Alor Setar Tower, Telecommunications tower in Alor Setar, Malaysia.
Alor Setar Tower is a telecommunications tower in the center of Alor Setar, the capital of the state of Kedah in Malaysia, with a public observation deck near its top. The structure has four floors dedicated to different functions, making it the tallest point in the city.
Construction began on 5 May 1994 and the tower was completed on 19 June 1996, built by Telekom Malaysia at a cost of RM40 million. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad opened it on 14 August 1997. Before it rose, Kedah's tallest structure was Wisma PKNK, built in 1975 and surpassed by KOMTAR in 1985.
The tower serves as an official moon-sighting point for the Muslim community in Kedah, used to determine the start of Ramadan and other Islamic celebrations. Visitors can see the equipment used for these observations, giving the site a role that goes beyond a simple lookout.
Two elevators bring visitors up to the observation deck, making it easy to reach even for those who have trouble with stairs. Early morning or around sunset tends to offer the clearest views over the surrounding paddy fields and city rooftops.
The tower's shape follows the state nickname 'Jelapang Padi': the shaft is built as 'Serumpun Padi', a tied bundle of rice stalks, while the large supporting pillar stands for the 'Tiang Seri', a symbol of the strength of Kedah's people. The antenna mast rises about 40 m above the structure.
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