Jerejak Island

Pulau Jerejak is a large and historically significant island located in the channel just off the southeastern coast of Penang Island. The island has a dark and complex past, having served as a quarantine station for immigrants, a leper colony, and later, a maximum-security penal colony, earning it the nickname "The Alcatraz of Malaysia." After the prison was closed, the island was largely abandoned for many years. Recently, there have been efforts to redevelop Pulau Jerejak as an eco-tourism destination, taking advantage of its lush, dense rainforests and its relative seclusion. Today, visitors can explore its hiking trails, discover the remnants of its past, and enjoy the natural beauty of this intriguing and historically rich island.