Kuantan - Kuantan (English spelling)

The capital of Pahang state on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, mainland Malaysia. It is located at the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea. Its population is 283,041 (2000). The southern part of the town is undeveloped and covered with marshes. The ethnic composition is dominated by Malays, who grow rice, but rubber cultivation is also developing in some areas. As it is also the starting point of the national highway that crosses the peninsula and leads to Kuala Lumpur on the west coast, it was the landing site for Japanese troops aiming to invade Malaya in the early stages of the Pacific War.

[Atsuhiko Bekki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

マレーシア本土、マレー半島東海岸パハン州の州都。クアンタン川河口に位置し、南シナ海に臨む。人口28万3041（2000）。町の南部一帯は未開拓で湿原が展開する。人種構成ではマレー人が優越し、米作を行うが、ゴム栽培も一部では発展しつつある。半島を横断して西海岸のクアラ・ルンプール方面に至る国道の起点でもあるため、太平洋戦争の初期、マレー進攻を目ざす日本軍の上陸地となった。

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