Standing on a rise on the north of the island of Labuan, located off the coast of East Malaysia, is a 100-feet tall red brick chimney. The chimney is nothing remarkable as far as chimneys go—just a square-shaped brick tower with two arches at the base and a decorative frieze at the top. But what has puzzled archeologists for decades is why it was built.

Various hypothesis has been put forward to its purpose. Some said it belonged to an unfinished mansion, while others said it was a light house beaconing passing ships, or a bell tower. The most likely hypothesis links the chimney to previous coal mining activities in the area.

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