Editing Alor Setar (section)

===19th and 20th century===
Other significant events during the turn of the 20th century includes the reunification of [[Perlis]] and [[Setul Kingdom|Setul]] (now [[Satun Province|Satun]]) to Kedah by the Siamese in May 1897 (both provinces had been separated from [[Kedah]] in 1821) held in Balai Besar. The event was attended by the Crown Prince of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Aziz as a representative of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. In 1904, the city witnessed the grand wedding of the five children of [[Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah]], lasting for 3 months and the cost estimated to be 3 million Ringgit.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2016|first=Laurie|last=Sams|title=Hat Yai, Thailand to Alor Setar, Malaysia|url=http://www.thelongridehome.com.au/hat_yai_thailand_to_alor_setar_malaysia|access-date=2020-12-23|website=The Long Ride Home}}</ref>

On 25 July 1905, the Legislative Council of Kedah (Majlis Mesyuarat Negeri) was formed in Alor Setar, with the Crown Prince, Tuanku Abdul Aziz held as its president. Following the [[Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909]] on 7 July 1909, the transfer of power from the Siamese to British administration was held on 15 July 1909 Balai Besar.<ref name="hasrulhassan.com"/>

[[File:High Court Building converted into Galeri Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.JPG|thumb|The exterior view of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Gallery. Built in 1922, the building formerly operated as the High Court of Kedah before relocating to the new Alor Setar Courts Complex in 2005.]]
Alor Setar fell to the [[Malayan campaign|Japanese occupation]] on 13 December 1945 and was [[Si Rat Malai|annexed to the Siamese]] until 1946. The handover ceremony from Siamese to the British was held in Padang Court, Alor Setar 18 October 1946.<ref name="hasrulhassan.com"/>

The town joined the [[Tunku Abdul Rahman#Protest against Malayan Union|protest against Malayan Union]] during the post-war period. The mass protest was attended by 10,000 against the [[Malayan Union|British backed-proposal]]. It was led by [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]] together with key leaders from [[UMNO]].<ref name="hasrulhassan.com"/> The town also witnessed the 4th [[UMNO]] General Assembly which lay the draft for the foundation of the present-day [[Constitution of Malaysia]].

The coronation ceremony of [[Abdul Halim of Kedah]], the 28th Sultan of Kedah was held in Balai Besar on 20 February 1959. The city celebrates the [[silver jubilee]] of Sultan Abdul Halim in 1983.<ref name="hasrulhassan.com"/>

The change of status of Alor Setar throughout the 20th century was also closely parallel by the rise of its urban development, demographic and population growth. The council was upgraded to Kota Setar Municipal Council on 1 February 1978, which traced its origin to Kota Setar District Council on 1 March 1976, Alor Star Municipal Board in 1958 and Alor Star Sanitary Board in 1905.<ref>{{cite web |title= Sejarah Penubuhan MBAS|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/56918767/SEJARAH-PENUBUHAN-MBAS|website= Scribd}}</ref>

The town celebrated its 250th birthday in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title= Alor Setar - 250 tahun|url=https://p-library2.s3.filebase.com/singapore-malaysia/Kerajaan%20Negeri%20Kedah%20Darulaman/Alor%20Setar%20250%20Tahun%20%28543%29/Alor%20Setar%20250%20Tahun%20-%20Kerajaan%20Negeri%20Kedah%20Darulaman.pdf|website= Filebase}}</ref> A proposal to upgrade the town into a city status was proposed by the [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malaysia)|Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government]] in 2000.