Kuantan in Pahang

Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang Darul Makmur, and it is the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia. Geographically, Kuantan is located near the river mouth of Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea. According to history, Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850’s.

Pahang, wherein lies Kuantan, was under the control of the Srivijaya Empire (c. 650–1377). When Srivijaya empire collapsed, Pahang was claimed by Siam and later by neighboring kingdom, Malacca.

Some people suggest that Kuantan in Pahang was named after Kuantan in mainland Riau; the naming, according to Durai Raja Singam, dates back to the mid-nineteenth century when a group of people arrived from Kuantan in Sumatra and settled around 'Kuantan' in Pahang.

In its early days, Kuantan is known as Kampung Teruntum. It was called Kampung Teruntum as it was situated at the mouth of the Sungai Teruntum which is located in front of the current hospital and it was established by Haji Senik and his followers in the 1850’s.

Kuantan under Japanese control during World War II and the area became a battlefield where the HMS Repulse was sunk off the coast here in December 1941, together with the HMS Prince of Wales.
Kuantan in Pahang