Thursday July 17, 2008

It’s now Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah

By EMBUN MAJID

ALOR STAR: Langkawi has been renamed Langkawi Permata Kedah (Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah). Kedah ruler Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah had consented to the change of name at the investiture ceremony held in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee celebration yesterday.

The Sultan said that the new name was chosen so that international tourists would acknowledge Langkawi as being part of Kedah.

In line with the name change, Sultan Abdul Halim urged the state government to improve the ferry facilities at the Kuala Kedah terminal, which is the gateway to Langkawi.

“I hope that the state government will upgrade the facilities at the terminal to international standards as it is the main entrance to the island,” he said in his keynote address during the investiture ceremony at Istana Anak Bukit here yesterday.

The new name would be used in place of “Langkawi Geopark”.

It will also be used during official functions and printed on letterheads when introducing Langkawi to the world.

At the investiture ceremony, Sultanah of Kedah Tuanku Haminah Hamidun who was conferred the Darjah Kerabat Halimi led a list of 71 people who were bestowed awards.

Speaking to reporters later, Kedah Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the name “Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah” was a present for the Sultan in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee.

“I believe the name Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is much more suitable for the island compared to Geopark or Pulau Lagenda,” he said.

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