Lazarus Island, formerly known as Pulau Sekijang Pelepah, is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore. It is south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. It is connected by a causeway to Saint John's Island, which is reachable by ferry. It is not connected by land to the mainland.
Lazarus island was formerly known as Pulau Sekijang Pelepah (alternatively spelled as Pulau Sakijang Pelepah). Literally translated from Malay, 'sa', short for 'satu', means one, 'kijang' means deer, and 'pelepah' is a palm frond. Put together, it means 'Island of A Deer and Palms'. In 2006, Lazarus Island and Pulau Seringat were linked by a sand bank.
The island and nearby St Johns Island was originally a penal colony and a quarantine station initially for cholera, beri-beri then later for leprosy - a termed lazaretto - which may have been later changed to Lazarus. Lepers may also have been transferred to Lazarus Island (the connection being that the biblical character. (See Order of Saint Lazarus and Leper colony.)