city, northern Peninsular (West) Malaysia, on the east levee of the Kelantan River, near the Thai border and 8 miles (13 km) inland from the South China Sea. Located in a fertile agricultural area, Kota Baharu (“New Fort”) is an industrial nucleus. It is inaccessible from the sea because of sandbars and relies on port facilities at nearby Tumpat. Kota Baharu is served by the airport at Peng Chepa and by a dense road network. Pasir Mas to the southwest is the terminal for both the east coast railway and the branch line north to Thailand. Kota Baharu was one of the first places seized (Dec. 10, 1941) by the Japanese in their drive to capture Singapore during World War II. Extensive industrial development undertaken around the city in the late 1970s included a major industrial estate at Pengkalan Chepa. Kota Baharu Teachers' College was established there (1954). Pop. (2000) 233,673.