The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia

The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan festooned with flags for the Merdeka Day celebrations (21 September, 2004)

The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan (GPS: 4.02522, 101.01935) 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, in the small town of Teluk Intan, once also known as Teluk Anson. 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.

Close-up look of the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan (21 September, 2004)

Take a close look at the tower, and you will find distinctly Chinese architectural elements in the design, especially the use of mortar strips, roof eves and drippers. It wasn't surprising therefore that 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.

Realising the heritage value of this leaning tower, the Hilir Perak District Council in 1997 constructed a plaza around (a mistake, in my opinion, for it also scrubbed much of the quaintness surrounding the tower). The council also undertook restoration work to halt further lean to the tower. It was closed to the public during restoration, and was only reopened in the middle of 2004. I visited among the first few to visit it after it opened.