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Kuraman Island
Island of Labuan, Malaysia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kuraman Island or Keraman Island (Malay: Pulau Kuraman), formerly named as Mompracem, is an island located within the Labuan Federal Territory of Malaysia on the northern mouth of Brunei Bay.[1][2] It is one of the six Labuan islands, apart from Burung, Daat, Papan, Rusukan Besar, and Rusukan Kecil. With a size of 1.47 square kilometres (0.57 sq mi),[4] it forms part of the Labuan Marine Park together with the latter two islands of Rusukan Besar and Rusukan Kecil.[5]
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The island has two main beaches and is noted for its fishing, large sand spit and pleasant tropical island atmosphere. The interior is forested with a range of timbers and contains cleared paths for jungle walks. In recent years, large storms have contributed to increased erosion resulting in several areas of vegetation and numerous buildings being washed into the sea.
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Etymology
The island was featured in a 1594 Dutch Voorcompagnieën (a predecessor of the Dutch East India Company (VOC)) cartographer map of the East Indies based on the voyage of Petrus Plancius in the South China Sea coast of northern Borneo with Kuraman labelled as Mon Pracem/Mompracem/Mōpracam,[6][7] Labuan as Pulo Tigao/Putigao/Tigaon, and Tiga as Pulo Tiga.[8][9][10] The older name of Mompracem was also used by Italian writer Emilio Salgari to refer to the island in his fictional character of Sandokan and subsequent novel naming of The Tigers of Mompracem.[11][12]
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History
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Along with Labuan and most of the islands in northern Borneo, Kuraman was once under the thalassocracy of the Sultanate of Brunei.[8] A lighthouse, built by the British in 1897, is situated on the highest point of the island.[7] In the surrounding waters off Kuraman there are several known shipwrecks including the Dutch Steamer SS De Klerk and a minesweeper, the USS Salute, both sunk during the Second World War. Kuraman, like the rest of North Borneo, was captured by the Japanese during this period and was liberated by the Australian Army in 1945, although no fighting ever occurred on the island. Two other major shipwrecks can be found in the area: the MV Tung Hwuang, a freighter that sank in the 1980s while transporting cement to Brunei for the Sultan's new palace, and the MV Mabini Padre, a trawler from the Philippines which caught fire and sank in 1981.
In 2004 a group of expatriates from neighbouring Brunei contemplated building a bar/clubhouse for divers, despite facing with various legal complications.[4] The same group then announced plans to develop the island and to declare independence or greater self-government, claiming a perceived dubious Malaysian sovereignty on the island resulting from a conflicting historical Bruneian claim to the island and its surrounding.[4] This went as far as designing a flag for the island, similar to the many unofficial flags which have originated in varying areas around the globe. This was however taken lightheartedly by both the governments of Malaysia and Brunei and looked upon as a form of micronationalism.[4]
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Geography
The island lies on the southern side of the Kiamsan Point of Labuan Island.[13] Between the channel separating the island and the cape point lies a rock called the Sunken Rock.[14]
Demographics
Kuraman is populated by predominantly illegal immigrants from the Philippines, who claim to be a local Malay community, with a small village that includes a bar which serves food and is locally known for its Western cuisine such as french fries and fried chicken.[4][15]
Economy
The island area is part of the future Labuan secondary economic development zone, which gives priority to the preservation of agricultural areas, rural settlements, and coastal and heritage tourism areas, including residential areas.[16]
Transportation
The island has no roads or vehicles and it can only be reached by boat. There is a small private jetty and a new larger government pier which assist in providing access.[7]
See also
References
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