The Story and Origin of the Name Teluk Bakong in Bota, Perak

Kampung Telok Bakong is a village located in the Lambor Kanan sub-district. This story is not recorded in any written documents regarding how Kampung Telok Bakong got its name, and these accounts are mostly found through oral tradition.

Telok Bakong has several interesting stories and its own unique history during the reign of the past Sultans of Perak. There are two common versions of the story that recount the history and origin of how the name Teluk Bakong was chosen for the village. First story and account - Once upon a time, the area around Kampung Teluk Bakong was overgrown with Bakung (lily) flowers. It could be said that almost every house in Telok Bakong had these flowers planted. Therefore, it is highly likely that the villagers used them for medicinal purposes because the roots or bulbs of this flower are said to have their own unique properties. The Bakung flower can treat several ailments such as minor wounds, lower back pain, and muscle strains, among other benefits. In the area along the banks of Tasik Air Mati in Changkat Melintang, there is a bay protected by Tabuan island. Looking at the peacefulness of the sheltered bay, the words 'Teluk' (bay) and 'Bunga Bakung' (lily flower) were combined to form the name Teluk Bakong. Some state that the underlying meaning is a safe and peaceful village with residents who are united, like the clump of lily flowers with white blooms on top, spreading fragrance when in bloom and symbolizing the purity of the flower's white color.

White Lily Flower

Second story and account - Along the banks of Air Mati up to the mouth of the Perak river, it was said that there used to be many water spinach (kangkung) plants growing wild, which were easily harvested for daily use as a remedy for mouth sores and as a vegetable for cooking. The river area next to the buffalo field, which was formerly known as Pucuk-Ara Licin, had a bay and a whirlpool. This was due to the depth of the Perak river's water level in the past. With the presence of the bay and the wild kangkung growing there, the tribal leaders at the time would mention 'teluk' (bay) and 'kangkung' interchangeably. Some would say 'bankung', 'bakung', and 'kangkung' until, over time, the pronunciation evolved into Teluk Bakong.