Pahang Darul Makmur
Land of Hills and Thrills
Until
the incorporation of Sarawak into Malaysia in 1963,
Pahang was the largest State in the country. The capital, Kuantan is a major
seaport on the east coast. Pahang is home to what is thought to be the world's
oldest rain forests. Parts of these lie in the National Forest Reserve.
History
The Khmer word for tin is Pahang, and since the mines at Sungai Lembing, west of Kuantan, have been worked since pre-historic times, historians believe this is where the state derived its name from. There is even a legend in Pahang suggesting that buried under the waters of Tasek Chini are the ruins of an ancient Khmer city.
Known to early Chinese mariners who came for sandalwood and elephant's tusks as Pong-fong, and the later Arab and European gold-seekers as Pan and Pahang, Pahang only emerged as a separate entity in the 15th Century through a son of the Malacca sultan. The Pahang dynasty was established at Pekan, which till today remains the Royal seat.
Ancient Chinese records referred to Pahang as a vassal of the Sumatra-based Srivijaya Empire from the 7th to the 13th Century. During the 15th to the 19th Century, it was a vassal first, of the Malacca Empire and later, of the Johor-Riau Empire.
For centuries, stretching back to the days of Portuguese Malacca, the so-called Pahang Gold Belt had attracted the attention of many, including the British. A direct consequence of the struggle to control this wealth was the Pahang Civil War of the 1860s and later, of the To' Bahaman Uprising (primarily against the British), which saw the final establishment of British rule.
Pahang became a member of the Federated Malay States in 1896, together with Selangor, Perak and Negeri Sembilan.
Geography
The State of Pahang is located on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, and shares a common border with the States of Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Johore. It has a fairly long coastline, which extends for 208 kilometres and has many beautiful beaches which are washed by the waters of the South China Sea. Pahang occupies a land area of approximately 35,500 square kilometres and has as its' capital, the town of Kuantan. Up to 1955, the capital of Pahang was Kuala Lipis, whilst Pekan has always been the Royal Town. Other towns in the State include Raub, Jerantut, Temerloh, Bentong and Maran. There are three hill stations within the State, and they are Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill and Genting Highlands.
Much
of the State is dominated by the Main Range of mountains, with the south and
south-east being relatively free from hilly terrain. The coastal regions of
Pahang are fairly flat and are drained by many rivers leading to the South China
Sea. Amongst these is the longest river in Peninsula Malaysia, the Pahang River,
which runs for a distance of 475 kilometres. Other rivers include Sungai Lipis
and Sungai Tembeling. ( Picture shows the Pahang River )
In common with most States in Malaysia, agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy of Pahang. Today, even though there are moves at diversifying or at the very least increasing the State's involvement in downstream agricultural activities, agriculture still provides the main source of income for the people of Pahang.
The State enjoys an equatorial climate over all of its' area, with rainfall figures dependent on the terrain. It is wet from November to January, with rain being brought by the North-east Monsoon during this period. In the highlands, temperatures can sink to 10 degrees Celcius or even lower, whilst in the low-lying areas, temperatures can reach a scorching 32 degrees Celcius. Humidity, as elsewhere in Malaysia, is very high.