Pulau Sudong is a 209-hectare coral island off the southern coast of Singapore, it was enlarged through a land reclamation process during the late 1970's.

Restricted area

Since the early 1980s, the island together with Pulau Senang and Pulau Pawai, these three islands (See Figure 1) formed the Singapore Armed Forces southern islands military training area and live-firing zone.^[1] As with all other military installations within the country, the entire live-firing zone is strictly off limits to all civilians at all times of the day and night^[2] unless contracted by MINDEF on official duties to perform maintenance on the island's calibration facilities that monitors the live-firing range located on the nearby islands of Pulau Pawai and Pulau Senang.

Also, the island's airstrip and dock is maintained by SAF with most areas vegetated by dense foliage (See Fig. 2). As a result of this, the island is wildlife haven for migratory birds and plants alike.

Etymology and history

Sudong is the same as tudong in Malay, a cone-shaped food cover made from matting; it is also used as head covers by padi planters.

The government malaria research station, originally on Pulau Belakang Mati, was on the island.

Panoramic image

The Southern Islands, Singapore. Panoramic view of Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse), Pulau Biola, Pulau Senang, Pulau Pawai and Pulau Sudong, from Pulau Semakau. (Note: This is as close as you can get to see the islands due to its military sensitivity.)

References

• Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2004), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern University Press, ISBN 981-210-364-3

External links

• Satellite image of Pulau Sudong - Google Maps