Teluk Intan
Encyclopedia
Teluk Intan（安順）is a town located in the state of Perak
in Malaysia. It is the largest town in Hilir Perak
district and third largest town in the state of Perak
with an estimated population of around 120,000, about half of Hilir Perak
district's total population (232,900). Teluk Intan
is the district capital of Hilir Perak
district.
In the early days, the town was known as Teluk Mak Intan, after a female Mandailing
trader. It was here that the Perak rulers held court from 1528 until Kuala Kangsar
became the royal town in 1877.
During the British protectorate era, the named was changed to Teluk Anson (Anson Bay), in honour of a British Officer and last Lieutenant-Governor of Penang
, Major-General Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson
who drew the plan of the modern township in 1882.
In 1982 during the centenary of the town's establishment, the name was changed again to Teluk Intan (Diamond Bay) by the Sultan of Perak
. Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan
is one of the town attractions. The town has a number of colonial buildings and Chinese shophouses together with modern buildings, few shopping complexes and a modern cinema.
. The river forms an oxbow meander
as it flows through the town, and the town is built around the oxbow. During high-tides, some parts of the town will be flooded with water even though there are watergates and banks to protect the town. Various measures taken by the government to solve the problem have seen relatively few floods in Teluk Intan nowadays. There has been speculation that the river's flow will erode the narrow neck of land in between the loops of the meander effectively turning Teluk Intan into an island.
The town is on Malaysia Federal Route 58
(Jalan Changkat Jong and Jalan Maharaja Lela),
151
(Jalan Sultan Abdullah) and
147 (Jalan Padang Tembak).
who were part of the entourage of the Raja Muzaffar Shah, the eldest son of the last Sultan of Melaka, Sultan Mahmud Shah. Upon fleeing the Portuguese conquest of Melaka in 1511, a new kingdom was established on the banks of the Perak River
near what is now Teluk Intan, and the court remained there until its relocation to Kuala Kangsar
in the northern part of the state later in the 19th century.
This legacy can be seen in the choice of Teluk Intan as the location where the official residences of the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) and Raja di Hilir (4th in line of succession to the Perak throne) of Perak under the reign of Sultan Idris Shah. The town is one of four towns that play a role in Perak's complex ruler succession system. According to the system, a crown prince stayed at Teluk Intan Palace before entering the next stage of becoming Raja Bendahara (Prime Prince). Only after becoming Raja Bendahara will he proceed to be Raja Muda (Crown Prince) and then Sultan of Perak.
This succession system was changed by the present Sultan, Sultan Azlan Shah just before he was appointed the Yang Dipertuan Agong. His son is now Raja Muda and does not live in Teluk Intan. The former palace is located just outside the town, and has fallen into disrepair.
The town of Teluk Intan developed around a few small villages in the location, such as Durian Sebatang, Pasir Bedamar, and Batak Rabit. A plan to build a township linking the few villages was drawn up by Sir Archibald Anson during the late 19th century, and the township was named after him in 1882. Teluk Intan developed into a port, and many agricultural products and tin were exported from it. The fourth railway track in Malaya was built connecting Tapah
and Teluk Intan, showing the port town's importance during the British protectorate age.
Teluk Intan was also home to the meeting between Raja Abdullah, Dato' Maharajalela and other Malay chieftains who plotted to kill J. W. W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak. The meeting was held in Durian Sebatang. Birch was later killed in Pasir Salak
while bathing in the river.
The last major engagement during the Malayan Emergency
was fought in the marshes near Teluk Intan in 1958, and ended with the surrender of the local Malayan Races Liberation Army
forces to government forces.
By the early 1980s the town was the third largest town in Perak. Teluk Intan served as the major administrative and business settlement for smaller neighbouring towns such as Tapah
, Bidor
, Bagan Datoh
and Hutan Melintang
. Until the mid-1990s Sabak Bernam
, a town in the neighbouring state of Selangor
, also dependeded on Teluk Intan for most of their basic services. Even their telephone area code was registered using Perak's area code of +605 instead of +603 that is used in Selangor. Acute medical cases would be transferred to Teluk Intan Hospital
as their hospital did not have the equipment or expertise.
As the Perak River became shallower each year due to upstream erosion and silt deposition near Teluk Intan, the town lost its two most important roles in Perak's economy which was being an export harbour for tin and rubber and as a petroleum
distribution centre for Shell Malaysia. This is because big oil tankers and cargo ships were no longer able to sail into the town's port. By the end of the 1980s, Shell Malaysia transferred their petroleum storing facilities to the coastal town of Lumut
in Manjung, located 60 km from Teluk Intan. As the economic activity declined, it also lost its railway facilities which connected the town with Tapah and the national railway network.
During the 1990s, economic activities in Teluk Intan continued to decline. This situation forced the younger generation to migrate to bigger cities such as Ipoh
, Kuala Lumpur
, Klang
and Shah Alam
in search of better jobs. Ironically this caused the town to suffer a shortage in labour supply especially in the agriculture sector, resulting in an increase of migrant workers from Indonesia
and Bangladesh
.
With the development of a new town centre along with the completion of new coastal highway from Klang
to Sabak Bernam
in late 1999, Teluk Intan began to enjoy a resurgence in its economic activity. In April 2004, the town was made the fourth municipality (having upgraded to Municipal Council status, or Majlis Perbandaran) in Perak
after Ipoh
, Taiping
and Manjung
.
cultivation and palm oil production. Many plantations around Teluk Intan are owned by big corporations such as Sime Darby
and United Plantations (UP).
There are some other industries in Teluk Intan including shipbuilding
and the textile industry
. Shopping centres, modern cinema, shops, and educational institutions also bring many people to Teluk Intan weekly.
Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan
One of the town attractions is a Leaning Tower
erected in 1885 by a Chinese builder, Mr. Leong Choon Cheong. It started to tilt four years after its construction finished due to an underground stream. The tower was originally used as a water tower
supplying the area of the town. It had a clock at the top, which still rings every 15 minutes. The tower also served as a beacon to guide ships into Teluk Intan Port. Currently it is a local tourist attraction, and no longer stores water. The area around the tower was paved with bricks and became a plaza. The main street at the centre of Teluk Intan, Jalan Ah Cheong, is named after Leong Choon Cheong to commemorate his contribution.
GPS Coordinates: 4°1.544′N, 101°1.133′E
and World War II
. The plaque on the memorial carries a line from Laurence Binyon
's famous poem, "For the Fallen":
Chinese in Teluk Intan during the British colonial era. The local Hokkien people would congregate at the temple to solve all problems, from giving aid to the poor to solving fights between clans. The local Hokkien people used to select three local Hokkiens, usually businessmen and famous men to settle their problems. The temple was built with Southern Chinese architecture, the most notable feature being the beautifully decorated upturned eaves. There is also a century old mosque just opposite the temple, which is frequently mentioned as a typical depiction of religious harmony in Malaysia.
s (also known as the Nagarathar
s), a prominent mercantile community with origins in Tamil Nadu
, India
.
The most prominent festival held at this temple is the Chitra Pournami during the Tamil month of Chithrai (April–May). The Chitra Pournami festival lasts three days. On the third day of the festival (the day of Pournami, full moon), the Silver Chariot (Velli Ratham) is taken in procession. This velli ratham was brought to the temple in the year 1932. The procession's route usually covers the entire old town of Teluk Intan.
The temple is managed by the Nagarathars of seven towns including Teluk Intan, Tapah
, Kampar
, Bidor
, Sitiawan
Pantai remis and Lumut
.Now there is no representation from Bidor and Pantai remis. They make donations annually at festival time. The day to day management of the temple is entrusted to three Nagarathar families, who hold office in 57, 59 and 61, Jalan Bandar.
This temple is one of eighteen constructed by the Nattukottai Chettiars in Malaysia.
Teluk Intan Campus for Faculty of Medicine UiTM http://medicine.uitm.edu.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=781&Itemid=673 completed in October 2010 and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Teluk Intan Campus of Faculty of Medicine UKM (currently under construction) . Both are located beside Teluk Intan Hospital
.
Other higher education is currently provided by the Teluk Intan Community College (established 2001) and the Teluk Intan Hospital
is used as a teaching hospital
by the Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak.
Being one of the principal towns in the Hilir Perak
, Teluk Intan has over 100 primary schools and more than 20 secondary schools. Schools in established prior to the Independence of Malaya
in 1957 include:
There is one boarding school in Teluk Intan that is Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan
and one technical school, Sekolah Menengah Teknik Teluk Intan.
Many Malay delicacies can be found in Teluk Intan. These include 'mee rebus
' Mastan Ghani, a boiled noodle dish served with a moderately spicy and sweet gravy; a more spicy noodle dish called Mee Jawa; nasi kandar
, satay
, and fruit rojak
.
Another attraction is a beverage made of rose syrup mixed with coconut milk or milk called 'Ais Bandung'. This beverage can be found near the wet market, located on the northern riverbank.
The local Chinese community has many famous delicacies as well. One of them is 'Heong Peah' (Fragrant Biscuit). Heong Peah has a crispy pastry layer outside and a sticky filling inside (also known as beleko). It contains a mixture of flour, oil, maltose, sugar, sesame, and shallots. The 'Heong Peah' market in Teluk Intan is dominated by two family-run enterprises: Sin Guan Tin and Sin Joo Heong. Locals fondly refer to the latter as the 'Tiger' brand or mark or 'Tiger Biscuit'. The former's trademark is a butterfly.
Another famous delicacy in Teluk Intan is the 'Chee Cheong Fun', a variation of Kueh Teow containing turnip, whereas the Hong Kong
Chee Cheong Fun has prawns wrapped inside.
Chinese curry mee and a variety of other food can be found at "Glutton Square" located at the corner of Jalan Sithabaram Pillai and Jalan Ah Cheong.
There is also a food court (locals call it "Bumbung Biru") in front of Menara Jam Condong "The Leaning Tower".
Another long-standing tourist sight for more than 25 years is Teluk Intan's laksa
sold from a bicycle by "Uncle Laksa". This man rides around the town areas such as Jln Woo Saik Hong, Jln Pasir Bedamar, Jln Ah Cheong and Jln Pasar to sell his trademark laksa.
Other type of foods can be found in Teluk Intan including western foods by fast food restaurant
and also Japanese cuisine like sushi
food by Sushi King
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
in Malaysia. It is the largest town in Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak is an administrative district of Perak, Malaysia. The district is governed by or Teluk Intan Municipal Council which is based in the town of Teluk Intan. The District council was known as Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak or Hilir Perak District Council until 4 April 2004, when it was...
district and third largest town in the state of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
with an estimated population of around 120,000, about half of Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak is an administrative district of Perak, Malaysia. The district is governed by or Teluk Intan Municipal Council which is based in the town of Teluk Intan. The District council was known as Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak or Hilir Perak District Council until 4 April 2004, when it was...
district's total population (232,900). Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan（安順）is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia. It is the largest town in Hilir Perak district and third largest town in the state of Perak with an estimated population of around 120,000, about half of Hilir Perak district's total population...
is the district capital of Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak is an administrative district of Perak, Malaysia. The district is governed by or Teluk Intan Municipal Council which is based in the town of Teluk Intan. The District council was known as Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak or Hilir Perak District Council until 4 April 2004, when it was...
district.
In the early days, the town was known as Teluk Mak Intan, after a female Mandailing
Mandailing
The Mandailing is a traditional cultural group in Southeast Asia. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They came under the influence of the Kaum Padri who ruled the Minangkabau of Tanah Datar. As a result, the Mandailing were influenced by Muslim...
trader. It was here that the Perak rulers held court from 1528 until Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
became the royal town in 1877.
During the British protectorate era, the named was changed to Teluk Anson (Anson Bay), in honour of a British Officer and last Lieutenant-Governor of Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Major-General Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson
Edward Anson
Major General Archibald Edward Harbord Anson KCMG, was born on 16 April 1826 with a twin sister at 32 Devonshire Place. He was the youngest son of Major General Sir William Anson, 1st Baronet Anson K.C.B. and his mother was from the Dickenson family...
who drew the plan of the modern township in 1882.
In 1982 during the centenary of the town's establishment, the name was changed again to Teluk Intan (Diamond Bay) by the Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak is one of the oldest hereditary seats among the Malay states.When the Sultanate of Malacca empire fell to Portugal in 1511, Sultan Mahmud Syah I retreated to Kampar, Sumatra and died there in 1528. He left behind two princes named Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II and Sultan Muzaffar...
. Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan
Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan
The leaning tower of Teluk Intan is the Malaysia equivalent of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is located in the centre of the town of Teluk Intan, Perak. The tower is slanted leftward, similar to the Tower of Pisa...
is one of the town attractions. The town has a number of colonial buildings and Chinese shophouses together with modern buildings, few shopping complexes and a modern cinema.
Geography
The town was founded on the river bank of the Perak RiverPerak River
Perak River is the second longest river in Peninsular Malaysia after Pahang River in Pahang, Malaysia. A number of towns are on the banks of the river including the royal town of Kuala Kangsar...
. The river forms an oxbow meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
as it flows through the town, and the town is built around the oxbow. During high-tides, some parts of the town will be flooded with water even though there are watergates and banks to protect the town. Various measures taken by the government to solve the problem have seen relatively few floods in Teluk Intan nowadays. There has been speculation that the river's flow will erode the narrow neck of land in between the loops of the meander effectively turning Teluk Intan into an island.
The town is on Malaysia Federal Route 58
Malaysia Federal Route 58
Federal Route 58 is a Malaysian federal road in Perak state linking Federal Route at Bidor to Teluk Intan and Federal Route .-Route background:...
(Jalan Changkat Jong and Jalan Maharaja Lela),
151
Malaysia Federal Route 151
Federal Route 151 or Jalan Niyor Chabang is a major federal roads in Langkawi Island, Kedah, Malaysia.-Notable features:At most section, the Federal Route 151 was built under the JKR R5 road standard, allowing maximum speed limit of up to 90 km/h....
(Jalan Sultan Abdullah) and
147 (Jalan Padang Tembak).
History
The area around Teluk Intan was originally populated by refugees from the Malacca SultanateMalacca Sultanate
Established by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...
who were part of the entourage of the Raja Muzaffar Shah, the eldest son of the last Sultan of Melaka, Sultan Mahmud Shah. Upon fleeing the Portuguese conquest of Melaka in 1511, a new kingdom was established on the banks of the Perak River
Perak River
Perak River is the second longest river in Peninsular Malaysia after Pahang River in Pahang, Malaysia. A number of towns are on the banks of the river including the royal town of Kuala Kangsar...
near what is now Teluk Intan, and the court remained there until its relocation to Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
in the northern part of the state later in the 19th century.
This legacy can be seen in the choice of Teluk Intan as the location where the official residences of the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) and Raja di Hilir (4th in line of succession to the Perak throne) of Perak under the reign of Sultan Idris Shah. The town is one of four towns that play a role in Perak's complex ruler succession system. According to the system, a crown prince stayed at Teluk Intan Palace before entering the next stage of becoming Raja Bendahara (Prime Prince). Only after becoming Raja Bendahara will he proceed to be Raja Muda (Crown Prince) and then Sultan of Perak.
This succession system was changed by the present Sultan, Sultan Azlan Shah just before he was appointed the Yang Dipertuan Agong. His son is now Raja Muda and does not live in Teluk Intan. The former palace is located just outside the town, and has fallen into disrepair.
The town of Teluk Intan developed around a few small villages in the location, such as Durian Sebatang, Pasir Bedamar, and Batak Rabit. A plan to build a township linking the few villages was drawn up by Sir Archibald Anson during the late 19th century, and the township was named after him in 1882. Teluk Intan developed into a port, and many agricultural products and tin were exported from it. The fourth railway track in Malaya was built connecting Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
and Teluk Intan, showing the port town's importance during the British protectorate age.
Teluk Intan was also home to the meeting between Raja Abdullah, Dato' Maharajalela and other Malay chieftains who plotted to kill J. W. W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak. The meeting was held in Durian Sebatang. Birch was later killed in Pasir Salak
Pasir Salak
Pasir Salak is a historical place in Perak, Malaysia, where an important event in Malaysian history took place, the uprising fight against the colonial presence, when J.W.W. Birch the first British resident in Perak, was murdered by the local statesman Dato Maharaja Lela and Sepuntum...
while bathing in the river.
The last major engagement during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
was fought in the marshes near Teluk Intan in 1958, and ended with the surrender of the local Malayan Races Liberation Army
Malayan Races Liberation Army
The Malayan Races Liberation Army was the name given by British security forces to a combatant in the Malayan Emergency, an insurrection and guerrilla war against the British and Malayan administration from 1948-1960 in what is now Malaysia....
forces to government forces.
By the early 1980s the town was the third largest town in Perak. Teluk Intan served as the major administrative and business settlement for smaller neighbouring towns such as Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
, Bidor
Bidor
Bidor is a small town in the district of Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia. Chinese name is 美罗.-Geography:Bidor is located between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway...
, Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh is a small township around 28 miles west of Teluk Intan, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is situated south-west of Ipoh city, the state capital....
and Hutan Melintang
Hutan Melintang
Hutan Melintang is a small town in Hilir Perak district, Perak, Malaysia. The town is located next to the Strait of Malacca.Although the word 'hutan' is there but it does not mean that it is a jungle. Hutan Melintang is a developed place and it has a 2-storey supermarket located in this town....
. Until the mid-1990s Sabak Bernam
Sabak Bernam
Sabak Bernam is a district of Selangor State, Malaysia. It covers an area of 1,056 square kilometres, and had a population of 106,158 at the 2010 Census . It is situated to the northwest of Selangor town...
, a town in the neighbouring state of Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, also dependeded on Teluk Intan for most of their basic services. Even their telephone area code was registered using Perak's area code of +605 instead of +603 that is used in Selangor. Acute medical cases would be transferred to Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital was built to serve the residents around the Hilir Perak, which covers an area of about and it has 548 beds.-History:The new hospital was built to replace the old hospital building in the area of Jalan Bandar, Teluk Intan, built about 95 years ago. Because the old hospital...
as their hospital did not have the equipment or expertise.
As the Perak River became shallower each year due to upstream erosion and silt deposition near Teluk Intan, the town lost its two most important roles in Perak's economy which was being an export harbour for tin and rubber and as a petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
distribution centre for Shell Malaysia. This is because big oil tankers and cargo ships were no longer able to sail into the town's port. By the end of the 1980s, Shell Malaysia transferred their petroleum storing facilities to the coastal town of Lumut
Lumut
Lumut is a coastal town in the state of Perak, Malaysia, situated about 84 km from Ipoh, 12 km from the town of Sitiawan and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts...
in Manjung, located 60 km from Teluk Intan. As the economic activity declined, it also lost its railway facilities which connected the town with Tapah and the national railway network.
During the 1990s, economic activities in Teluk Intan continued to decline. This situation forced the younger generation to migrate to bigger cities such as Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
and Shah Alam
Shah Alam
Shah Alam is the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighboring Klang District. It is located about west of the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Shah Alam replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor in 1978...
in search of better jobs. Ironically this caused the town to suffer a shortage in labour supply especially in the agriculture sector, resulting in an increase of migrant workers from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
With the development of a new town centre along with the completion of new coastal highway from Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
to Sabak Bernam
Sabak Bernam
Sabak Bernam is a district of Selangor State, Malaysia. It covers an area of 1,056 square kilometres, and had a population of 106,158 at the 2010 Census . It is situated to the northwest of Selangor town...
in late 1999, Teluk Intan began to enjoy a resurgence in its economic activity. In April 2004, the town was made the fourth municipality (having upgraded to Municipal Council status, or Majlis Perbandaran) in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
after Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, Taiping
Taiping, Perak
Taiping is a town located in northern Perak, Malaysia. With a population of 191,104 , it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh...
and Manjung
Manjung
Manjung, previously also known as Dinding, is a district in the southwestern part of the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is well-known for Pangkor Island, a major attraction in Perak and the home of the Royal Malaysian Navy Lumut Naval Base and dockyard...
.
Main economic activities
The main economic activities in Teluk Intan are oil palmOil palm
The oil palms comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to...
cultivation and palm oil production. Many plantations around Teluk Intan are owned by big corporations such as Sime Darby
Sime Darby
Sime Darby is Malaysia's leading multinational conglomerate involved in five core sectors: plantations, property, industrial, motors and energy & utilities, with a growing presence in healthcare...
and United Plantations (UP).
There are some other industries in Teluk Intan including shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
and the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
. Shopping centres, modern cinema, shops, and educational institutions also bring many people to Teluk Intan weekly.
Shopping
As it is the major town in Hilir Perak, Teluk Intan's shopping centres attract shoppers from nearby smaller townships and the surrounding area. They include:- Rapid Mall - Giant HypermarketGiant HypermarketGiant Hypermarket is a major supermarket and retailer chain in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and UAE. It is a subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings .-History:...
- Kompleks Aik Aik
- Kompleks Menara Condong
- Medan Intan - Billion Shopping Centre
- The Store Jalan Ah Cheong
- TF Value Mart
Healthcare
The main healthcare centres in Teluk Intan town are:- Teluk Intan HospitalTeluk Intan HospitalTeluk Intan Hospital was built to serve the residents around the Hilir Perak, which covers an area of about and it has 548 beds.-History:The new hospital was built to replace the old hospital building in the area of Jalan Bandar, Teluk Intan, built about 95 years ago. Because the old hospital...
(providing secondary health care service) - Pusat Pakar Rajindar Singh
- Teluk Intan General Clinic
- Anson Bay Medical Centre (currently under construction)
Places of interest
Leaning Tower of Teluk IntanLeaning Tower of Teluk IntanThe leaning tower of Teluk Intan is the Malaysia equivalent of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is located in the centre of the town of Teluk Intan, Perak. The tower is slanted leftward, similar to the Tower of Pisa...
One of the town attractions is a Leaning TowerLeaning tower
This is a list of leaning towers. A leaning tower is a tower which, either intentionally, due to errors in design, construction or to subsequent external influence, does not stand perpendicular to the ground...
erected in 1885 by a Chinese builder, Mr. Leong Choon Cheong. It started to tilt four years after its construction finished due to an underground stream. The tower was originally used as a water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
supplying the area of the town. It had a clock at the top, which still rings every 15 minutes. The tower also served as a beacon to guide ships into Teluk Intan Port. Currently it is a local tourist attraction, and no longer stores water. The area around the tower was paved with bricks and became a plaza. The main street at the centre of Teluk Intan, Jalan Ah Cheong, is named after Leong Choon Cheong to commemorate his contribution.
GPS Coordinates: 4°1.544′N, 101°1.133′E
Batu Tenggek (War Memorial)
Another attraction is the 'Batu Tenggek' (Sitting Boulder) which is situated at a junction in the town centre. According to local legend, the rock was placed there by a British soldier and was originally the size of a matchbox. Over the years, the small rock grew bigger until it reached the size of a boulder. The boulder is now part of a local war memorial built to commemorate World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The plaque on the memorial carries a line from Laurence Binyon
Laurence Binyon
Robert Laurence Binyon was an English poet, dramatist and art scholar. His most famous work, For the Fallen, is well known for being used in Remembrance Sunday services....
's famous poem, "For the Fallen":
- At the going down of the sun and in the morning
- We will remember them
The Ruin of Raja Muda's Palace
This palace was once the official residence of The Raja Muda of Perak. After the demised of The Raja Muda of Perak, the palace was neglected and drug addicts took over and stripped the palace. The remains of the palace is believed to be haunted. Also, it is illegal to going into the area because it is the property of Perak's Sultan. The Ruin is located next to the mansion of Dato. Mah, a near Jalan SekolahHock Soon Temple
There is also a famous temple complex in Teluk Intan, known as Hock Soon Keong (Hock Soon Temple) dedicated to Mazu. The origins of the temple are unknown, while the main temple building (not the original one) was constructed in 1883, as indicated by a legend painted on the building. Hock Soon Temple was the centerpoint of all HokkienHoklo people
The Hoklo people are Han Chinese people whose traditional Ancestral homes are in southern Fujian of South China...
Chinese in Teluk Intan during the British colonial era. The local Hokkien people would congregate at the temple to solve all problems, from giving aid to the poor to solving fights between clans. The local Hokkien people used to select three local Hokkiens, usually businessmen and famous men to settle their problems. The temple was built with Southern Chinese architecture, the most notable feature being the beautifully decorated upturned eaves. There is also a century old mosque just opposite the temple, which is frequently mentioned as a typical depiction of religious harmony in Malaysia.
Sri Subramaniam Temple
The temple is popularly called 'Perak Thendayuthapani Temple', and also as Malaysia's Palani Andavar. Construction of the temple began in 1926. Financial support was provided by the Nattukottai ChettiarChettiar
Chettiar , also spelled Chetty, is a title used by various castes in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. In Kannada, it appears as Setty, Shettar and Shettigar, who are Padmashalis in Andhra Pradesh....
s (also known as the Nagarathar
Nagarathar
The Nagarathars is a Chettiar community in Shaivism that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. They are a prominent mercantile Vaishya, caste in Tamil Nadu, South India...
s), a prominent mercantile community with origins in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The most prominent festival held at this temple is the Chitra Pournami during the Tamil month of Chithrai (April–May). The Chitra Pournami festival lasts three days. On the third day of the festival (the day of Pournami, full moon), the Silver Chariot (Velli Ratham) is taken in procession. This velli ratham was brought to the temple in the year 1932. The procession's route usually covers the entire old town of Teluk Intan.
The temple is managed by the Nagarathars of seven towns including Teluk Intan, Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
, Kampar
Kampar, Perak
Kampar Kampar Kampar (Chinese:金宝） is a town in the state of Perak, Malaysia. Founded in 1887, the town lies within the Kinta Valley and located in the newly-created Kampar District, an area rich with tin reserves. It was a tin mining town which boomed during the height of the tin mining industry....
, Bidor
Bidor
Bidor is a small town in the district of Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia. Chinese name is 美罗.-Geography:Bidor is located between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway...
, Sitiawan
Sitiawan
Sitiawan, Malaysia is a region in the Manjung district of Perak, Malaysia....
Pantai remis and Lumut
Lumut
Lumut is a coastal town in the state of Perak, Malaysia, situated about 84 km from Ipoh, 12 km from the town of Sitiawan and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts...
.Now there is no representation from Bidor and Pantai remis. They make donations annually at festival time. The day to day management of the temple is entrusted to three Nagarathar families, who hold office in 57, 59 and 61, Jalan Bandar.
This temple is one of eighteen constructed by the Nattukottai Chettiars in Malaysia.
Sungai Kerawai Halt
Another attraction is the Sungai Kerawai Halt where the first train crash in Malaya occurred on July 1888.Education
There are two public university branch campuses located in Teluk Intan. The campuses are Universiti Teknologi MaraUniversiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA is a coeducational public university with its main campus located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.It is the flagship institution of the Universiti Teknologi MARA...
Teluk Intan Campus for Faculty of Medicine UiTM http://medicine.uitm.edu.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=781&Itemid=673 completed in October 2010 and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The National University of Malaysia is a public university located in Bangi, Selangor which is about 35 km south of Kuala Lumpur...
Teluk Intan Campus of Faculty of Medicine UKM (currently under construction) . Both are located beside Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital was built to serve the residents around the Hilir Perak, which covers an area of about and it has 548 beds.-History:The new hospital was built to replace the old hospital building in the area of Jalan Bandar, Teluk Intan, built about 95 years ago. Because the old hospital...
.
Other higher education is currently provided by the Teluk Intan Community College (established 2001) and the Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital
Teluk Intan Hospital was built to serve the residents around the Hilir Perak, which covers an area of about and it has 548 beds.-History:The new hospital was built to replace the old hospital building in the area of Jalan Bandar, Teluk Intan, built about 95 years ago. Because the old hospital...
is used as a teaching hospital
Teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients...
by the Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak.
Being one of the principal towns in the Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak
Hilir Perak is an administrative district of Perak, Malaysia. The district is governed by or Teluk Intan Municipal Council which is based in the town of Teluk Intan. The District council was known as Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak or Hilir Perak District Council until 4 April 2004, when it was...
, Teluk Intan has over 100 primary schools and more than 20 secondary schools. Schools in established prior to the Independence of Malaya
Hari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia...
in 1957 include:
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Horley Methodist (1899)
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent (1919)
- Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan San MinSan Min National Type Secondary SchoolSekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan San Min , which literally translates to San Min National Type Secondary School , is located in Teluk Intan in Perak, Malaysia...
- Sekolah Menengah San Min (SUWA)
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Anthony (1932)
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Abdul Aziz (1952)
- SMK Seri PerakSMK Seri PerakSekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Perak or formerly known as Sekolah Menengah Telok Anson, is a secondary school located in Teluk Intan in Perak, Malaysia. The school was opened in 1957 but officially named in 1965. It is one of the oldest schools that provides a Malay Stream not only in Perak but...
(1957)
There is one boarding school in Teluk Intan that is Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan
Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan
Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan or SEMESTI is one of the fully residential school that was built on 1980. This school is located 13 miles from the Teluk Intan town and has an area of 21.5 hectare. Students start enrolling into this school on 1984.-History:The early work on building this science...
and one technical school, Sekolah Menengah Teknik Teluk Intan.
Local delicacies
Mee rebus
Mee rebus or Mie rebus , is a noodle dish popular in Indonesia , Malaysia, and Singapore.The dish is made of yellow egg noodles, which are also used in Hokkien mee, with a spicy slightly sweet curry-like gravy...
' Mastan Ghani, a boiled noodle dish served with a moderately spicy and sweet gravy; a more spicy noodle dish called Mee Jawa; nasi kandar
Nasi kandar
Nasi Kandar is a popular northern Malaysian dish, which originates from Penang. It is a meal of steamed rice which can be plain or mildly flavored, and served with a variety of curries and side dishes....
, satay
Satay
Satay , or sate, is a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, other meats, or tofu; the more authentic version uses skewers from the midrib of the coconut palm frond, although bamboo skewers are...
, and fruit rojak
Rojak
Rojak or Rujak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore...
.
Another attraction is a beverage made of rose syrup mixed with coconut milk or milk called 'Ais Bandung'. This beverage can be found near the wet market, located on the northern riverbank.
The local Chinese community has many famous delicacies as well. One of them is 'Heong Peah' (Fragrant Biscuit). Heong Peah has a crispy pastry layer outside and a sticky filling inside (also known as beleko). It contains a mixture of flour, oil, maltose, sugar, sesame, and shallots. The 'Heong Peah' market in Teluk Intan is dominated by two family-run enterprises: Sin Guan Tin and Sin Joo Heong. Locals fondly refer to the latter as the 'Tiger' brand or mark or 'Tiger Biscuit'. The former's trademark is a butterfly.
Another famous delicacy in Teluk Intan is the 'Chee Cheong Fun', a variation of Kueh Teow containing turnip, whereas the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Chee Cheong Fun has prawns wrapped inside.
Chinese curry mee and a variety of other food can be found at "Glutton Square" located at the corner of Jalan Sithabaram Pillai and Jalan Ah Cheong.
There is also a food court (locals call it "Bumbung Biru") in front of Menara Jam Condong "The Leaning Tower".
Another long-standing tourist sight for more than 25 years is Teluk Intan's laksa
Laksa
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to a lesser extent Indonesia.- Origin :The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear...
sold from a bicycle by "Uncle Laksa". This man rides around the town areas such as Jln Woo Saik Hong, Jln Pasir Bedamar, Jln Ah Cheong and Jln Pasar to sell his trademark laksa.
Other type of foods can be found in Teluk Intan including western foods by fast food restaurant
Fast food restaurant
A fast food restaurant, also known as a Quick Service Restaurant or QSR within the industry itself, is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service...
and also Japanese cuisine like sushi
Sushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
food by Sushi King
Notable residents
- Antony SelvanayagamAntony SelvanayagamAntony Selvanayagam is the current bishop of the Diocese of Penang, Malaysia. He was installed by Pope John Paul II as the 4th bishop of Penang after the transfer of his predecessor, Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur as the 2nd archbishop of Kuala Lumpur.He has...
; Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of PenangRoman Catholic Diocese of PenangThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang is situated in the northern region of Malaysia covering 5 states, namely Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. It was created in 25 February 1955 together with the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.-History:... - Jamal AbdillahJamal AbdillahJamal Ubaidillah bin Haji Ali or is better known as Jamal Abdillah is a Malaysian pop singer and actor. Winner of Bintang RTM 1979.-Concerts:...
; pop singer and actor - Joe FlizzowJoe FlizzowJohan bin Ishak , better known by his stage name Joe Flizzow, is an award-winning Malaysian hip hop artist and businessman. He is one half of the internationally renowned Malaysian hip hop duo, Too Phat - the most successful hip hop act to ever emerge from Malaysia...
; hip-hop artiste from the group Too PhatToo PhatToo Phat is a Malaysian hip-hop duo, consisting of Joe Flizzow and Malique Ibrahim .-Career:... - Lau Wai Fong; Artist
- Loke Yuen Yow; Former Deputy Finance Minister of Malaysia and current Deputy Secretary General of the Malaysian Chinese AssociationMalaysian Chinese AssociationMalaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
- Mah Siew Keong; Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry of Malaysia and current Vice President of Parti Gerakan Rakyat MalaysiaParti Gerakan Rakyat MalaysiaThe Malaysian People's Movement Party is a political party in Malaysia. The party was founded on March 24, 1968, and , it is part of the ruling National Front coalition....
- Mohamed Hanif Omar; Inspector General of the Royal Malaysian PoliceRoyal Malaysian PoliceThe Royal Malaysia Police is a part of the security forces structure in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organization with responsibilities ranging from traffic control to intelligence gathering. Its headquarters is located at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. The police force is led by an...
from 1974 to 1994 - Weeratunge Edward PereraWeeratunge Edward PereraWeeratunge Edward Perera MBE was a Malaysian Sinhalese educator, businessman and social entrepreneur. He brought some semblance of peace to Teluk Anson during its occupation by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II and the Communist Insurgency War that followed. W. E...
, MBEMBEMBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
; educator and social entrepreneur