King to officially declare Kuantan a city tomorrow

KUANTAN: Kuantan will be declared a city by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced yesterday that Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had agreed to attend the proclamation ceremony together with Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Also attending the ceremony will be Pahang Regent Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, as well as Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Wan Rosdy said the ceremony would adhere to strict Covid-19 standard operating procedure and the number of attendees limited to ensure adequate physical distancing.

“I am happy to say that this Kuantan city proclamation is being held following the approval given by the Federal Government through a Cabinet meeting on May 8, 2019.

“Feb 21 was chosen as the date after the ceremony was postponed several times due to various factors, including Covid-19.

“The last time such a ceremony was held was on Sept 1, 1979, in conjunction with the status upgrade of Kuantan from a town to a municipality,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Wan Rosdy hoped the people of Kuantan and Pahang in general would be proud of the historical day, although it would be an understated affair.

Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850s by Haji Senik and his followers, with the word “Kuantan” mentioned by Abdullah Abdul Kadir, or better known as Munshi Abdullah, in his writings.

In the late 19th century, the arrival of Chinese miners and traders saw the establishment of a township there, as well as tin mining areas such as Gambang and Sungai Lembing.

The sea off Kuantan also saw action during the Second World War, when Japanese aircraft managed to sink two British warships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, on Dec 10, 1941.

Kuantan became the state capital in 1955 when the British shifted the administrative centre from Kuala Lipis on Aug 27 that year.