Teluk Intan's 'leaning tower' declared a national heritage

TELUK INTAN: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has declared the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan as a National Heritage.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the tower, built in 1885 based on a Pagoda concept, had its own uniqueness as it reflected the rich influence of the Chinese culture and architecture.

"The history of the building serves as a landmark for Bandar Teluk Intan is very unique because it serves the people.

"It serves as a water tank during the dry season and also has a fire-extinguishing facility.

"The clock at the tower also symbolises unity of the people of Teluk Intan because it was built with contributions and donations from local residents then," he said in his speech at the Malaysian Chinese New Year Open house here Saturday.

Muhyiddin said the Leaning Tower had become one of the attractions for tourists arriving in Perak, like that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

He congratulated the National Heritage Department, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and also the Perak government, especially the Teluk Intan Municipal Council, for their success in getting the recognition as a National Heritage for the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan.

He said the government was also in the process of getting an international recognition for the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan to be in the list of Unesco's World Heritage sites.

"Indeed, efforts to maintain and preserve heritage and culture is a collective responsibility.

"Hopefully, it will also promote Teluk Intan as a centre of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists," he added. - Bernama