Big Island, Malaysia

Big Island Pulau Besar ڤولاو بسر
Island
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Coordinates: 2°6′30.8″N 102°19′37.83″E / 2.108556°N 102.3271750°E / 2.108556; 102.3271750Coordinates: 2°6′30.8″N 102°19′37.83″E / 2.108556°N 102.3271750°E / 2.108556; 102.3271750
Country	Malaysia
State	Malacca
District	Melaka Tengah

Big Island (Malay: Pulau Besar, in Jawi Script: ڤولاو بسر, Chinese: 五嶼島) is an island in Malacca, Malaysia, and is located approximately 13 km from mainland Malacca.

Transportation[]

Private motorboats leave from the towns of Pernu and Umbai, about 11 km from downtown Malacca. Ferries are also available from the Anjung Batu jetty in Umbai, departing at the following times: 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 17:00, 18:30 and 20:30, and return 30 minutes thereafter (8:30, 10:30, etc.). The adult return ticket is RM15, children over 4 RM11, under 4 RM4.

Public transportation[]

To get to Anjung Batu Jetty from Malacca, take bus "Panorama" #6A Platform #8 from Melaka Sentral terminal, towards Merlimau/Muar. When purchasing the ticket (RM2.50) from the driver at boarding, tell the driver you are going to Anjung Batu Jetty, and he will announce the destination upon arrival.

Attractions[]

Notable among these is the tomb of Sultan Al Ariffin Syeikh Ismail. According to the notice board outside the tomb, Syeikh Ismail was the 18th descendant of the Prophet and was born in Baghdad in 1462 AD. While visiting the Prophet's tomb in Medina, he received a calling to go and spread Islam to Java. He reached Pulau Besar in 1495 and from there helped disseminate Islamic teaching throughout the Malay Archipelago. He died in 1519 at the age of 56^[1] and was buried on the island.^[1][2]

The tomb of Syarifah Rodziah/Siti Sarah (one of Syeikh Ismail's relatives) is located nearby, as are several other graves and mausoleums. These tombs attract many visitors, particularly Malaysian and Singaporean Muslims of Indian descent.

The island has a number of other attractions, some of which are rather mystical, including a number of old wells, one of which is believed to contain salt water at high tide and fresh water during low tide.

There are also interesting rock formations, including a stone skull, horse head rock and a split rock at the highest point of the island. Various legends and myths are associated with these rocks.

Legend also has a village of elves, an elves' palace and a cave known as Gua Yunos (Yunos' Cave) where warriors were said to practice mysticism and learn silat (Malaysian Martial arts).

There is a museum - Muzium Pulau Besar - operated by the state government, which explains some of the weird and wonderful legends and sights on the island.

Development plans[]

There are currently no new development projects on the island, however in 2008 there were plans to turn the island into the country's largest independent oil storage terminal by 2010. Located about 40 km from the Petronas largest refinery complex in Sungai Udang, along one of the world's busiest trade routes in the Straits of Malacca, the island was envisioned to become a hub for the petroleum industry in this region. The project was later shelved.

Government[]

Pulau Besar is located within Malacca Historical City Council's municipal area.

Pulau Besar falls within Telok Mas state constituency, part of Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency.

Notes[]

1.^ Syeikh Ismail was 56 years old (Gregorian age) when he died. The information box at his tomb shows that he died at the age of 58 (Hijri age).

References[]