Long before Singapore had become a global tourist destination, Lazarus Island (Pulau Sekijang Pelepah) had already attracted a steady stream of foreign visitors to their shores in the 1960s and 1970s. Twice a day, children would line the jetty to welcome tourists, providing them with a distinctly local experience.
Kamariah Bte Yacob, together with other children from Pulau Sekijang Pelepah (Lazarus Island) line the jetty waiting for tourists. Photo courtesy of Kamariah Bte Yacob.
THE LAZARUS GIRLS
Jamilah Bte Mohd Taib
Sukarseh Bte Sumery
Jamaliah Bte Jamahat
Aspalila Bte Rahmat
Noor Aisha Bte Mustari
Suzana Bte Rahmat
And without fail, they would throw in this unverified nugget of information: Lazarus was an island of 44 houses and 400 people.
With basic spoken English, the Lazarus Girls, as they would call themselves, would introduce the island’s landmarks: the chief’s house, the well, the dispensary and the cemetery. And without fail, they would throw in this unverified nugget of information: Lazarus was an island of 44 houses and 400 people.
Saripah Maimunah
Kamariah Bte Yaacob
Siti Fatimah Bte Salleh
The arrival of tourists also gave the boys a chance to earn extra pocket money. Many boys would dive into the waters and taunt the tourists to throw them spare change. They would resurface with the money in their mouths, much to the delight of the visitors.
Today, children no longer welcome visitors – the residents have been relocated to mainland in the mid-1970s. But Lazarus Island retains a certain charm – its pristine beaches continue to attract a steady stream of beach-goers and private yachts to dock.
