Kuantan is a city and the state capital of Pahang, Malaysia. It is located near the mouth of the Kuantan River. Kuantan is the 18th largest city in Malaysia based on 2010 population and the largest city on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The administrative center of the state of Pahang was officially relocated to Kuantan on 27 August 1955 from Kuala Lipis, and was officiated by HRH Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al Muadzam Shah, the Sultan of Pahang.
Kuantan in the first century was a part of Chih-Tu empire. 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 the 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:
…On Thursday night came a boat from Kuantan. Then they told the ship’s crew there’s a pirate ship at Tanjung Tujuh, forty of them and at Kapas Island, and as well at Redang Island; it was spotted by two Kuantan boats and they set off…
In its early days, it was known as Teruntum Village (Kampung Teruntum). 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 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.
Kuantan was declared by Sultan Abdullah of Pahang as a full-fledged city on 21 February 2021 and its town council was officially renamed the Kuantan City Council (MBK).