Pahang

State on the South China Sea coast of eastern Peninsular Malaysia; area 36,000 sq km/14,000 sq mi; population (2000 est) 1,231,200. The capital is Kuantan. Much of the state is situated in the Pahang river basin, an area of dense jungle dependent on river transport. Plantation agriculture, mainly producing rubber, is important along the Pahang River, and other commercial crops include palm oil, coconuts, tobacco, rattan, and hemp. Mineral exploitation is important to the economy, including gold mining at Raub, tin mining at Sungai Lembing, and the working of substantial offshore reserves of oil and natural gas. There is a port at Tanjung Gelang. Pahang is ruled by a sultan.