Lazarus Island

Lazarus Island, also known as Pulau Sekijang Pelepah, is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore. It is south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore and is uninhabited. It is connected by a causeway to Saint John's Island, which is reachable by ferry.

Lazarus Island

Native name: Pulau Sekijang Pelepah
Lazarus Island on the right
Location of Lazarus Island
Geography
Location	Singapore Strait
Coordinates	1°13′20.1354″N 103°51′19.296″E
Administration
Singapore
Region	Central Region
Planning Area	Southern Islands
Constituency	West Coast GRC
Member of Parliament	Rachel Ong Sin Yen

Etymology

Lazarus island was also known as Pulau Sekijang Pelepah (alternatively spelled as Pulau Sakijang Pelepah).^[1] Literally translated from Malay, 'sa', short for 'satu', means one, 'kijang' means deer, and 'pelepah' is a palm frond. Put together, it means 'Island of A Deer and Palms'.^[2] In 2006, Lazarus Island and Pulau Seringat were linked by a sand bank.

The island and nearby St Johns Island was originally a penal colony and a quarantine station initially for cholera, beri-beri then later for leprosy - a termed lazaretto - which may have been later changed to Lazarus. Lepers may also have been transferred to Lazarus Island (the connection being that the biblical character. (See Order of Saint Lazarus and Leper colony.)