Kota Bharu among the best Southeast Asian cities – What makes it stand out?
Despite perceptions of Kelantan being conservative and stereotypes about the local dialect, the people of Kota Bharu are deeply rooted in tradition while embracing progress.
A recent Oxford Economics Global Index study has revealed that Kota Bharu ranks as one of the top cities in Southeast Asia.
This assessment, based on factors including economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance, places Kota Bharu ahead of Surabaya, Indonesia, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
While Kuala Lumpur continues to lead, surpassing Georgetown, Malacca, Johor Bahru, Bukit Mertajam, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kota Bharu, Seremban, Kuala Muda, and Ipoh sequentially, Kota Bharu's noteworthy progress deserves to be highlighted for its continued efforts to be a competent city in the country.
Despite perceptions of Kelantan being conservative and stereotypes about the local dialect, the people of Kota Bharu are deeply rooted in tradition while embracing progress.
This balance makes Kelantan a highly tourist-friendly state, renowned for attractions like Pasar Siti Khadijah, beautiful beaches, historical sites and unique local foods such as Nasi Kerabu and Nasi Dagang.
The state's distinctive dialect, while seemingly complex, adds to its charm with memorable words such as "do'oh" which is famously used as an adverb to stress the adjective used in a sentence, such as "awak cantik do'oh," to mean, "you are 'so' beautiful," with 'so' being portrayed by 'do'oh' or ‘sokmo’ which means always.
Such dialects, however, does not hinder the residents from providing excellent service, especially in business.
Female entrepreneurs are particularly noted for their keen business acumen, especially at markets like Pasar Siti Khadijah.
Kelantan is also making strides in English education, a shift from the opposition seen five to ten years ago.
Proficiency in English is increasingly viewed as a valuable asset for the state's development.
Kota Bharu, alongside other significant areas like Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, and Gua Musang, contributes to the state's high ranking, showcasing Kelantan as a well-functioning region with strong community demands.
Plus, Kelantan boasts several beach attractions, such as Pantai Senok in Bachok, likened to Nami Island in South Korea due to its organised tree planting. The area also features trendy cafes like Kopitiam Kita, YooHoo Dessert Cafe, and KB Brewster, popular with Generation Z for their photogenic qualities and Instagram-worthy dishes.
Improved infrastructure, such as well-connected roads that allow good movement of goods and services, streamlining supply chains and reducing logistical costs for businesses, can unlock further economic opportunities, such as more investment by local and foreign investors, compensating for its overdue and overlooked potential that will open more job creation and income generation for Kelantanese, and improving more of the state's overall quality, which should inspire other states to do the same while not condemning each other.
The progress was highlighted by state government, housing, health, and environment state executive councillor Hilmi Abdullah during a ceremony for MPKB-BRI cleaning staff in conjunction with Aidilfitri 1445H/2024M.
Hilmi emphasised the administration's commitment to enhancing the city's infrastructure and services, which has earned recognition despite external criticism.
He noted that the success of local awareness campaigns and infrastructure projects might surprise those unfamiliar with Kelantan.
The future of Kota Bharu holds promise as ongoing efforts aim to further elevate its status.
Currently ranked 433rd among 1,000 global cities studied by the Oxford Economics Global Index, this writer believes that Kota Bharu has the potential to climb even higher, surpassing other states.
