Kuantan is now a city

Kuantan Waterfront with its iconic landmark, the Kuantan 188 tower. - Filepic

KUANTAN (Bernama): Kuantan, the capital of Pahang, is now a city.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah proclaimed the status in a historic event here on Sunday (Feb 21).

His Majesty, who is the Sultan of Pahang, decreed the appointment of Kuantan Municipal Council president Datuk Hamdan Hussin as the first Datuk Bandar (mayor) of Kuantan.

The proclamation ceremony took place at the Kuantan City Complex, in full compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the conditional MCO in force in Pahang.

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah and other children of Their Majesties attended the event.

Also present were Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, Communications and Multimedia Minister and Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah as well as members of the Pahang state administration.

In his royal address, Sultan Abdullah expressed his desire to see Kuantan, where the local government system came into being through the setting up of the Kuantan Sanitary Board on Aug 1,1913, achieve much success and evolve into a city of excellence.

"The establishment of a city is not merely in name. As such, going forward, my state government and the Kuantan City Council must always focus on improving the well-being of and services for the people.