Padang Besar, Malaysia

Padang Besar (often abbreviated as Padang or P.B.) is a border town located in the northern part of the state of Perlis in Malaysia as well northmost town in Malaysia. It is situated on the border with Songkhla province, Thailand, 35 kilometers northeast of Kangar and about 57 km southwest of Hat Yai. The town opposite Padang Besar in Thailand is also known as Padang Besar, although the locals here usually refer to the town as "Pekan Siam" or Siamese town. The town is a "shopping heaven" and popular destination for Malaysians because of the duty-free shopping complex in between the border checkpoints of the two countries. The town attracts several thousand visitors from Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand every weekend and during public holidays.

Border Crossing
Padang Besar is connected to Federal Route 7 and railway which lead to the border crossing into Thailand. The road and railway respectively connect directly to Padang Besar – Sadao Highway (Thailand Route 4054) and State Railway of Thailand to form part of the Trans-Asian Railway.

The Malaysian checkpoint is located to the north east of town, about 300m from the actual border where the Thai checkpoint is located. Both the Malaysian and Thai checkpoints have drive-through lanes. The Padang Besar railway station has Malaysia's only co-located or juxtaposed customs, immigration and quarantine facility for both Malaysia and Thailand and rail passengers are processed for exiting Malaysia and entering Thailand (or vice versa if traveling the other direction) in the station. The Padang Besar station in Thailand only serves as a domestic station.

Economy
Tourism, international trading and the logistics sector are the most important profit source to local citizens if compared to agriculture. Padang Besar's industry area is one of the most important industry areas in Perlis.

Tourism
Padang Besar is a popular shopping paradise since 1960, this town is frequently visited by citizens from both Malaysia and Thailand for travel and business purpose. Nowadays, this town still attracts several thousands of visitors from Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand every weekend and during public holidays. Majority of Malaysians frequent Kompleks Aked Niaga Padang Besar, Pasar Padang Besar and Gapura Square. Jalan Besar (town center) is also one of the famous shopping area for Thai and Malaysian visitors.

Except for the above-mentioned shopping destinations, places of interest that can be reached within 20 minutes from Padang Besar are listed as below
 * Gua Kelam (Limestone cave)
 * Chuping (Malaysia largest sugar cane land and one the Malaysia Rally Championship circuit)
 * Perlis State Park (the only semi deciduous forest in Malaysia)
 * Timah Tasoh Lake

Demographics
Based on the research from Malaysian general election 2008, Population in Padang Besar town is around 10000, the population structure based on races are as below:
 * Malay: 73.52%
 * Chinese: 23.23%
 * Indian: 2.82%
 * Other: 0.59% (majority is Thailand Muslim from Southern Thailand)