PULAU JEREJAK PENANG

 PULAU JEREJAK

Penang is one of the states that has a full history , there is a small island opposite it which is also a Malaysian heritage site. It is known as Pulau Jerejak. The island actually holds much of its own history, prompting heritage activists to recognize Pulau Jerejak as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  As early as 1868, those with leprosy would be isolated on Jerejak Island. This disease is a caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae that makes those infected have significant symptoms on the face. At that time people were afraid of this disease because remember this disease can be transmitted through touch. More than 7,000 lepers have been placed on the island. Not only that, Jerejak Island is also said to be a stronghold of Asian wars by the Japanese army. 

After Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed and the Japanese surrendered, all detainees were released to return to their respective countries. The island was once used as a political prison in 1948 by the British and was used as the Jerejak Island Rehabilitation Center to start operating in 1969 under the Malaysian Prison Department. In addition, following the May 13 incident, Jerejak Prison was also used as a detention facility below  Emergency (Public Order and Crime Prevention) Ordinance, 1969.