Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct
Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct, also known as Terusan Wan Mat Saman, is the longest canal in Malaysia. It runs about 36 km from Sungai Kedah in Alor Setar to Gurun in southern Kedah. It was built from 1885 to 1896 on the orders of Kedah’s Menteri Besar, Wan Mat Saman. The canal boosted Kedah’s rice production and helped earn the state the nickname “Malaysia’s rice bowl.” It represented a shift from old farming methods to a modern system. The construction used simple tools, and to keep the canal straight, the early diggers worked at night by lighting rows of traditional torches.
Today the canal runs beside Route 1 of the Federal Road, with a smaller canal built later beside it. Traditional Malay and Chinese houses, as well as new schools, shops, mosques and cemeteries, lined the canal. In Tandop, on the outskirts of Alor Setar, parts have been covered by road-widening works. People can still spot nets on bamboo poles, ducks swimming, fish, and even small rafts built by children.
In recent years the canal has fallen into neglect and is not a registered heritage site. Its management is shared by different state and federal agencies. Artifacts found along the canal, such as keris daggers, are on display at the State Museum in Alor Setar.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:53 (CET).