Langkawi is in the state of Kedah. It is well known that northern areas of Peninsular Malaysia (and southern Thailand) have a strong Islamic influence and as such social attitudes in Kedah are much more conservative. Subsequently you will see fewer tourists in Peninsular Malaysia northern states - other than in the resort island of Langkawi.
Archeologists have found evidence of human settlement in Kedah dating back to the Stone Age. It is here that the Hindu-Buddhist regilion on the peninsula first originated. During the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah was under the Srivijaya Empire from Sumatra, Indonesia. However by the 15th century the Srivijaya Empire was replaced by Thais. About this same time Islam had taken hold in Malacca and began spreading northward to Langkawi.
Malaysia is an Islamic country inasmuch as Islam is the state religion, however everyone has the freedom of religion, and this is evident in the multicultural city of Kuala Lumpur. On whole Malaysia is comprised of people from different ethnic groups - Malays are the predominant race with 59% of the population, and almost all of Malays are Muslims. The next largest group are the Chinese at 32%, with their eclectic mix of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism although some are Christians. Most Malaysians of Indian descent are Hindu. However as mentioned above do take note that certain states of Malaysia, especially in the north, have a stronger Islamic influence and tend to be stricter in social
