It was originally known as Pasir Rawa. In the late 19th century, Mentakab was a candidate for Pahang's new capital city, replacing Pekan. However, due to its mountainous terrain, Kuala Lipis was instead chosen as the capital of the state in 1898, later replaced by Kuantan in 1955.
Mentakab is a popular site for urbanswiftlet farming; the top floor of many shoplots in the city are modified to provide space for swiftlet farming. Successful urban farming can be rewarding as each kilogram of swiftlets' nest can be sold for as high as US$2000. However, few have succeeded and disadvantages towards urban residents can potentially outweigh economic gains such as widespread of diseases or bird flu and excessive bird droppings.
The Semantan River that goes through the town is the water source for the agricultural activities.
Other than in 1970, Mentakab is seldom caught in serious floods prior to 2000 but serious floodings did occur in 2007, 2014 and 2017. A major flood in December 2021 following Tropical Depression 29W has submerged almost 95% of Mentakab town underwater, caused by floodwater flow-through from prior floodings in Bentong and Raub. The flooding of Mentakab town, as well as many other cities and towns in the country, has been considered as the worst flooding the country has experienced post-independence.
Industries
Robin Resources (M) Sdn. Bhd. is the only company manufacturing medium-density fibreboard in Pahang since 1995. 100% of workers from Robin Resources (M) Sdn. Bhd. are employed locally and hence provides working opportunities to the local community. 80% of the manufactured medium-density fibreboard from Robin Resources are exported to the international market, including countries such as Saudi Arabia and China. Malaysian Newsprint Industries (MNI) started up a greenfieldpaper mill in Mentakab in the year 1996. MNI is one of the largest paper factories in Southeast Asia.
Mentakab Veneer & Plywood Sdn Bhd (MVP) was incorporated in 1986 as a joint venture company between Malaysian and Taiwanese shareholders. It main business is to engage in the manufacture and marketing of plywood. Mentakab Veneer & Plywood’ factory which is a located at the 5th Mile, Jalan Karak, P.O. Box 12, 28400 Mentakab, Pahang Darul Makmur (Mentakab is strategically located 123 km from Kuala Lumpur, 181 km from KLIA and 192 km from Port Klang (major port in Malaysia), commenced plywood production in 1986 and marketed its product for local consumption and a small volume for export. Today, MVP is an active member of The Malaysian Panel-Products Manufacturer's Association (MPMA) and it manufactures Urea Formaldehyde, Phenol Formaldehyde and Melamine Urea Formaldehyde Plywood.
Night market
Mentakab has a daily night market (pasar malam) located along the Jalan Mok Hee Kiang stretch. At around 5pm, this road will be closed to motorists to make way for hawkers. Jalan Mok Hee Kiang is one of the street where most of the citizens often visit due to its wide variety of daily goods sold. Jalan Mok Hee Kiang is famous among Mentakab citizens.
Star Mall
Located between Taman Bukit Bendera and Taman Rimba in the western suburbs of Mentakab, Star Mall is the newest and largest shopping mall in the city. The mall was constructed by a private developer from Kuantan namely Sistem Duta Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary body of Kinsteel Bhd, owned by Tan SriDato' Pheng Yin Huah, a steel industry tycoon in Malaysia. Mentakab Star Mall consists three stories, and currently houses Mentakab's only cinema - a GSC.[3] There is a Pacific supermarket in the mall.[4]
Other retail outlets
Mentakab has one of the largest hypermarkets in the district of Temerloh, namely TF Value Mart and The Store. These department stores are located in the busiest area of Mentakab where the night market is just a stone's throw away. Traffic congestions however are common in this area. The traffic congestion becomes worse during peak hours.
Being the largest city in central Pahang, several major banking institutions of Malaysia have set up branches in Mentakab. There are also several inns around the city.
Housing estates and suburbs
Batu Kapur
Kampung Netas
Ladang Edensor
Ladang Mentakab
New Village Kampung Suria
Taman Bukit Bendera
Taman Bukit Cermin
Taman Bukit Mentakab
Taman Desa Saujana
Taman KSM Indah
Taman KSM
Taman KSM Heights
Taman Lee Chan
Taman Mahkota
Taman Mentakab
Taman Pinggiran Temerloh Damai
Taman Rimba
Taman Saga
Taman Saga Indah
Taman Sri Layang
Taman Suppiah
Taman Tan Chew Tong
Taman Tualang indah
Taman Tunas
Tanjong Kerayong
Taman Pinggiran Netas Jaya
Education
Primary
National schools (Sekolah Kebangsaan)
SK Abu Bakar
SK Bandar Mentakab
SK Batu Kapur
SK Chatin
Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools
SJK (Tamil)/SJK(T) Bandar Mentakab
SJK(C) Mentakab 1 (文德甲中华华文小学1校)
SJK(C) Mentakab 2 (文德甲中华华文小学2校)
SJK(C) Yeow Cheng Luan (姚贞嫒华文小学) and SJK(T) Yeow Cheng Luan
SJK(T) Ladang Mentakab
Secondary
SMJK Hwa Lian (文德甲华联国民型华文中学)
SMK Mentakab
SMK Seri Semantan
SMK Bukit Cermin
Higher education
Kolej Komuniti Temerloh (Temerloh Community College)
