Teluk Anson Tower
In the late 19th century, Sir Archibald Anson, who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements in 1879-1880, founded a township in the area. The canal dug by the Mandailing was also filled up when the township was established. This township was named Teluk Anson in his honour in 1882. It became a port for the export of tin and agriculatural products from the southern part of Perak. To facilitate the movement of goods to the port, a railway line was built to connect Teluk Anson with Tapah. It was the fourth railway line in Malaya. This railway service here had since stopped operating and the Teluk Intan railway station had been converted into a restaurant.
The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan is one of the most curious landmarks in Perak, and perhaps in the whole Malaysia as well. For over a hundred years this grandfather of towers squarts on the edge of Jalan Selat next to Jalan Pasar. When it was built in 1885, it was known as the High Clock Tower because of the clock on it that is still working right to this day. But as it starts to tilt towards the northwest, it gained notoriety as the most famous leaning tower this side of the world.The tower is 85ft (25.5m) high. There are 110 steps connecting the floors which are 15.5 feet high. The base of the structure is 43 feet in diameter. Architectural elements in the design, especially the use of mortar strips, roof eves and drippers. It the man responsible for putting up the tower was a Chinese, a contractor by the name of Leong Choon Chong. Leong's actual purpose was to put up a water storage tower, a necessity in the event of draughts, as well as to serve the town in the event of fire, considering the town did not have a fire brigade at that time. The choice of site, however, was not at all ideal for a heavy tower.
In the late 19th century, Sir Archibald Anson, who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements in 1879-1880, founded a township in the area. The canal dug by the Mandailing was also filled up when the township was established. This township was named Teluk Anson in his honour in 1882. It became a port for the export of tin and agriculatural products from the southern part of Perak. To facilitate the movement of goods to the port, a railway line was built to connect Teluk Anson with Tapah. It was the fourth railway line in Malaya. This railway service here had since stopped operating and the Teluk Intan railway station had been converted into a restaurant.
The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan is one of the most curious landmarks in Perak, and perhaps in the whole Malaysia as well. For over a hundred years this grandfather of towers squarts on the edge of Jalan Selat next to Jalan Pasar. When it was built in 1885, it was known as the High Clock Tower because of the clock on it that is still working right to this day. But as it starts to tilt towards the northwest, it gained notoriety as the most famous leaning tower this side of the world.The tower is 85ft (25.5m) high. There are 110 steps connecting the floors which are 15.5 feet high. The base of the structure is 43 feet in diameter. Architectural elements in the design, especially the use of mortar strips, roof eves and drippers. It the man responsible for putting up the tower was a Chinese, a contractor by the name of Leong Choon Chong. Leong's actual purpose was to put up a water storage tower, a necessity in the event of draughts, as well as to serve the town in the event of fire, considering the town did not have a fire brigade at that time. The choice of site, however, was not at all ideal for a heavy tower.
The problem was further aggravated by two major floods in 1889 and 1895 that submerged the base of the tower.Throughout the long history of the tower, it has served different purposes.
During the Japanese occupation, for example, it was used as a watch tower.
Around this area further down to the along the road beside the Clock Tower is a flood prompt area.
What is special you can find in Teluk Intan ?
On Food:
Chee Cheong Fun (literally translated as: Pig’s intestine noodle)
You may find the famous and unique Chinese dish called “ chee cheong fun” which is found in Jalan Woo Saik Hong , just downtown along the road beside the Teluk Intan Clock Tower. This version is different from the Penang’s chee cheong fun version. Chee cheong fun is actually a rice flour dishes. The Penang version is with the mix of shrimp paste, sesame, chilly sauce and sweet sauce. The Teluk Intan version is made of rice flour but prior the chee cheong fun is cook, they are added with turnip and dried shrimp which had been fried. It is very tasty. If you ever want to get some of this the best time to get them from the manufacturer is at 6.00 p.m. The cost per pack is about RM 3-20 but it is filling and tasty.
Heong Peah (literally translated as: Fragrance biscuit)
This is one of Teluk Intan signature product. The most famous one is the Tiger Head brand and the factory is located at Jalan Mak Intan which is near a river side. For the Teluk Intan folks it is known as Heong Peah while for Penangites we called it as Beh Teh Saw . Remember if you ever want to buy, please buy the loose one, they are cheaper in price and fresher too. The price is about RM 4-30 per pack for the loose one. I always purchase the loose one.
Seafood
Teluk Intan is located at a bay and it is very near to the sea too. You will find the Perak River flowing this way too. Seafood is easily available in Teluk Intan, but for my advice, please go to the satellite township of Teluk Intan which is Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datoh and some small fishing village to name some such as Sungai Tiang and many others. The price is worth the value you get and the dishes are even fresher. I like the fried mud skipper and also the prawns. Advisable the nearest is Hutan Melintang.
Other natural product in Teluk Intan.
Coconut or copra is also the natural produce in Teluk Intan. I know of a place in Lower Perak, which Sungai Sumun located about 30 km away from Teluk Intan town which produces a lot of copra.
Cocoa is also the product in Teluk Intan as well, but it is located also away from Teluk Intan town about 25 km. There is a factory there that manufactures cocoa known as Koko Malaysia which purchases and collect cocoa from local planters and processes them.
The address of Koko Malaysia
Commercial Dept. & Factory
Batu 14, Bagan Datoh Road
36400 Hutan Melintang
Perak Darul Ridzuan
Tel: 05-6411211
Fax: 05-6411086
I don’t know if we can get the opportunity to see the cocoa manufacturing, but I'm sure if we can get a proper permission, perhaps we can visit the factory to see how cocoa processing is.
Along the old route to Kuala Lumpur from Teluk Intan, along them you will find majority of the land is planted with oil palm. Here is where the giant conglomerate such United Plantation owns most of the estates. Among them are Bagan Datoh Estate, Selaba Estates, and also Jendarata Estate.
There is a short cut route bypassing to places like Sitiawan, Kampong Koh from this old route linking Teluk Intan to Kuala Lumpur. The locals will tell how to go to Seberang Perak where it will lead you to Sitiawan, Kampong Koh (famous of it Kampong Koh chilly sauce). The majority of Chinese there are “ Hock Chew” . Here is where it leads to Teluk Batik and Lumut where the Malaysian naval base is.
Around this area further down to the along the road beside the Clock Tower is a flood prompt area.
What is special you can find in Teluk Intan ?
On Food:
Chee Cheong Fun (literally translated as: Pig’s intestine noodle)
You may find the famous and unique Chinese dish called “ chee cheong fun” which is found in Jalan Woo Saik Hong , just downtown along the road beside the Teluk Intan Clock Tower. This version is different from the Penang’s chee cheong fun version. Chee cheong fun is actually a rice flour dishes. The Penang version is with the mix of shrimp paste, sesame, chilly sauce and sweet sauce. The Teluk Intan version is made of rice flour but prior the chee cheong fun is cook, they are added with turnip and dried shrimp which had been fried. It is very tasty. If you ever want to get some of this the best time to get them from the manufacturer is at 6.00 p.m. The cost per pack is about RM 3-20 but it is filling and tasty.
Heong Peah (literally translated as: Fragrance biscuit)
This is one of Teluk Intan signature product. The most famous one is the Tiger Head brand and the factory is located at Jalan Mak Intan which is near a river side. For the Teluk Intan folks it is known as Heong Peah while for Penangites we called it as Beh Teh Saw . Remember if you ever want to buy, please buy the loose one, they are cheaper in price and fresher too. The price is about RM 4-30 per pack for the loose one. I always purchase the loose one.
Seafood
Teluk Intan is located at a bay and it is very near to the sea too. You will find the Perak River flowing this way too. Seafood is easily available in Teluk Intan, but for my advice, please go to the satellite township of Teluk Intan which is Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datoh and some small fishing village to name some such as Sungai Tiang and many others. The price is worth the value you get and the dishes are even fresher. I like the fried mud skipper and also the prawns. Advisable the nearest is Hutan Melintang.
Other natural product in Teluk Intan.
Coconut or copra is also the natural produce in Teluk Intan. I know of a place in Lower Perak, which Sungai Sumun located about 30 km away from Teluk Intan town which produces a lot of copra.
Cocoa is also the product in Teluk Intan as well, but it is located also away from Teluk Intan town about 25 km. There is a factory there that manufactures cocoa known as Koko Malaysia which purchases and collect cocoa from local planters and processes them.
The address of Koko Malaysia
Commercial Dept. & Factory
Batu 14, Bagan Datoh Road
36400 Hutan Melintang
Perak Darul Ridzuan
Tel: 05-6411211
Fax: 05-6411086
I don’t know if we can get the opportunity to see the cocoa manufacturing, but I'm sure if we can get a proper permission, perhaps we can visit the factory to see how cocoa processing is.
Along the old route to Kuala Lumpur from Teluk Intan, along them you will find majority of the land is planted with oil palm. Here is where the giant conglomerate such United Plantation owns most of the estates. Among them are Bagan Datoh Estate, Selaba Estates, and also Jendarata Estate.
There is a short cut route bypassing to places like Sitiawan, Kampong Koh from this old route linking Teluk Intan to Kuala Lumpur. The locals will tell how to go to Seberang Perak where it will lead you to Sitiawan, Kampong Koh (famous of it Kampong Koh chilly sauce). The majority of Chinese there are “ Hock Chew” . Here is where it leads to Teluk Batik and Lumut where the Malaysian naval base is.
Teluk Batik has numerous chalets and an ideal for family picnic and holiday stay. Bring mosquito repellant - to ward off mosquito there.
How to go to Teluk Intan?
If you are using the North South Expressway, you will need to exit at Bidor town and from Bidor town, turn in to a junction to left and drive straight for about 25 minutes (distances of 40 km) to Teluk Intan town.
If you are using the old route, you will need to turn in to Kampar town going along the route you will pass by town such as Air Kuning, Mambang diAwan and lastly Langkap where you need to turn right to reach Teluk Intan town.
Just something about Langkap; - Langkap and its satellite town Chui Chak are producers of paddy rice.
If you go along the old route, it is much narrower but however is almost the same distance of journey with the NSE Expressway. The difference is just in the traffic which may cause traffic jam. You may save up in toll expenses if you use the old route.
For souvenirs, I found a shop making Malay dagger known as “kris” just opposite the Teluk Intan Clock Tower. The Kris price is ranging from as low as RM 500-00 to RM 4000-00 depending on the design.
New township had since been built and new and numerous flourish at the outskirts of the town are. There had a few churches and old building in which the historical facts has yet to be discover. Among them is a building near the present HSBC bank in Teluk Intan.
( by Lim Gim Seng )
How to go to Teluk Intan?
If you are using the North South Expressway, you will need to exit at Bidor town and from Bidor town, turn in to a junction to left and drive straight for about 25 minutes (distances of 40 km) to Teluk Intan town.
If you are using the old route, you will need to turn in to Kampar town going along the route you will pass by town such as Air Kuning, Mambang diAwan and lastly Langkap where you need to turn right to reach Teluk Intan town.
Just something about Langkap; - Langkap and its satellite town Chui Chak are producers of paddy rice.
If you go along the old route, it is much narrower but however is almost the same distance of journey with the NSE Expressway. The difference is just in the traffic which may cause traffic jam. You may save up in toll expenses if you use the old route.
For souvenirs, I found a shop making Malay dagger known as “kris” just opposite the Teluk Intan Clock Tower. The Kris price is ranging from as low as RM 500-00 to RM 4000-00 depending on the design.
New township had since been built and new and numerous flourish at the outskirts of the town are. There had a few churches and old building in which the historical facts has yet to be discover. Among them is a building near the present HSBC bank in Teluk Intan.
( by Lim Gim Seng )
