What is "chukai"

Chukai, also known by the name of Kemaman City (est. pop. (2009): over 160,000) is the administrative seat of Kemaman District, in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia.

The name "Chukai" (proper spelling of the Malay word: cukai) means ' taxes' in Malay. The town is so named due to its position near the estuary of the Kemaman River, whereby taxes and levies were imposed on riverine traffic, especially during the British colonial period. Chukai is the biggest town in southern Terengganu, and its position between the state capitals of Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu as well as proximity to the oil town of Kerteh has turned Chukai into a major commercial hub for the region. Nearby Kemaman Port serves both as a fishing port and supply base for oil platforms off the Terengganu coast.