town, northwestern West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) (Malaya), on the Kedah River. The town, neatly laid out, is concentrated on the west bank of the river and is the residence of the sultan of Kedah. Alor Setar is the major distribution centre for the north Kedah plain, a region in which paddy rice is grown. An intervening swamp forest makes it unapproachable from the sea, 12 miles (19 km) to the west, but road and rail services reach north to Thailand and south to Butterworth; there also is an airport at Kepala Batas, 6 miles (10 km) north-northeast. Pop. (2000 prelim.) city, 114,949; urban agglom., 186,524.