View source for Alor Setar Tower

{{Short description|Tower in Kedah, Malaysia}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox building
|mapframe-zoom       = 18
|name                = Alor Setar Tower
|native_name         = Menara Alor Setar
|logo                = Alor Setar Tower Logo.png
|logo_size           = 120px
|logo_alt            = 
|logo_caption        = 
|image               = AlorSetarTower2023.jpg
|caption             = The Alor Setar Tower
|image_size          = 200px
|alternate_names     = Kedah Tower
|former_names        =
|highest_prev        = MBAS Tower
|highest_start       = 1997
|highest_end         = 
|highest_next        = 
|highest_region      = [[Kedah]]
|location            = [[Alor Setar, Kedah]], Malaysia
|coordinates         = {{coord|6.124397|100.367518|region:MY-02|display=inline,title}}
|groundbreaking_date = 2 May 1994
|start_date          = 5 May 1994
|completion_date     = 19 June 1996
|opening_date        = 14 August 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.menaraalorsetar.com.my/en/the-tower/tower-info|title=The Tower|access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref>
|renovation_date     = 6 July 2020 – 26 July 2020 (Star View)
|building_type       = [[Telecommunication]], commercial offices, observation
|architectural       =
|tip                 = 
|antenna_spire       = {{convert|165.5|m|abbr=on}} (equivalent to a 44-story building)
|roof                = {{convert|115|m|abbr=on}}
|top_floor           = {{cvt|105|m}}
|observatory         = {{cvt|88|m}}
|floor_count         = 6
|elevator_count      = 2
|cost                = 
|floor_area          = <!-- {{convert||sqft|abbr=on}} -->
|architect           = [[Hijjas Kasturi Associates]]
|structural_engineer = 
|main_contractor     = 
|developer           = [[Telekom Malaysia]] Berhad (TM)
|owner               = [[Telekom Malaysia]] Berhad (TM)
|management          = 
|references          = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/130106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215082943/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/130106 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 February 2020 |title=Emporis building ID 130106 |work=[[Emporis]]}}</ref><ref>{{SkyscraperPage|834}}</ref><ref>{{Structurae|20004920}}</ref>
}}

'''Alor Setar Tower''' ({{langx|ms|Menara Alor Setar}}), also known as '''Kedah Tower''', is a four-storey, {{Convert|165.5|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}}-tall [[List of tallest towers|telecommunication tower]] in [[Alor Setar]], Kedah, Malaysia. It is  [[List of tallest buildings in Malaysia|once third tallest tower in Malaysia]], the tallest structure in the state and the tallest structure in the city.<ref name=tourismmalaysia>{{cite web|title=Alor Setar Tower|url=http://www.malaysia.travel/en/ir/places/states-of-malaysia/kedah/alor-setar-tower|work=Tourism Malaysia|access-date=22 September 2017|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012151255/http://www.malaysia.travel/en/ir/places/states-of-malaysia/kedah/alor-setar-tower|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 [[Islamic calendar|Muslim months]] such as [[Ramadhan]], [[Shawwal]], and [[Dhu al-Hijjah|Zulhijjah]], to celebrate [[Ramadhan]], [[Eid ul-Fitr|Hari Raya Aidilfitri]] and [[Eid ul-Adha|Hari Raya Aidiladha]], respectively.

The observation deck is at a height of {{convert|88|m|abbr=on}} from the base of the structure.<ref name=tourismmalaysia />
Also, the open deck or skydeck is at a height of {{convert|105|m|abbr=on}} and the antenna tower is with the height of {{convert|50.5|m|abbr=on}}.

==History==
Before Alor Setar Tower was built, the tallest structure in [[Kedah]] was Holiday Villa Alor Setar, which is {{cvt|114.7|m}}. Located at the Alor Setar City Centre, it was built in 1994. It is also the second structure in [[Northern Corridor Economic Region|Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia]] to surpass {{cvt|100|m}} 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 {{cvt|100|m}}. The tower was completed in 1996. It opened on 14 August 1997 by [[Mahathir Mohamad]], who was the [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|prime minister]] at the time.

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

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Alor_Setar_Tower_aerial_view.jpg|Alor Setar Tower seen from the air.
File:Menara Alor Setar by Jensen Ng.JPG|Alor Setar Tower seen from its base.
File:Menara Alor Setar-zamwan.jpg|Alor Setar Tower seen at night.
File:Alor Setar Tower from Sky Garden - panoramio.jpg|Alor Setar Tower seen from Sky Garden.
</gallery>

==Channels listed by frequency==



===Radio===
*[[Fly FM]] 99.1&nbsp;MHz
*[[Buletin FM|Kool 101]] 107.3&nbsp;MHz

==Description==
With a total height of 165.5 metres (543 ft), Alor Setar Tower is the [[List of tallest towers in Malaysia|third-tallest telecommunications tower in Malaysia]], after [[Kuala Lumpur Tower]] (421 m) and [[Kuantan 188]] (188 m), and was surpassed by the latter in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alor Setar Tower |url=https://www.malaysia.travel/places/states-of-malaysia/kedah/alor-setar-tower |website=Malaysia Travel |publisher=Tourism Malaysia |access-date=2025-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kuantan 188 Tower now tallest in East Coast |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/05/kuantan-188-tower-now-tallest-in-east-coast |newspaper=The Star |date=2020-03-05 |access-date=2025-06-28}}</ref>

The tower’s design is inspired by Kedah’s nickname, "[[Kedah#Economy|Jelapang Padi]]" (the rice bowl of Malaysia), reflecting the region's paddy landscape. Its structure represents "Serumpun Padi" (tied rice clusters), and the large supporting column symbolizes "Tiang Seri," signifying the strength of the people of Kedah Darul Aman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Menara Alor Setar: Simbol Kekuatan Kedah |trans-title=Alor Setar Tower: Symbol of Kedah's Strength |url=https://www.kedah.gov.my/menara-alor-setar |website=Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Kedah |language=ms |access-date=2025-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Abdullah |first=Zarina |title=Menara Alor Setar: Reka bentuk terinspirasi jelapang padi |trans-title=Alor Setar Tower: Design inspired by rice granary |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/hiburan/2021/11/123456 |newspaper=Berita Harian |date=2021-11-15 |language=ms |access-date=2025-06-28}}</ref>

==Design==
The design of the tower is from [[Tiang Seri]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.menaraalorsetar.com.my Menara Alor Star Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060209033219/http://www.telekom.com.my/ Telekom Malaysia Bhd Official Website]
*[http://www.malaysia.travel/en/ir/places/states-of-malaysia/kedah/alor-setar-tower Tourism Malaysia - Alor Setar Tower] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012151255/http://www.malaysia.travel/en/ir/places/states-of-malaysia/kedah/alor-setar-tower |date=12 October 2017 }}

{{Skyscrapers in Malaysia}}
{{Northern Corridor Economic Region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kedah]]
[[Category:Northern Corridor Economic Region|Menara Alor Setar]]
[[Category:TM Group of Companies]]
[[Category:Towers in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Towers with revolving restaurants]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kedah]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Alor Setar]]
[[Category:Radio masts and towers]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1997]]