Kemaman, Malaysia

Kemaman, on the coast of the South China Sea, was known as early as the second century, BCE. Under the name Kole, it was mentioned by the Greek astrologer Ptolemy in a map of the Malay Peninsula. The areas written history is scarce, but it is commonly agreed that it was first explored around 1750 AD by a Pahang nobleman and his followers. Before the arrival of the Malays, Kemaman and the surrounding areas were inhabited by the Sakai and Jakun tribes. The district’s vast wealth of iron attracted many Chinese migrants who built a thriving industry in the manufacturing of salted fish. Today, the economy is based largely on petroleum and oil. The discovery of oil in the 1980s turned the area into a highly desirable destination for migrant workers from all over Malaysia and other parts of Asia. Kemaman boasts the deepest seaport in Malaysia and also has a liquefied petroleum gas export terminal managed by PETRONAS, the national oil corporation, whose PETRONAS Towers in Kuala Lumpur are among the world’s tallest buildings. The beautiful beaches in the area used to be a haven for nesting green turtles. However, the local taste for the turtle eggs has resulted in the species being declared extinct in the area since about 2004. A Turtle Sanctuary and conservation center has been established to provide undisturbed beach area in an effort to lure the turtles back to nest here again.