Alor Setar Tower

Alor Setar Tower (Malay: Menara Alor Setar), also known as Kedah Tower, is a 44-storey, 165.5-metre-tall (543 ft) telecommunication tower in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. It is the third tallest tower in Malaysia, the tallest structure in the state and the tallest structure in the city.^[5]

Alor Setar Tower
Menara Alor Setar
The Alor Setar Tower
Alternative names	Kedah Tower
Record height
Tallest in Kedah since 1997[I]
Preceded by	MBAS Tower
General information
Type	Telecommunication, commercial offices, observation
Location	Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Coordinates	6.1245°N 100.3675°E / 6.1245; 100.3675
Groundbreaking	2 May 1994
Construction started	5 May 1994
Completed	19 June 1996
Opening	14 August 1997[1]
Renovated	6 July 2020 – 26 July 2020 (Star View)
Owner	Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM)
Height
Antenna spire	165.5 m (543 ft) (equivalent to a 44-story building)
Roof	115 m (377 ft)
Top floor	105 m (344 ft)
Observatory	88 m (289 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	6
Lifts/elevators	2
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Hijjas Kasturi Associates
Developer	Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM)
References
[2][3][4]

Apart from serving the role of a telecommunication tower, it also caters as a tourist destination for the town. The tower also houses some restaurants and a souvenir shop. The tower is an observatory tower to look for the crescent moon to mark the beginning of Muslim months such as Ramadhan, Shawwal, and Zulhijjah, to celebrate Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha, respectively.

The observation deck is at a height of 88 m (289 ft) from the base of the structure.^[5] Also, the open deck or skydeck is at a height of 105 m (344 ft) and the antenna tower is with the height of 50.5 m (166 ft).

History

Before Alor Setar Tower was built, the tallest structure in Kedah was Holiday Villa Alor Setar, which is 114.7 m (376 ft). Located at the Alor Setar City Centre, it was built in 1994. It is also the second structure in Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia to surpass 100 m (330 ft) after Penang's Komtar. Alor Setar Tower was started in 1994, topped-out in 1995, it surpassed the previous Holiday Villa Alor Setar, became the third to surpass 100 m (330 ft). The tower was completed in 1996. It opened on 14 August 1997 by Mahathir Mohamad, who was the prime minister at the time.

Following the completion of the Alor Setar Tower, many high-rise and low-rise buildings started taking shape, including Amansuri Residences, Aman Central, SADA Tower, G Residence Alor Setar, VIVRE Residence, AS100, and AMEX Alor Mengkudu.

Gallery

• 
  Alor Setar Tower seen from the air.
• 
  Alor Setar Tower seen from its base.
• 
  Alor Setar Tower seen at night.
• 
  Alor Setar Tower seen from Sky Garden.

Channels listed by frequency

Radio

• Fly FM 99.1 MHz
• Kool 101 107.3 MHz

Description

With a total height of 165.5 metres (543 ft), it is the third tallest telecommunication tower in Malaysia (behind the Kuala Lumpur Tower, 421 m (1,381 ft) and the newly opened Kuantan 188, 188 m (617 ft), managed by Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd, a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), and it was surpassed by Kuantan 188 as the second tallest tower in 2020.

The design of Alor Setar Tower is inspired from the Kedah’s state nickname ‘Jelapang Padi' which refers to the geographical landscape of the state that is dominated by rows of paddy field with the structure of the tower represents 'Serumpun Padi' or the tied rice clusters, while the large pillar supporting the tower structure implies the 'Tiang Seri', symbolizes the strength of the people of Kedah Darul Aman.