Sungai Petani is the second biggest town in Kedah, after the capital Alor Setar. It is popularly known as S.P. Located to the south of Kedah, Sungai Petani is closer to Penang than to Alor Setar. In the 1990's it was the second fastest growing town in Malaysia after Johor Bahru, but the pace has somewhat stalled since the recession of the late 90's.
Until the 1980's, Sungai Petani used to spelled as Sungai Patani. There are several theories as to how the town got its name. The most simplistic explanation is that it derived its name from a river that flows through that area, one Sungai Patani. However, the river itself may have derived its name from Pattani, in southern Thailand. Some scholars believe that there had been a trade route between the Kingdom of Langkasuka, in Pattani, and the Merbok estuary, in Kedah. Misguided language purists changed the spelling of the town from Sungai Patani to Sungai Petani. In the attempt to pin the town name with a meaningful word - to them, at least - they have distorted the toponym of the town.
Perhaps the most famous landmark in Sungai Petani is the Sungai Petani Clock Tower. In the last few years, the town has seen rapid development, both in terms of residential as well as commercial development. The town now has a Tesco hypermarket and a few shopping malls.
There aren't many sightseeing places within Sungai Petani town itself. However, there are several interesting sights within a short distance out of town, including Gunung Jerai, Lembah Bujang, Kuala Muda, Tanjung Dawai, Bukit Hijau and Sungai Sedim, to name a few.
Getting there
Sungai Petani is 35 km north of Butterworth on the North-South Expressway. Take Exit 168 (Sungai Petani South) or Exit 170 (Alor Setar North).
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