The Malay urban tradition
This plan of Kota Bahru, Kelantan, shows the location of the royal square, the mosque and the market. Boats would carry products to and from the town.
The Malays have traditionally lived in small settlements known as kampongs. Urbanization developed as a result of the gradual transition of a village to an expanded centre of political power focused on a local sultan and a nucleus of trading activities. But apart from a greater concentration of inhabitants, the general appearance of an early Malay town was not very different from a kampong. Most of the structures were built of timber with thatched roofs. The distinguishing features of the town centre were the sultan's timber palace, a mosque and a market.
- Information in the full article includes
- The royal towns
- East coast towns
- West coast towns