STATE OF PAHANG
Prior to the
establishment of the Malacca Sultanate, Pahang was in
control of the southern areas in the Malay Peninsula. The
Majapahit people at that time reffered to the Peninsula
simply as 'Pahang'. At the beginning of the 16th century,
the period when the Malay State of Johor was established,
the borders of Pahang were as follows; in the south at
Sedili Besar, in the north reaching Terengganu. It's
western borders of Pahang were as follows; in the south
at Sedili Besar, in the north and west borders of Pahang
are a chain of mountains, i.e. the Main Range. On the
east side is the South China Sea.
Pahang is the largest state in the Malay
Peninsula. Total land area is 35,515 square kilometres.
There are 11 districts in Pahang; which are Kuantan,
Maran, Pekan, Rompin, Temerloh, Jerantut, Bentong, Raub,
Lipis ,Cameron Highlands and Bera. People of
various religions and races make up the population.
The Origin Of It's Name
Pahang Darul Makmur
was called differently many centuries ago. A Chinese
writer called it as Pang-Hang Peng-Heng, Pang-Heng,
Pong-Fong, Phe-Hang, Pang-Kang and others.
In 1225, Choa Ju-Kua wrote the book
'Chu-Fan-Chi'. He wrote that amongst the states invaded
by San-Fo-Chi was one called Peng-Keng, i.e.
The Arabs and Europeans at that time called
it as Pam, Pan, Phang, Paam, Poa, Paon, Phamm, Paham,
Fanhan, Phang and Pahagh. G.R Tibbets, a historian who
commented the story written by Mas'udi thought that
Fanjab (in Mas'udi's book) was Pahang. He preferred
to call it Fanhan, Panghang/Panhang, rather than Fanjab.
Certain people said that the name 'Pahang',
originated from the language of a Siamese aborigines
tribe, meaning 'ore'. The aborigines used to live here
and opened up several mining areas, especially in Sungai
According to an old Malay story, at the
place near the Pahang River, on the opposite side of
Kampung Kembahang, a large 'mahang' tree fell across the
river, thus the name ' Pahang originated'.
Pahang was also known as 'Inderapura',
otherwise called Pahang Inderapura. It's infamous Royal
Town and once of the Malacca Sultanate, Pekan was known
done many researches and excavation works in various
sites in Pahang. Popular archaeological sites are caves,
mountains, river banks, old mining areas and a few open
spaces. Amongst the artifacts discovered were stone
implements, ceramics / earthen-wares, bronze and iron
The well known archaelogical sites in Pahang
are; Kota Tongkat, Kota Gelanggi (near Jerantut); Gua
Kecil (Raub); Gunung Senyum, Bukit Chintamanis (Karak);
Sungai Lembing, Tersang (Kuala Lipis); Sungai Selinsing,
Sungai Tui, Nyong, Teluk Lubuk Puai, Batu Pasir Garam,
Bukit Jong and Kg. Pagi (the meeting point of Sungai
Tembeling and Sungai Pahang). Most of the artifacts
discovered underneath the ground were artifacts made of
stone; made and used by the mesolithic people.
Archaeologists believed that the mesolithic
people lived in caves and mountains. They were the first
to arrive at the Asian Mainland and Malay Peninsula. The
Malay Proto group, started to live in the Peninsula about
3000 / 2000 B.C.
Several agricultural implements were found
underneath the ground. Archaelogists belived that they
were made by the people from the last Stone Age. The
implements were the heads of spears, knivers, scythes,
hoes and other unusual iron implements.
These artifacts were found of several
places; by the Sungai Lembing , Teluk Lubuk Puai and
Bukit Jong (by Sungai Lipis). In Kampung Batu Pasir Garam
(by Sungai Tembeling), archaelogists discovered a
fraction of an ancient drum made of bronze or Dong S'on
Drum. It was used by the people who observed the Bronze
Culture. Dr. Linehan stated that this Dong S'on Drum was
made in Indo-China and brought over from Funan to Ulu
Tembeling sometime in the 3rd century together with
implements made from ancient irons.
According to anthropologists and historians,
the deutro Malays were the ancestors of the Malays living
in the coastal districts of the Malay Peninsula. In
ancient times, besides the aborigines ( the Semang tribes
), Pahang was inhabited by the Middle Age men and the
Last Stone Age ( early Bronze Age men).
State Monarchy and
The system of monarchy was established in
Pahang many centuries ago. The first Sultan was Sultan
Muhamad Shah ( 1469-1475 ), the prince of the Sultan of
Malacca. His descendants continued to hold the throne of
Pahang for more than 200 years. The last from the family
was Sultan Mahmud Shah, who died in 1699.
Following his death, power was taken by the
family of Bendahara Tuan Habib Abdul Majid, Padang
Saujana. They established the independent influence
The English came over and
established their hegemony over Pahang in the late 19th
century. J.P.Rodger was appointed as the first Resident
in October 1888. Top priority was to centralize all
administrative works Pekan was first chosen, but after 3
years, it was transfered to Lipis.
In 1901, a plan was made to transfer the
centre to a new and permanent site. Final decision was
taken on 2nd March 1953. The State Government considered
2 sites, Temerloh / Mentakab and Kuantan. The former had
a problem of uneven land; wich required vast amount of
money to develop. It was settled Kuantan was to be new
The late Sultan Abu Bakar proclaimed the new
state capital on 27th August 1955. On 28th February 1970,
all administrative works were centralized in the newly
constructed Wisma Sri Pahang.
In the past, the
river of Pahang, Kuantan, Bebar, Rompin, Endau,
Tembeling, Jelai, Semantan and other small ones were used
as the main transportation way for travelling between
districts and to other states. Somebody going to Kelantan
may use the Tanum River (of the Jelai River) or using the
Sat and Sepia River (both the tributaries of the
Tembeling River). The Sepia River can also be used to go
to Terengganu. The way to Perak is harder, using the
Bertam and Lipis Rivers (of the Jelai River). The
Semantan River and it's tributaries were used to travel
The main way used in the past was the one
connecting Pahang with the districts in Hulu Muar and
Malacca.This river route goes upstream of the Pahang
River through it's tributary called Bera River then
through Serting River. At the end of Serting River the
boat has to be pulled onland for three hundred yards.
That place is called 'Penarikan' meaning a place where
travellers pulled their boats onland. Then the route
follows down stream Jempol River and to Muar River. From
Muar one can go to Malacca and other places on the west
coast of Peninsula Malaysia. This is the route followed
by Sultan Mahmud Shah of Malacca and his son Sultan
Ahmad when they were defeated by the Portuguese in 1511
at Pagoh and Bentayan. This some route was used by Sultan
Ali (the son of Sultan Husain Shah of Singapore) from
Umbai Malacca to Pahang to meet Bendahara Wan Ahmad
Pahang (Pekan) in 1863. Gadinho de Eredia an author and a
Portuguese officer in Malacca in 1613 stated that
"From Malacca to Pahang via 'Penarikan' takes six
days to and fro".
Perahu jalak ( small boats ) were used to
carry both cargoes and passengers. These boats could
accommodate 12 passengers and about 15 tonnes of cargo.
The rent for each journey from Kuantan to Kuala Pahang
was $25.00. The Sungai Lembing Mining Company (PCCL)
started the daily transportation service between Kuantan
and Pasir Kemudi, the passengers and cargoes were
transported by train to Sungai Lembing.
Before the road from Jerantut to Kuantan was
completed, the officers in Ulu Pahang travelling to
Kuantan or Pekan had to use boats ( perahu ) and rafts
heading towards the down stream direction of the Pahang
After a few years under the English
administration, construction works to build roads were
started. By the end of 1910, a road of 18 miles long from
Kuantan on 5 September 1910. In 1918, the
Jerantut-Kuantan road was extended to link it with Kuala
Lipis. In the later period of 1933, the road from Pekan
to Kuantan was officially opened.
The transportation and communication
system in Pahang was further imporved with the
construction of roads bridge, airport and port. These had
shortened and facilitated the journey and communication
from one place to an other in Pahang Darul Makmur,
Malaysia and the neighbour countries like Singapore (in
the south) and Thailand (in the north).