Kusu Island (Pulau Tembakul), Singapore
Kusu Island (GPS: 1.2229, 103.86032) is a small, holiday island located to the south of
Singapore. It is to the southeast of
Sentosa Island, within a cluster of small islands that include
Lazarus Island and
Saint John's Island. It is also known in Malay as
Pulau Tembakul. The Chinese called it Tortoise Island.
Kusu Island covers 85,000 sq m. It has been enlarged through land reclamation and redeveloped for recreational purposes. There are lagoons built on the north and south coasts of the island. These are protected by rock bunds.
On Kusu Island are three Muslim shrines, or
kramat, dedicated to one Syed Abdul Rahman, his mother Nenek Ghalib and sister Puteri Fatimah. The kramats are believed to have been built in the 19th century.
Also on Kusu Island is a Tua Pek Kong Temple. The temple has two patron deities, the Tua Pek Kong and the Guan Yin. The Tua Pek Kong is the local god of prosperity, and is often sought for divine intervention in terms of business prosperity, as well as for the aversion of dangers. The Guan Yin is sought as the "giver of sons".