Natural Beauty of Mysterious Pulau Merambong

HERE'S a simple geography test to see if you are Johorean enough: Do you know which island off the Johor coast shrinks to half its original size during the high tide? Clue: There are about ten graveyards on the island.

It seems there is also a great mystery surrounding the island named Pulau Merambong.

The island is better known to environmentalists and researchers than to the general public. But, it has yet to be established as an eco-tourism destination despite fulfilling the criteria.
 

Nevertheless, many researchers agree that Pulau Merambong and its surrounding waters in the Johor Straits is a treasure trove of bio-diversity.

The lush meadow of the sea-grass bed stretching from the island right up to the estuary of Sungai Pulai not only provides food but is also home to marine creatures.

These creatures include crustaceans, fishes, molluscs and sea worms.
 

They feed on different types of seagrass that comes in shapes of a spoon, fern and a bunch of grapes.

The seagrass is truly extra-ordinary. From a distance, the exposed seagrass during low tide appears like a floating meadow in the middle of the straits. It's certainly a spectacular sight to behold!

Visitors here can see the villagers in Gelang Patah and the aquatic meadow zone catch fish, prawns and crabs, and collect molluscs during low tide.

Sometimes, these villagers also pick up the starfish and sea cucumber.

The dugong and seahorse also make the seagrass bed their breeding ground. However, of late, the seahorse population has declined rapidly due to illegal fishing. If you catch a glimpse of a sluggish dugong or better known as sea cow, count yourself lucky.
 

The dugongs have a particular liking for the softer spoon seagrass (Halophila ovata) and fern seagrass (Halophila spinulosa).

The island is also rich in history, geological remnants and tales of mystery. The most popular story narrates that pirates who hijacked merchant vessels in the Straits of Malacca buried their loot in the wooded area of the sheltered island.

There is evidence which could support this tale, as there are more than five large holes in a wooded area believed to be excavated by people looking for the treasures.

Geological remnants in the form of rocks are aplenty in the coastal areas.

For some people, the appearance of the rocks looks eerie because of the oxidation of ores found in the quartzite rocks.

The rocks also reflect a slimy green colour due to the moss growing on its surface.

The jagged rocks which come in different hues reflect the colourful nature of the island.

What about the island's mystery? Well, no one knows any of the descendants of the deceased buried in these graveyards.

However, one finds the graveyards well-maintained, which suggests that family members do come and pay their respects to their dearly departed here.

It's learnt that decades ago, the folk of Gelang Patah buried their dead on the island.

The local folk believe that it was a preventive measure to stop wild animals on the mainland from digging up bodies from the graves.

Pulau Merambong has all the makings of an ideal eco-tourism destination. However, this will only become a reality if the authorities support the idea.

It's time to explore the eco-tourism opportunities to help diversify the existing tourism resources in Johor.

However, it should not be at the expense of the environment. What's natural should be left that way.

Pulau Merambong is documented in Echoes of Life.

The book contains photographs taken by Vincent Chow, the author of the book.

He is adviser to the Malaysia Nature Society (Johor branch) and the book was a collaboration between the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and MNS Johor branch.