Jerejak, or Pulau Jerejak (English: Jerejak Island), is a
362 hectare island located off the southeastern tip of Penang, Malaysia, a
short ferry ride from Bayan Lepas, Penang. It was formerly the main leper
asylum for The Straits Settlements (1868), Quarantine Station(1875) and penal
colony (1969).
Francis Light, the founder of Penang, was said to have
arrived in Pulau Jerejak in early 1786 before heading on to Penang. In 1797,
Colonel Arthur Wellesley had proposed Jerejak as the possible site for Fort
Cornwallis. His idea of establishing a military post in Jerejak was to offer
protection to a new township called Jamestown, which was to be set up in
present-day Bayan Lepas. Earlier in 1794, there had been an outbreak of malaria
caused most likely by the clearing of the jungle to establish George Town,
claiming many lives, including Francis Light himself. Thus, Wellesley was not
in favor of the site for Fort Cornwallis to be on Penang island.
This plan did not materialize as George Town was starting to
become a profitable port and it soon became unnecessary to establish Jamestown
or have a military facility in that location.
As a result of Francis Light's earlier ruling
whereby immigrants were allowed to claim whatever land they could clear, Penang
became flooded with immigrants. As a precautionary step, these immigrants were
sent to Jerejak's health inspection center before they were allowed to proceed
to Penang.
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