Kuantan
Encyclopedia
Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang
, the 3rd largest state in Malaysia. It is situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea
. If one measures the distance along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
, it is located roughly halfway between Singapore
and Kota Bharu
. Kuantan is the 9th largest city in Malaysia.
Recently, the National Physical Plan 2005 identified Kuantan as one of the future growth centres and a hub for trade, commerce, transportation and tourism. Kuantan is also considered as the social, economic and commercial hub for East Coast Peninsular Malaysia due to its strategic location. Rapid development since early 21st century has transformed and modernized Kuantan. Since 2005, Kuantan has had many development projects across the city, including Putra Square
, Mahkota Square, Bukit Gambang Water Resort, Kuantan Sentral, Pahang Tech Park and Kuantan Port City under the Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004-2015
. Recently, the introducing of Malaysia's first Special Economy Zone (SEZ) is located at Kuantan to boost the regional economy, tourism and growth. As an effort to catalyse the growth of Kuantan Metropolitan Precinct, government has located a petroleum manufacturing area in Pekan, a neighbour town of Kuantan and expected to allocate some funds to enhance the growth across the region.
. In the 11th century, this piece of land was conquered by another small empire called Pheng-Kheng before being taken over by the Siamese during 12th century. During the 15th century, Kuantan was ruled by the Malacca Empire.
Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850s. The word "Kuantan" was mentioned by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
(Munshi Abdullah) circa 1851/2 as below:
In its early days, it was known as Kampung Teruntum (Teruntum Village). The village was situated at the mouth of Teruntum River which is in front of the current hospital and it was established by Haji Senik and his followers in the 1850s. Early primary economic activities included fishing and small businesses. The main evidence of the establishment of the village is the cemetery that is situated near Taman Esplanade
in front of the current Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan
.
Towards the late 19th century, arrival of Chinese
miners and traders saw the establishment of a township in Kuantan and also nearby tin mining areas such as Gambang
and Sungai Lembing
. Similar to what occurred in other states in Peninsular Malaysia
, rubber plantations attracted Indian settlers as well.
The sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse
took place off the coast of Kuantan on 10 December 1941.
state government shifted the administrative centre of Pahang from Kuala Lipis
to Kuantan in 1955.
New integrated bus terminal is project to replace Terminal Makmur as the trasportation hub for intercity bus. The building will be fully air-conditioned and will have a departure and arrival hall with information boards showing the time for bus departures and arrivals. Project are expected to be ready by 2012. The site is at Bandar Indera Mahkota.
Kuantan will see many new developments including:
Many new townships have been developed around Kuantan suburban including:
Another project is for Kuantan to become a regional conurbation on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
under the Koppen climate classification
. Usually, Kuantan experiences two seasons per year, i.e. the "Dry" and Hot Season and also the Rainy Season. The "Dry" and Hot Season (a relative term here as the city does not truly have a dry season
month) occurs when seasonal south-west winds blow from Sumatra toward the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia but are blocked by the Titiwangsa Mountain Range. The temperature may reach 40 degrees Celsius. The Rainy Season usually occurs between October to March. During this season, the north-east winds bring rain to Kuantan. It can get very cloudy with a large amount of rainfall. Floods may also occur. Areas subject to possible flooding include the road to Sungai Lembing and also a few areas along the Kuantan River.
In 2006, Kuantan experienced significant air pollution that affected visibility because of the haze blowing in from Sumatra
and the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
n and 1% other races. According to the [World Gazetteer], a calculation indicates that the annual population growth of Kuantan is the greatest among the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which is 3.88 in general.
, keropok (dried fish crackers) and salted fish. Kuantan serves as the administrative and commercial capital of Pahang. Trade and commerce are also important in the economy of the town.
The timber industry, ice cream and the fishing industry also play major roles in the local economy.
Kuantan also experiences the presence of petrochemical
industries, mostly located in Gebeng, an industrial area about 25 km north of Kuantan. Among the major companies operating in Kuantan are MTBE/Polypropylene (M) Sdn Bhd, BP Chemicals, MTBE, Flexsys, Bredero Shaw Eastman Chemical, Kaneka, Polyplastics, Mieco, KNM, JiKang, W.R. Grace, Cryovac
, PPSC, AMC, etc.
(SEZ). The launch of SEZ in 2009 by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
is of the first of its kind in Malaysia. SEZ is located inside East Coast Economic Region
(ECER) which stretches from Kertih to Pekan. It is now one of the large SEZ in Asia covering 390,00 hectares. SEZ serves as a catalyst to fast track the economic development in the east coast. SEZ aims to generate RM90 billion of investments and provide over 200,000 new jobs by 2020. Located at the center of southeast Asia and consists 4 seaports (Kuantan Port
as the main gateway) and 2 airports, ECER SEZ will serve good transportation link between Indochina, India, and China.
The development masterplan will offer special incentives to attract investors. Include tax exemptions, import and export duties exemptions and 100 per cent investment tax allowance.
. There are also other scenic beaches popular with vacationers in the city's vicinity, such as Batu Hitam
, Balok, Chenor, Pantai Sepat, Beserah, and Cherating
. Near Cherating (Club Med
is located here) is a turtle sanctuary. A few kilometers away from Cherating is Pulau Ular (Snake Island). There is a legend connected with this island. In fact, Kuantan has the most beaches compared to other cities in Malaysia.
. A small park located in front of the Hospital is named the Esplanade Park
. Here, it is possible to go on a river cruise from the small jetty. The Kuantan area also produces handicrafts and batik
. Other tourist attractions include the State Mosque (Masjid Negeri)
.
. Just north of the Tin Museum is a "hanging bridge" (jambatan bergantung). Access to this bridge is via a narrow, winding road at the base of the entrance to the Tin Museum. There is a Panorama Hill which provides a fascinating view if you were at the peak before the sun rises. On the Kuantan-Sungai Lembing road
at the hamlet of Pancing, there is a limestone mountain which houses a large reclining Buddha in one of its caves, Charas Cave. The highest peak, Gunung Tapis, also can be accessed from here.
, and the Legend Resort. The other hotel are Citiview Hotel, Megaview Hotel, Shahzan Inn and various of boutique hotels and budget hotels.
Other shopping complexes are Kuantan Plaza, Pasar Besar (The Store), Mydin, Kamdar and Giant Hypermarket.
There are also many supermarkets from the local retailer such Tunas Manja, Terus Maju, Eng Hong, Nirwana and Jaya Gading.
Salted fish is the famous local production of Kuantan. There are lots of salted fish shops along Jalan Besar and the largest Salted Fish Mall 'Sin Kee Hung' located at Batu 3 along Jalan Gambang. These shops offer local production and various kind of titbits from locals.
Also very popular and sold by street vendors (especially at the fascinating night markets) are: varieties of satay
which consists of grilled meat on a stick which is dipped into peanut sauce and roti canai
, a thick chapati-like bread dipped in a unique curry style sauce.
Recommended ethnic Indian dishes include the naan
and tandoori chicken
.
Many types of local food can be found at the Pasar (Market) at the town centre. A variety of Kuala Lipis noodles are available at the corner of the Pasar's entrance.
Popular among the locals are the beef noodles at Jalan Beserah and handmade noodles "Men Fan Gou" at Jalan Air Putih. Also popular is a dish of pork ribs and rice known as bak kut teh
.
. The East Coast Expressway also links Kuantan to other major towns in Pahang. Two other important east coast towns: Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu are connected via coastal trunk roads.
Scenic coastal roads that runs through Mersing
, Kuala Rompin
and Pekan
also links Kuantan to Johor Bahru
and Singapore
. This route winds through verdant forests and small coastal towns, and a stretch of beautiful quiet beaches at Rompin
and Lanjut. Alternatively, Tun Razak Highway
that runs from the town of Segamat
, Johor
to Gambang
and proceeding to Gambang-Kuantan Highway
also connects Kuantan with Johor Bahru.
Kuantan Bypass is a highway that runs from Kuantan Port to Kuantan Airport. Interchange are available at Bandar Indera Mahkota
, Bandar Damansara Kuantan
, East Coast Expressway
, Jerangau Highway, Semambu and major roads.
Alternatively, express buses to Kuantan also depart from Kuala Lumpur
. Tickets for these buses are available from Pudu Raya Bus Station or Titiwangsa Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur. These express buses will stop at the Makmur Terminal Bus Station. There's also local bus services which stationed at the local bus station in Jalan Besar next to the Kuantan River. This bus station provides bus services to Cherating
, Pekan
, Jengka
and nearby destinations.
is located 15 km from Kuantan city. This is the only airport in Pahang State that is controlled by Malaysia Airport Bhd. Currently, there are two airlines that fly to Kuantan, namely, Malaysia Airline System (MAS), Firefly
. Firefly has scheduled direct flights to Singapore. This is plan is much more trustworthy compared with AirAsia's one because Firefly has accomplished the flight from Singapore to Subang Airport located in a miniature distance from Kuala Lumpur.
Currently, planes from Kuantan fly only to KLIA and Singapore Changi Airport
. Seasonal flights to Taipei are operated by China airlines.
The same runway is also used by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which operates MIG-29s from the nearby Kuantan Royal Malaysian Air Force base.
and MRI
. It also serves as the teaching hospital for the Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia
. A Community Health Centre serves suburbs such as Beserah, while smaller clinics are situated in smaller suburbs such as Bandar Indera Mahkota. Three private medical centers also operate in Kuantan, namely the Kuantan Medical Centre, Kuantan Specialist Hospital and Darul Makmur Medical Center. In the future there will be hospital at UIAM Indera Mahkota for the medical student. There were also two more private hospitals will be built which are Kuantan Medical Center in Indera Mahkota and new KPJ hospital at Tanjung Lumpur, namely KPJ Pahang Specialist Hospital.
(IIUM), which is a branch from the main campus in Gombak. There are two IIUM campuses in Kuantan. The Jalan Hospital campus (JHC) campus that opened on year 1997 and the 1000 acres (4 km²) Indera Mahkota campus on year 2004. IIUM Kuantan focuses on medical related degree programmes offered through several faculties or Kulliyyahs such as: Kulliyyah of Medicine, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences (Radiography, Optometry, Dietetics and Audiology), Kuliyyah of Nursing, and Kulliyyah of Science (Biomedic and Physical Sciences), Kulliyyah of Dentistry.
The Jalan Hospital campus (JHC) campus houses the notable IIUM Breast Centre, a centre devoted to the research and diagnosis of breast cancer.
The Universiti Malaysia Pahang
(UMP). Founded on year 2002 and located in Gambang, UMP offers undergraduates and postgraduates educations mainly in engineering and technical fields through its 7 faculties and centre. UMP has a newly built main campus in Pekan.
Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (POLISAS). Established in year 1976, the second oldest polytechnic in Malaysia. POLISAS are able to accommodate 5,500 students. Sitting on 75 hectar site, POLISAS is one of the largest polytechnic in Malaysia with academic departments of Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Architecture), Information Technology, Secretarial, Accounting, Food Technology and Data Processing.
Kolej Komuniti Kuantan was founded in 2001 and currently operating at a permanent campus in Bandar Indera Mahkota.
Private collages and institutes
Secondary school (high school) education is provided by Sekolah Kebangsaan (National School) (e.g.: Saint Thomas Primary and Secondary school), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (National-type School) Chinese primary schools and Religious schools (e.g.: SMA Al-Ihsan). All of them follow the syllabus and curriculum provided and regulated by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia).
Alternatives to national education are provided by international schools which do not follow the Malaysian education curriculum. These international schools include the Garden International School (preschool to grade 6) and the International School of Kuantan (grades 6 to 12).
See also : List of educational institutes in Kuantan
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuantan&action=edit§ion=14
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, the 3rd largest state in Malaysia. It is situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. If one measures the distance along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
, it is located roughly halfway between Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
. Kuantan is the 9th largest city in Malaysia.
Recently, the National Physical Plan 2005 identified Kuantan as one of the future growth centres and a hub for trade, commerce, transportation and tourism. Kuantan is also considered as the social, economic and commercial hub for East Coast Peninsular Malaysia due to its strategic location. Rapid development since early 21st century has transformed and modernized Kuantan. Since 2005, Kuantan has had many development projects across the city, including Putra Square
Putra Square
The Putra Square is a city square located opposite the Prime Minister's office complex, Perdana Putra, in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The square has been used for festivals such as the Malaysian Independence Day parade...
, Mahkota Square, Bukit Gambang Water Resort, Kuantan Sentral, Pahang Tech Park and Kuantan Port City under the Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004-2015
Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004-2015
The Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004-2012 is a development plan specially designed to transform the existing Kuantan town, the state capital of Pahang in Malaysia, to become the centre of the East Coast Economic Region....
. Recently, the introducing of Malaysia's first Special Economy Zone (SEZ) is located at Kuantan to boost the regional economy, tourism and growth. As an effort to catalyse the growth of Kuantan Metropolitan Precinct, government has located a petroleum manufacturing area in Pekan, a neighbour town of Kuantan and expected to allocate some funds to enhance the growth across the region.
History
Kuantan in the first century was a part of Chih-Tu empireChi Tu
Chi Tu is an ancient kingdom mentioned in the history of China. The Sui Dynasty annals describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu. The location of Chi Tu was disputed to be around Kelantan or Pahang state in Malay Peninsula, or in Songkhla and Pattani Province of southern Thailand...
. In the 11th century, this piece of land was conquered by another small empire called Pheng-Kheng before being taken over by the Siamese during 12th century. During the 15th century, Kuantan was ruled by the Malacca Empire.
Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850s. The word "Kuantan" was mentioned by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir , also known as Munshi Abdullah, was a Malayan writer of Indian origin. He was a famous Malacca-born Indian munshi of Singapore and died in Jeddah, then part of the Ottoman Empire ....
(Munshi Abdullah) circa 1851/2 as below:
In its early days, it was known as Kampung Teruntum (Teruntum Village). The village was situated at the mouth of Teruntum River which is in front of the current hospital and it was established by Haji Senik and his followers in the 1850s. Early primary economic activities included fishing and small businesses. The main evidence of the establishment of the village is the cemetery that is situated near Taman Esplanade
Taman Esplanade, Kuantan
Taman Esplanade is a waterfront promenade located at Jalan Besar, next to the MPK headquarters building and facing the Kuantan River, Malaysia...
in front of the current Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan
Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan
Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan is the main hospital in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The hospital began operation in 1983....
.
Towards the late 19th century, arrival of Chinese
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
miners and traders saw the establishment of a township in Kuantan and also nearby tin mining areas such as Gambang
Gambang
A gambang, properly called a gambang kayu is a xylophone-like instrument used among peoples of Indonesia and the southern Philippines in gamelan and kulintang, with wooden bars as opposed to the metallic ones of the more typical metallophones in a gamelan...
and Sungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing is a tin mining town 42 km northwest of Kuantan in Pahang, Malaysia. Lembing is Malay for spear, and "sungai" means river. Per local legend, the local ruler saw a vision of a spear in the nearby river and thus named his town after this vision....
. Similar to what occurred in other states in Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
, rubber plantations attracted Indian settlers as well.
The sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse
Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse
The sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse was a Second World War naval engagement that took place north of Singapore, off the east coast of Malaya, near Kuantan, Pahang where the British Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by land-based bombers and...
took place off the coast of Kuantan on 10 December 1941.
Administration
The PahangPahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
state government shifted the administrative centre of Pahang from Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis is a big town in Pahang, Malaysia with a population of 200,000. It is located in the district of Lipis.-History:Kuala Lipis was a gold-mining center before the British arrived in 1887. In 1898 it became the capital of Pahang until 1953....
to Kuantan in 1955.
Urban Development
Kuantan Sentral, costing RM50 million will be built as one of the main components of The Planned Kuantan Metropolis. This state of the art transportation hub will be the station for Malaysian Trans-City-Speed Train connecting Kuantan and the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur through Kuala Lumpur Sentral.New integrated bus terminal is project to replace Terminal Makmur as the trasportation hub for intercity bus. The building will be fully air-conditioned and will have a departure and arrival hall with information boards showing the time for bus departures and arrivals. Project are expected to be ready by 2012. The site is at Bandar Indera Mahkota.
Kuantan will see many new developments including:
- Relocation of the state administration centre to its proposed site in Bandar Indera MahkotaBandar Indera MahkotaBandar Indera Mahkota is a township in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. This township was opened in 1983. It is once known as Atabara and now it is a well-developed residential area. Its postal code is 25200.-Location:...
(KotaSAS). - Two tourist villages will be further developed, namely CheratingCheratingCherating is a beach town in Pahang, Malaysia, located about 47 km north of Kuantan. It is the location of Asia’s first Club Mediterranee ....
and Pantai Sepat. - A conceptual idea has been initiated for a high-speed train linking Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Kuantan. - Komuter Timur service linking Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman and Kuantan by 2014.
Many new townships have been developed around Kuantan suburban including:
Another project is for Kuantan to become a regional conurbation on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Climate
Kuantan features a tropical rainforest climateTropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
under the Koppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. Usually, Kuantan experiences two seasons per year, i.e. the "Dry" and Hot Season and also the Rainy Season. The "Dry" and Hot Season (a relative term here as the city does not truly have a dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
month) occurs when seasonal south-west winds blow from Sumatra toward the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia but are blocked by the Titiwangsa Mountain Range. The temperature may reach 40 degrees Celsius. The Rainy Season usually occurs between October to March. During this season, the north-east winds bring rain to Kuantan. It can get very cloudy with a large amount of rainfall. Floods may also occur. Areas subject to possible flooding include the road to Sungai Lembing and also a few areas along the Kuantan River.
In 2006, Kuantan experienced significant air pollution that affected visibility because of the haze blowing in from Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Demographics
Kuantan's population is approximately 607,778. The population of Kuantan is composed of 57% Malay, 32% Chinese, 10% IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and 1% other races. According to the [World Gazetteer], a calculation indicates that the annual population growth of Kuantan is the greatest among the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which is 3.88 in general.
Economy
One of its major economic activities is tourism. Domestically, it is famous for the production of handicrafts, batikBatik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
, keropok (dried fish crackers) and salted fish. Kuantan serves as the administrative and commercial capital of Pahang. Trade and commerce are also important in the economy of the town.
The timber industry, ice cream and the fishing industry also play major roles in the local economy.
Kuantan also experiences the presence of petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
industries, mostly located in Gebeng, an industrial area about 25 km north of Kuantan. Among the major companies operating in Kuantan are MTBE/Polypropylene (M) Sdn Bhd, BP Chemicals, MTBE, Flexsys, Bredero Shaw Eastman Chemical, Kaneka, Polyplastics, Mieco, KNM, JiKang, W.R. Grace, Cryovac
Sealed Air
Sealed Air Corporation is a company that makes a variety of packaging materials, systems and equipment. Its brands include Bubble Wrap, Cryovac, Instapak, Shanklin.They have recently moved headquarters to Elmwood Park, New Jersey....
, PPSC, AMC, etc.
Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
Kuantan is being identified as a Special Economic ZoneSpecial Economic Zone
A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic and other laws that are more free-market-oriented than a country's typical or national laws...
(SEZ). The launch of SEZ in 2009 by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
is of the first of its kind in Malaysia. SEZ is located inside East Coast Economic Region
East Coast Economic Region
East Coast Economic Region ' is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia based on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia - which covers states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the north of Mersing district of Johor...
(ECER) which stretches from Kertih to Pekan. It is now one of the large SEZ in Asia covering 390,00 hectares. SEZ serves as a catalyst to fast track the economic development in the east coast. SEZ aims to generate RM90 billion of investments and provide over 200,000 new jobs by 2020. Located at the center of southeast Asia and consists 4 seaports (Kuantan Port
Kuantan Port
Situated about 25 KM to the north of Kuantan city and facing South China Sea, Kuantan Port is a multipurpose port in the East Coast Region of Peninsular Malaysia....
as the main gateway) and 2 airports, ECER SEZ will serve good transportation link between Indochina, India, and China.
The development masterplan will offer special incentives to attract investors. Include tax exemptions, import and export duties exemptions and 100 per cent investment tax allowance.
Tourism
Beaches
Kuantan's main sightseeing attraction is the beach at Teluk CempedakTeluk Cempedak
Teluk Cempedak or Teluk Chempedak is a famous beach in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Teluk Cempedak is located 5 kilometres east from the town centre in Kuantan and is situated in close proximity to the Royal Pahang Golf Club...
. There are also other scenic beaches popular with vacationers in the city's vicinity, such as Batu Hitam
Batu Hitam
Batu Hitam is another favorite beach with the locals and Malaysian week-enders apart from Balok and Teluk Cempedak. Located about 10 km from Kuantan, the beach is called Batu Hitam for its stretch of black stones at the otherwise white sandy beach...
, Balok, Chenor, Pantai Sepat, Beserah, and Cherating
Cherating
Cherating is a beach town in Pahang, Malaysia, located about 47 km north of Kuantan. It is the location of Asia’s first Club Mediterranee ....
. Near Cherating (Club Med
Club Med
Club Méditerranée , commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is considered the original all-inclusive resort.-Foundation:...
is located here) is a turtle sanctuary. A few kilometers away from Cherating is Pulau Ular (Snake Island). There is a legend connected with this island. In fact, Kuantan has the most beaches compared to other cities in Malaysia.
Waterfalls
Kuantan is also known to tourists for its waterfalls. The most well-known is the Sungai Pandan Water Fall. Two other waterfalls are the Sungai Berkelah Waterfall and the Jerangkang Waterfall. There are also three parks within the city. These are the Gelora Park, Teruntum Mini Zoo and Agriculture Park at Indera MahkotaBandar Indera Mahkota
Bandar Indera Mahkota is a township in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. This township was opened in 1983. It is once known as Atabara and now it is a well-developed residential area. Its postal code is 25200.-Location:...
. A small park located in front of the Hospital is named the Esplanade Park
Taman Esplanade, Kuantan
Taman Esplanade is a waterfront promenade located at Jalan Besar, next to the MPK headquarters building and facing the Kuantan River, Malaysia...
. Here, it is possible to go on a river cruise from the small jetty. The Kuantan area also produces handicrafts and batik
Batik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
. Other tourist attractions include the State Mosque (Masjid Negeri)
Masjid Negeri Sultan Ahmad Shah
The Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque is Pahang's state mosque. It is located in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.- History :It was constructed between 1991 and 1993 by DZJ Architect and Associates. When it was completed, it faced numerous problems including water leaking from the roof but was eventually...
.
Sungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing is located about 26 km northwest of Kuantan and it used to contain the world's deepest underground tin mines.There is an interesting Tin Museum in the former mining town of Sungai LembingSungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing is a tin mining town 42 km northwest of Kuantan in Pahang, Malaysia. Lembing is Malay for spear, and "sungai" means river. Per local legend, the local ruler saw a vision of a spear in the nearby river and thus named his town after this vision....
. Just north of the Tin Museum is a "hanging bridge" (jambatan bergantung). Access to this bridge is via a narrow, winding road at the base of the entrance to the Tin Museum. There is a Panorama Hill which provides a fascinating view if you were at the peak before the sun rises. On the Kuantan-Sungai Lembing road
Jalan Sungai Lembing
Jalan Sungai Lembing is a major highways in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. It is also a main route to East Coast Expressway via Kuantan Interchange-List of junctions:...
at the hamlet of Pancing, there is a limestone mountain which houses a large reclining Buddha in one of its caves, Charas Cave. The highest peak, Gunung Tapis, also can be accessed from here.
Accommodations
The 5-star hotels in Kuantan are Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort and The Zenith Hotel while the 4-star hotels include Vistana Hotel Kuantan, MS Garden Hotel, Grand Continental Hotel and The Legend Resort. Visitors often prefer the beach resorts. The more popular ones include De Rhu Beach Resort, Cherating Holiday Villa Beach Resort, Swiss-Garden Resort, Impiana Resort, Club Med CheratingClub Med
Club Méditerranée , commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is considered the original all-inclusive resort.-Foundation:...
, and the Legend Resort. The other hotel are Citiview Hotel, Megaview Hotel, Shahzan Inn and various of boutique hotels and budget hotels.
Shopping
Main shopping malls in Kuantan:- East Coast Mall is a new shopping mall which consists of built-up area of 1000000 sq ft (92,903 m²) and houses a number of fashion labels including Bonia, Baleno, Giordano,Clarks, Padini Concept Store, Brands Outlet, Quicksilver, Royal Sporting House, Samuel and Kevin, Carlo Rino and many more. Anchor tenants also include CarrefourCarrefourCarrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
, ParksonParksonParkson is a popular department store company in Malaysia which offers items at a medium rate. Parkson was established in 1987 as one of the largest retail chains in Malaysia at that time...
, a 9-screen GSC cinema complex and a Song Box KTV. Located in Putra Square which consists of a hotel and corporate towers, convention centre and cultural towns. - Berjaya Megamall opened in 1998 and still a great place for shopping. Two concourse mall houses great fashion boutiques and shops. Berjaya Megamall also have Parkson, Giant, Apple K KTV, Megalanes Bowling, a snooker center, Holiday Planet Amusement Center and a 5 screen GSC cinema.
- Kuantan Parade Anchor tenant are The Store. With great popularity, Celebrities Roadshows or events are always held here.
- Teruntum Complex. The earliest shopping mall in Kuantan. The complex is undergoing upgrades and now houses a 5 screen BigCinema and Xanax KTV, which the biggest in the East Coast.
Other shopping complexes are Kuantan Plaza, Pasar Besar (The Store), Mydin, Kamdar and Giant Hypermarket.
There are also many supermarkets from the local retailer such Tunas Manja, Terus Maju, Eng Hong, Nirwana and Jaya Gading.
Salted fish is the famous local production of Kuantan. There are lots of salted fish shops along Jalan Besar and the largest Salted Fish Mall 'Sin Kee Hung' located at Batu 3 along Jalan Gambang. These shops offer local production and various kind of titbits from locals.
Cuisine
Kuantan is famous for its delicious fish crackers (called keropok in Malay) and salted fish, where the fish are marinated mainly with salt and left out to dry in the sun for days. 'Ikan Bakar' or grilled fish can be purchased at Tanjung Lumpur.Also very popular and sold by street vendors (especially at the fascinating night markets) are: varieties of satay
Satay
Satay , or sate, is a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, other meats, or tofu; the more authentic version uses skewers from the midrib of the coconut palm frond, although bamboo skewers are...
which consists of grilled meat on a stick which is dipped into peanut sauce and roti canai
Roti canai
Roti canai or roti cane is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is often sold in Mamak stalls in Malaysia; also in Malay, Minangkabau and Aceh restaurants in Indonesia...
, a thick chapati-like bread dipped in a unique curry style sauce.
Recommended ethnic Indian dishes include the naan
Naan
Naan is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread. It is typical of and popular in South and Central Asia, in Iran, and in South Asian restaurants abroad. Influenced by the large influx of South Asian labour, naan has also become popular in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states.Originally, naan is a...
and tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is highly popular Indian and Pakistani dish consisting of roasted chicken, yogurt, and spices.-Preparation:The chicken is marinated in Yoghurt and seasoned with tandoori masala. It is moderately piquant in India and Pakistan, but the heat is reduced in most Western nations...
.
Many types of local food can be found at the Pasar (Market) at the town centre. A variety of Kuala Lipis noodles are available at the corner of the Pasar's entrance.
Popular among the locals are the beef noodles at Jalan Beserah and handmade noodles "Men Fan Gou" at Jalan Air Putih. Also popular is a dish of pork ribs and rice known as bak kut teh
Bak kut teh
Bak-kut-teh is a Chinese soup popularly served in Malaysia, Singapore, Mainland China and Taiwan and also, neighbouring regions like Riau Islands and Southern Thailand.The name literally translates as "meat bone tea", and, at its simplest, consists of meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex broth...
.
Land
Kuantan is connected to Kuala Lumpur via the East Coast Expressway and Karak Expressway. Kuantan is now more accessible by road transportation than before, primarily because of the opening of East Coast ExpresswayEast Coast Expressway
The East Coast Expressway, ECE or is an expressway in Malaysia. It is an extension of Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, which starts from Kuala Lumpur to Karak. It provides a link from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It features a closed toll system...
. The East Coast Expressway also links Kuantan to other major towns in Pahang. Two other important east coast towns: Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu are connected via coastal trunk roads.
Scenic coastal roads that runs through Mersing
Mersing
Mersing is a town in Mersing District in the northeast corner of the state of Johor, Malaysia.Mersing town is a lively tourist town visited by Malaysians and foreign tourists....
, Kuala Rompin
Kuala Rompin
Kuala Rompin is a town in the Rompin district of the State of Pahang, Malaysia. It is located on the South-East coast of Peninsular Malaysia and faces the South China Sea. It is about 133 km south from Kuantan, the State Capital of Pahang. From Singapore, travellers must travel 215 km...
and Pekan
Pekan
Located on the banks of the Pahang River 50 km south of Kuantan, Pekan is the royal town of the Malaysian state of Pahang Darul Makmur. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan. Pekan is also the name of the district the town is situated in, and a parliamentary constituency in its own right...
also links Kuantan to Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. This route winds through verdant forests and small coastal towns, and a stretch of beautiful quiet beaches at Rompin
Rompin
Rompin is a small fishing village and township on the southern end of Pahang, Malaysia. It is located within the district of Rompin. The Rompin River flows through the town. The Endau Rompin National Park is partly situated within the Rompin district....
and Lanjut. Alternatively, Tun Razak Highway
Tun Razak Highway
Tun Razak Highway, Federal Route , or also known as Segamat-Kuantan Highway is a federal highway running from the town of Segamat, Johor to Gambang before proceeding another via Federal route to Gambang near Kuantan, Pahang...
that runs from the town of Segamat
Segamat
Segamat is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia . It is located roughly 172 kilometres from Johor Bahru, the capital city of Johor State. It is 95 km travel distance via North-South Expressway from Johor Bahru to...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
to Gambang
Gambang
A gambang, properly called a gambang kayu is a xylophone-like instrument used among peoples of Indonesia and the southern Philippines in gamelan and kulintang, with wooden bars as opposed to the metallic ones of the more typical metallophones in a gamelan...
and proceeding to Gambang-Kuantan Highway
Gambang-Kuantan Highway
Gambang–Kuantan Highway, Federal Route , which is also known as Jalan Gambang and Jalan Tanah Putih is a major highway in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The highway connects Gambang to Kuantan.-Overlaps:...
also connects Kuantan with Johor Bahru.
Kuantan Bypass is a highway that runs from Kuantan Port to Kuantan Airport. Interchange are available at Bandar Indera Mahkota
Bandar Indera Mahkota
Bandar Indera Mahkota is a township in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. This township was opened in 1983. It is once known as Atabara and now it is a well-developed residential area. Its postal code is 25200.-Location:...
, Bandar Damansara Kuantan
Bandar Damansara Kuantan
Bandar Damansara Kuantan is a self-contained township being developed by Damansara Realty Sdn Bhd. It was first launched in June 2000. The township encompasses an area of and is situated 10 km north of Kuantan and is adjacent to the Kuantan Bypass, which connects Kuantan with the Kuantan...
, East Coast Expressway
East Coast Expressway
The East Coast Expressway, ECE or is an expressway in Malaysia. It is an extension of Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, which starts from Kuala Lumpur to Karak. It provides a link from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It features a closed toll system...
, Jerangau Highway, Semambu and major roads.
Alternatively, express buses to Kuantan also depart from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. Tickets for these buses are available from Pudu Raya Bus Station or Titiwangsa Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur. These express buses will stop at the Makmur Terminal Bus Station. There's also local bus services which stationed at the local bus station in Jalan Besar next to the Kuantan River. This bus station provides bus services to Cherating
Cherating
Cherating is a beach town in Pahang, Malaysia, located about 47 km north of Kuantan. It is the location of Asia’s first Club Mediterranee ....
, Pekan
Pekan
Located on the banks of the Pahang River 50 km south of Kuantan, Pekan is the royal town of the Malaysian state of Pahang Darul Makmur. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan. Pekan is also the name of the district the town is situated in, and a parliamentary constituency in its own right...
, Jengka
Bandar Pusat Jengka
Bandar Pusat Jengka or Jengka Town Centre is a main town in Pahang, Malaysia.Bandar Pusat Jengka is the centre of the Jengka Triangle which is known as FELDA Jengka...
and nearby destinations.
Air
Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah AirportSultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport
"RAF Kuantan", "RMAF Kuantan" & "Kuantan Airfield" redirect here.Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport is an airport that serves Kuantan, a city in the state of Pahang in Malaysia. The airport is located 15 km from the city. In 2009, the airport handled 226,912 passengers on 3,110 flights, though the...
is located 15 km from Kuantan city. This is the only airport in Pahang State that is controlled by Malaysia Airport Bhd. Currently, there are two airlines that fly to Kuantan, namely, Malaysia Airline System (MAS), Firefly
Firefly (airline)
FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, operating as Firefly, is a full service point to point carrier and a full subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. Its head office is located on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor. It claims to be the first community airline in Malaysia...
. Firefly has scheduled direct flights to Singapore. This is plan is much more trustworthy compared with AirAsia's one because Firefly has accomplished the flight from Singapore to Subang Airport located in a miniature distance from Kuala Lumpur.
Currently, planes from Kuantan fly only to KLIA and Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
. Seasonal flights to Taipei are operated by China airlines.
The same runway is also used by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which operates MIG-29s from the nearby Kuantan Royal Malaysian Air Force base.
Healthcare
Medical needs are served by several hospitals and clinics. The main hospital is Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, which is equipped with various state-of-the-art equipment such as a CT scannerComputed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
and MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
. It also serves as the teaching hospital for the Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia
International Islamic University Malaysia
The International Islamic University Malaysia , also known as IIUM or UIAM, is a public publicly-funded university in Malaysia. Its main campus is located in Gombak, Selangor with its situated in Petaling Jaya / Nilai and its medical-centric branch in Kuantan, Pahang. The university is sponsored...
. A Community Health Centre serves suburbs such as Beserah, while smaller clinics are situated in smaller suburbs such as Bandar Indera Mahkota. Three private medical centers also operate in Kuantan, namely the Kuantan Medical Centre, Kuantan Specialist Hospital and Darul Makmur Medical Center. In the future there will be hospital at UIAM Indera Mahkota for the medical student. There were also two more private hospitals will be built which are Kuantan Medical Center in Indera Mahkota and new KPJ hospital at Tanjung Lumpur, namely KPJ Pahang Specialist Hospital.
Education
There are many institutes of higher learning in Kuantan. They are either categorised as Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA); public university or Institut Pengajian Tinggi Swasta (IPTS); private university. One of the public universities in Kuantan is the International Islamic University MalaysiaInternational Islamic University Malaysia
The International Islamic University Malaysia , also known as IIUM or UIAM, is a public publicly-funded university in Malaysia. Its main campus is located in Gombak, Selangor with its situated in Petaling Jaya / Nilai and its medical-centric branch in Kuantan, Pahang. The university is sponsored...
(IIUM), which is a branch from the main campus in Gombak. There are two IIUM campuses in Kuantan. The Jalan Hospital campus (JHC) campus that opened on year 1997 and the 1000 acres (4 km²) Indera Mahkota campus on year 2004. IIUM Kuantan focuses on medical related degree programmes offered through several faculties or Kulliyyahs such as: Kulliyyah of Medicine, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences (Radiography, Optometry, Dietetics and Audiology), Kuliyyah of Nursing, and Kulliyyah of Science (Biomedic and Physical Sciences), Kulliyyah of Dentistry.
The Jalan Hospital campus (JHC) campus houses the notable IIUM Breast Centre, a centre devoted to the research and diagnosis of breast cancer.
The Universiti Malaysia Pahang
Universiti Malaysia Pahang
University Malaysia Pahang is a Malaysian government university. It was formerly known as Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Malaysia .-History:...
(UMP). Founded on year 2002 and located in Gambang, UMP offers undergraduates and postgraduates educations mainly in engineering and technical fields through its 7 faculties and centre. UMP has a newly built main campus in Pekan.
Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (POLISAS). Established in year 1976, the second oldest polytechnic in Malaysia. POLISAS are able to accommodate 5,500 students. Sitting on 75 hectar site, POLISAS is one of the largest polytechnic in Malaysia with academic departments of Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Architecture), Information Technology, Secretarial, Accounting, Food Technology and Data Processing.
Kolej Komuniti Kuantan was founded in 2001 and currently operating at a permanent campus in Bandar Indera Mahkota.
Private collages and institutes
- Kolej Islam Pahang Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (KIPSAS)
- Kolej Poly-Tech MARA
- Kolej Universiti Shahputra
- Kolej Profesional Mara Indera Mahkota
- Institut Kemajuan Ikhtisas Pahang (IKIP) College
- Institut ECMA
- Institut Saga
- Institut Teknologi MIDAS
- Olympia College
- Kolej PSDC
- Kolej Teknologi Cosmopoint
- Strategy College
Secondary school (high school) education is provided by Sekolah Kebangsaan (National School) (e.g.: Saint Thomas Primary and Secondary school), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (National-type School) Chinese primary schools and Religious schools (e.g.: SMA Al-Ihsan). All of them follow the syllabus and curriculum provided and regulated by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia).
Alternatives to national education are provided by international schools which do not follow the Malaysian education curriculum. These international schools include the Garden International School (preschool to grade 6) and the International School of Kuantan (grades 6 to 12).
See also : List of educational institutes in Kuantan
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuantan&action=edit§ion=14
In popular culture
- Kuantan features prominently in the first part of Nevil ShuteNevil ShuteNevil Shute Norway was a popular British-Australian novelist and a successful aeronautical engineer. He used his full name in his engineering career, and 'Nevil Shute' as his pen name, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.-...
's 1949 novel A Town Like AliceA Town Like AliceA Town Like Alice is a novel by the British author Nevil Shute about a young Englishwoman in Malaya during World War II and in outback Australia post-war.... - Kuantan is mentioned in the Command & Conquer video game series backstory as being a major base of operations of the Brotherhood of Nod.
- Box-office success local movie "Woohoo"(2010) was shot at Beserah, Kuantan.