SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
The great majority of Kota Bharu’s population is ethnically Kelantanese Malay. The language spoken in Kota Bharu is Bahasa Melayu Kelantan, which is a dialect commonly referred to as “Kecek Kelate”. There is also a fairly large Chinese, a minority Indian, Siamese and Orang Asli population within the city. The total population of Kota Bharu city reported as of 2010 was 314,964. The state itself has a population approaching 2 million today.
Orang Asli, mostly Temiar, are indigenous to the country and have lived in the forests of Malaya since time immemorial. Some of the Temiar maintain traditional beliefs in their natural surroundings and other forms of animist elements. Other Orang Asli ethnic groups that live in Kelantan are Jahais, Bateks and Mendriqs.
