Kusu Island

Kusu Island is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore, located about to the south of the main island of Singapore and below the Singapore Straits. ''Kusu'' means 'Tortoise Island' or 'Turtle Island' in Hokkien (); the island is also known as Peak Island or ''Pulau Tembakul'' in Malay.

During the lunar ninth month of every year, the Kusu Island pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees who visit and worship at the Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple. Besides the Chinese temple, the island is also home to Keramat Kusu.

From two outcrops on a reef, the island was enlarged and transformed into an island of .

Mythology

There are many legends surrounding the island and they mainly revolve around a giant tortoise as well as the friendship between two men, one Malay and the other Chinese.

# Two holy men by the name of Syed Rahman, an Arab, and Yam, a Chinese, who meditated and fasted on their pilgrimage to Kusu Island. During the journey, Yam fell ill, and Syed prayed for his recovery. Their lives were saved when a boat appeared with food and water. Thereafter, the 2 holy men regularly visited Kusu Island to give thanks. The Tua Pek Kong temple and Datuk Keramat were subsequently erected and dedicated to their memory.
# During one lunar 9th month centuries ago, shipwrecked sailors were rescued by a giant turtle which turned itself into an island. The sailors returned the next year to make offerings. Since then, Kusu Island has become a place of worship.
# Two shipwrecked fishermen, a Chinese and a Malay were saved by a giant turtle that transformed into an island.

History

In 2021, during the pilgrimage season in October, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) restricted the island to 500 visitors per day by limiting the number of passengers to 50 per ferry trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. There were only 10 hourly ferry trips per day.

On 17 April 2022, the keramats were badly damaged in a fire.

In 2025, the bumboat jetty was temporarily closed for structural checks and repair works by the SLA. The main jetty is still operational.

Facilities

At the top of the hillock on Kusu Island stood a large shrine, the Keramat Kusu that consisted of three shrines. While the origin of the Keramat was unknown, there are two variations of the origin. The first version was that it was the shrine for a Malay sailor or fisherman and the second version was that it housed the shrines of Sayyid 'Abd al-Rahman, an Arab immigrant, his mother Nenek Ghalib and his daughter Puteri Sharifah Fatimah.

Also located on Kusu island is the Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple dedicated to both Tua Pek Kong and Guanyin. Built in 1923 by a wealthy businessman, the temple also include Eight Immortals, Guan Yu and the Tiger god (虎爷). The temple also houses a fertility tree (求子树), where well wishes are hung upon it.

A stand-alone open-air hawker centre is located in the middle of the island but it is only open and running during certain periods of the year, such as during festivals or pilgrimages to the keramat or the temple.

No overnight stays are permitted on the island.

Pilgrimage

Every year during the Chinese Lunar 9th month, thousands of devotees from Singapore and neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand will make their pilgrimage to Kusu Island. The 9th lunar month is thought to be sacred due to its linkages to the origination myth of Kusu Island. During the pilgrimage, offerings such as fruits, joss papers and Chinese prosperity cakes (發糕) are brought by pilgrims to give thanks to the deities and pray for blessings. Pilgrims would also replace fulu talismans and fraying amulets from the previous year with new ones.

As part of the annual pilgrimage, devotees also climb 152 steps to pay respects at the Datuk Keramat. Devotees pray for wealth, good marriage, good health and harmony at the shrines. They are also popular with childless couples who would pray for children.

Transportation

Ferry trips are available via Marina South Pier.

References

External links

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Pilgrimage to Kusu Island - INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE


on wildsingapore

on Coral Reefs of Singapore

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Islands of Singapore
Southern Islands