genealogy
• Official Terengganu Tourism site
• Maps and Street Photo of Terengganu
• Terengganu tourism page