The Forgotten History of the Teluk Intan Canal

The areas around Durian Sebatang and Teluk Mak Intan were a focal point for the British since their early arrival in the state of Perak. For the colonial authorities, this area was suitable for development to facilitate their administration and trade.

This was due to its geographical position near the mouth of the Perak River, and Teluk Mak Intan possessed deep waters that made it easy for large ships to dock. In this article, orangperak.com, through references from the book 'Teluk Anson 100 Tahun' by Prof. Khoo Kay Khim, wishes to touch upon a forgotten side of Teluk Intan's history: the Teluk Anson (Teluk Intan) Canal, which was of great service to the residents of the Lower Perak area at the time.

Old photo of the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan facing the old canal

As an introduction, there were once two important settlements in the Teluk Intan area inhabited by people of various races. These settlements were Teluk Mak Intan and Durian Sebatang. Durian Sebatang was located at the mouth of the Bidor River, which joined the Perak River, and had been under the care of the Laksamana of Perak for centuries. This area served as a toll point for the Laksamana to collect boat taxes and was an important place for the economy of Perak. Later, when the British began ruling Perak, Durian Sebatang was made the administrative seat for the Superintendent of Lower Perak. This position was similar to the District Officer role today. In September 1881, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Frederick A. Weld, visited Durian Sebatang and approved the construction of a canal from Durian Sebatang to Teluk Mak Intan. He described this construction as vital to boost economic development and to save 8 kilometers of travel distance compared to the original river route.

Sketch of the Teluk Anson port, railway tracks, and the Teluk Anson canal

Teluk Mak Intan, as mentioned earlier, had deep waters. Because of this, Teluk Mak Intan was chosen by the British to be developed as a new planned town for administrative and trade purposes. This new town was proposed to be named Teluk Anson by Hugh Low, the British Resident of Perak, during the State Council Meeting on 15 March 1882, as a tribute to General Anson who drew the town's construction plan. Hugh Low also remarked that the name Teluk Mak Intan was too long to pronounce. When the construction of this canal was to be carried out, the British requested the assistance of the local penghulus (village chiefs) in the Lower Perak area to send their men to work on building the canal. Construction began in 1881, and the British paid a wage of 20 cents a day to those involved. However, the canal construction faced various problems due to government funding that was often delayed. Roads, government buildings, and business areas were also built during the same period.

Sketch showing the locations of Teluk Mak Intan, Durian Sebatang, and the excavated canal

By 1884, construction work was completed and it provided many benefits to the local residents as they no longer had to carry goods for sale on their heads. It was mentioned that at the time, the canal was always crowded with boats, sampans, ladings, and skiffs. However, several high-ranking British officials were dissatisfied with the canal's construction. Swettenham, for instance, while serving as the Acting Resident of Perak, stated in the state's financial report that the canal's construction did not follow the specified standards and was a failure. Furthermore, the construction of the canal caused Teluk Anson to be divided into two: shops on the north side of the canal, and government buildings as well as the Teluk Anson port on the south side. The use of this canal later declined when the railway line connecting Teluk Anson to Tapah Road and Ipoh was completed in 1893. This railway line also became the main transport medium for tin ore from Kinta to the port of Teluk Anson.

This is where the Teluk Intan Canal used to be

The state government later decided to fill in the canal. In the Lower Perak Half Yearly Report of 1896, it was stated that 400 cubic meters of sand, with an additional 1,666 cubic meters, were used by the Public Works Department. The cost incurred to backfill the canal was $500,000. The filled-in canal was turned into a road and named Canal Road (now Jalan Selat).