Kemaman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kemaman is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. Kemaman district is bordered by Dungun to the north and the state of Pahang to the south.
Kemaman is administered by the Kemaman Municipal Council. The town of Chukai is Kemaman's administrative and economic centre. Kemaman is administered by its local council, Kemaman Municipal Council. Ahmad Shabery Cheek is the Member of Parliament for Kemaman. He is also the Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary.
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[edit] History
Kemaman was known as early as the second century BC as Kole. The earliest mention of Kemaman was made by Ptolemy, a Greek astrologer in a map of the Malay Peninsular where he noted two ports on the East Coast,Perimula and Kole. Kole is agreed to be Kemaman while Perimula is thought to be the mouth of Terengganu River by historians.
The history of the district's establishment is unclear due to lack of written evidence. However, it was commonly agreed that the Kemaman area was first explored by Chee Wan Teh, a Pahang nobleman and his followers around 1750 A.D. Before the arrival of Malays, this area was already inhabited by Orang Asli of the Sakai and Jakun tribes. Chee Wan Teh came to Kemaman to flee the violence and frequent unrests of Kuala Pahang. He founded the town of Chukai. Later on came a significant number of Chinese migrants who exploited the district's wealth of iron. Some of these migrants were involved in the salted fish manufacturing industry as it was a rewarding industry at that time. Among those who suceeded in this business was Soh Huat Keh, a Chinese merchant from Fujian, China.
[edit] Economy
Kemaman's economy is primarily based on the petroleum and oil industry. The discovery of oil in offshore Terengganu in 1980s has attracted immigration to Kemaman from rural areas as well as other parts of the country. Kemaman is home to the deepest seaport in Malaysia. Kemaman Port also has a liquified petroleum gas(LPG) export terminal managed by Petronas, the national oil corporation. Traditional industries include fishing and salted fish manufacturing. These produces are exported throughout Malaysia and also to Singapore.
[edit] Demographics
The district of Kemaman's population is estimated to be 158,660 [1] as of 2006, with a density of 62 person per km². The population is comprised of 86.7% Malays, 10.6% Chinese, 0.5% Indians and 2.2% of other races.
[edit] Wildlife
Kemaman's beaches used to be nesting grounds for endangered green turtles and painted terrapins. However, due to the local's delight for turtle eggs, these sea creatures have been declared extinct in the area since year 2004. Among serious efforts to get turtles back to nest on the nearby beaches is the setting up of a turtle sanctuary in Ma'Daerah, called Ma'Daerah Turtle Sanctuary which provides an undisturbed beach for nesting turtles and protection for eggs.
[edit] External links
- http://www.mot.gov.my/English/Agencies/Kemaman_port.htm
- http://www.mpkemaman.gov.my/kawasan/mpenduduk.htm
- http://www.mpkemaman.gov.my/profail/sejarah.htm
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Terengganu Darul Iman |  |
|---|---|---|
| Districts: Kuala Terengganu | Hulu Terengganu | Besut | Setiu | Marang | Dungun | Kemaman | ||
| Towns: Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah | Bandar Ketengah Jaya | Bandar Permaisuri | Bandar Seri Bandi | Batu Rakit | Bukit Besi | Chukai | Gong Kedak | Jabur | Jerangau | Jerteh | Kemasik | Kerteh | Kijal | Kuala Besut | Kuala Berang | Kuala Dungun | Kuala Terengganu | Paka | Rantau Abang | Seberang Takir | Teluk Kalung | ||
| Islands: Bidong Island | Kapas Island | Lang Tengah Island | Perhentian Islands | Redang Island | ||
