The Meaning of Teluk Anshun Behind the Name Teluk Anson

Teluk Intan is surrounded by the Perak and Bidor rivers. It is the largest town in southern Perak when compared to Kampar, Tapah, Hutan Melintang, and Bagan Datoh.

Once upon a time, Teluk Intan was one of the most important trading locations in the state of Perak. If you didn't know, there used to be a port in Teluk Intan. It served to transport the main commodity of Perak at that time, which was tin ore. As we are all aware, Teluk Intan was originally named Teluk Mak Intan. The name Teluk Mak Intan was taken from a widow who was said to be very beautiful. The widow's name was Mak Intan, and she was a merchant from Mandailing, Sumatra. Mak Intan explored and opened up the Teluk Intan area around the early 19th century. At that time, the area explored by Mak Intan was known as Pekan Mak Intan. Following the opening of this new area, many people from across the sea of Javanese, Rawa, Mandailing, Minangkabau, Kampar, and later Indian-Bombay descent came to inhabit this new area. Most of those who moved to Pekan Mak Intan were farmers and traders of traditional goods such as spices, cloth, asafoetida, betel nut cutters, machetes, and so on. That was the beginning of the origin of Teluk Intan, which should be known by all Perak residents, especially those born in Teluk Intan.

The name Teluk Anson emerged when the Teluk Mak Intan area was named after General Archibald Anson. If you didn't know, General Archibald Anson was an individual appointed as the British governor who came to Teluk Mak Intan at that time.

However, effective from January 1, 1982, the town changed its name again from Teluk Anson to Teluk Intan, as it is used today. On average, the Chinese community living there, especially the older generation, mostly refer to Teluk Anson as Teluk Anshun.

Even after the significant date of January 1, 1982, when Teluk Anson was renamed Teluk Intan, they still refer to Teluk Intan as Teluk Anshun. This is due to factors stemming from the Cantonese dialect and the positive meaning it holds in their language.

For the Chinese community, Teluk Anshun carries a good meaning and implies 'ong' or good luck. The word "An" means safe and happy, while "Shun" means free from problems. As the older generation is replaced by the new, the name Teluk Intan is increasingly used, to the point where the name Teluk Anshun is gradually being forgotten by the local Chinese community.