Pulau Pangkor Was Once Feared as a Leprosy Colony

Pulau Pangkor is rich in the history of Perak. It has served as a witness to several important events that changed the economic and administrative landscape of the state. One of the most well-known, as we are aware, is the Pangkor Treaty.

During the British colonial era, before 1934, anyone who heard the name Pulau Pangkor would feel a sense of dread because the island was frequently associated with the term "exiled to Pangkor," which was a popular and widely discussed phrase among the people of Perak at that time. The story goes that Pulau Pangkor was used as a place to isolate those suffering from leprosy. As we are all aware, leprosy was a disease that was greatly feared and considered extremely dangerous to humans. Unlike today, leprosy was incurable in the past. Patients suffering from the disease were cast out and separated from the healthy population to prevent infection and the spread of the disease. Those afflicted with leprosy were placed in a special settlement on Pulau Pangkor.

In reality, the Pulau Pangkor we see today is no longer the place described in those stories. The island has completely transformed. It has become a tourism hub and a focal point for tourists, not only from within the country but also from abroad.

The specific location is on Pulau Pangkor Laut, credit to Irwan Al Jenderami

Pulau Pangkor remains a source of pride for the people of Perak and an important asset for the state. From the past until today, it has remained busy and bustling with various economic and tourism activities. However, the reality today is that leprosy is very easy to treat using therapeutic methods. Thanks to research by scientists from all over the world, various antibiotics and medications have been successfully developed to treat the disease. Sources and references

• Berita Harian 31 January 1959