NINETY participants took part in a 10km kayaking challenge to Pulau Jerejak aimed at encouraging the public to adopt a healthier lifestyle through recreational activities.
They set out from the Batu Uban marine police jetty, about 2km from Pulau Jerejak, and circled the 4km-long forested island.
The Pulau Jerejak Kayak Challenge was held as part of the 2026 Penang Recreational Sports Challenge.
The programme was organised with the cooperation of the Northern Region Marine Police and Kembara Utara Kayaking Club (KBKU).
The kayakers were flagged off by Penang Youth and Sports Department director Wan Nur Iza Mohd Nor.
She was accompanied by Northern Region Marine Police Batu Uban team commander Insp Adi Saufi as well as representatives from KBKU.
Pulau Jerejak, located just 800m off the south-eastern coast of Penang island, is the largest island in the Penang Strait.
Despite its modest size, the island has played several roles in Penang’s history.
It was home to a leprosy settlement from the late 19th century, served as a quarantine station for immigrants and pilgrims, and later housed a tuberculosis sanatorium.
In 1969, it became a high-security detention centre and prison that remained in operation until 1993.
The island’s historical importance also predates these institutions.
According to research records, Francis Light was said to have landed on the island in early 1786 before proceeding to Penang island.
Today, the island offers a very different setting, with its natural landscape providing a venue for outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking.
The state government recently announced the construction of a RM500mil bridge connecting Pulau Jerejak to Penang island.
