Preliminary survey finding of the built and living environment in Camp 5, Pulau Jerejak settlement

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the historical development of Camp 5, a leper camp on Pulau Jerejak. Pulau Jerejak Leper Settlement was operated from 1871 until 1969. During this period, six camps were built scattering around the island. One of the most important camps was Camp 5, completed in 1936. The camp was planned against the conservative idea of prison-like strict segregation. Camp 5 was planned in such a way that leprosy patients could freely conduct socio-cultural events, practice their faiths, establish their own families, be appointed as inmate workers, and et cetera. The houses were planned in clusters with well-planned agriculture plots and socio-cultural facilities. The layout plan of Camp 5 is important to suggest how leprosy patients could have been segregated more humanely. Today, most of the structures in Camp 5 are in semi-ruined conditions, Besides, there is lack of information can be used to reconstruct the planning of the settlement for the purpose historical research. Therefore, this research was conducted using three methods; archival research, interview and field works. The preliminary findings of the research enable researchers to discuss the theoretical discourse and provide historical lessons of modern segregations in dealing with diseases.