Tioman Island ( ms, Pulau Tioman) is a
mukim
A mukim is a type of administrative division used in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The word ''mukim'' is a loanword in English. However, it was also originally a loanword in Malay from the Arabic word: (meaning ''resident''). The clo ...
and an island in
Rompin District
The Rompin District is a district located in the southeastern corner of Pahang, Malaysia. Rompin is currently under the Rompin District Council.
The district covers an area of 5,296 km and located 130 kilometres from Kuantan, the capital ci ...
,
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. It is located off the east coast of the state,
and is some long and wide. It has seven villages, the largest and most populous being Kampung Tekek on the central western coast. The densely forested island is sparsely inhabited, and is surrounded by numerous
coral reef
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.
Co ...
s, making it a popular
scuba diving
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chris ...
,
snorkelling
Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, ...
, and
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
spot. There are many resorts and chalets for tourists around the island, which has duty-free status.
In the 1970s, ''
TIME Magazine
''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Mar ...
'' selected Tioman as one of the world's most beautiful islands.
The island is part of
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
territory. However, it is geographically closer to mainland
Johor
Johor (; ), also spelled as Johore, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. Johor has land borders with the Malaysian states of Pahang to the north and Malacca and Negeri Sembilan ...
than to mainland Pahang and is accessed via ferry service from the Johorean coastal town of
Mersing
Mersing (Terengganu Malay: ''Merecing'' or ''Ngesing'') is a town, mukim and the capital of Mersing District, Johor, Malaysia.
As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 70,894.
Mersing town, is particularly significant for a number ...
. Within Tioman Island there are seven
kampung
A kampong (''kampung'' in Malay and Indonesian) is the term for a village in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and a "port" in Cambodia. The term applies to traditional villages, especially of the indigenous people, and has also been used t ...
s:
Salang,
Air Batang,
Tekek,
Paya,
Genting,
Mukut and
Juara
Juara is a Municipalities of Brazil, municipality located in the states of Brazil, state of Mato Grosso in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West Region of Brazil. It is known as the Cattle Capital. Its area is , and its population is 35,121 ...
. The telephone numbers in Tioman start with 09-413, 09-419, 09-582, 09-583 and 09-584.
History
Tioman has been used for thousands of years by
Austronesian fishermen as an essential navigation point and a source of fresh water and wood.
[ During the past thousand years, it has played host to ]Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
, Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
, and European trading ships, and often Chinese porcelain
Porcelain () is a ceramic material made by heating substances, generally including materials such as kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between . The strength and translucence of porcelain, relative to other types of pottery, arises mainl ...
shards can be found on beaches around the island.
In more recent history, Tioman played host to both the British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
and the Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese navies during the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. As a result, the waters around the island are littered with war remains, including HMS ''Repulse'' and HMS ''Prince of Wales''.
Tioman island does not allow buildings to have more than three stories. Tioman Island is to be granted municipality status soon.
Nature
The marine area around Tioman Island and eight other nearby islands have been declared as marine parks and marine reserves.[
Apart from its diverse ]marine life
Marine life, sea life, or ocean life is the plants, animals and other organisms that live in the salt water of seas or oceans, or the brackish water of coastal estuaries. At a fundamental level, marine life affects the nature of the planet. M ...
, the inland rainforest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...
area was protected in 1972 as the Pulau Tioman Wildlife Reserve. However, a large part of the original reserve was sacrificed for agricultural and touristic development in 1984; the remaining area is approximately . There are several protected species of mammals
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
on the island, including the binturong
The binturong (''Arctictis binturong'') (, ), also known as the bearcat, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is uncommon in much of its range, and has been assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of a declining popu ...
, long-tailed macaque
The crab-eating macaque (''Macaca fascicularis''), also known as the long-tailed macaque and referred to as the cynomolgus monkey in laboratories, is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. A species of macaque, the crab-eating macaque ...
, slow loris
Slow lorises are a group of several species of nocturnal strepsirrhine primates that make up the genus ''Nycticebus''. Found in Southeast Asia and bordering areas, they range from Bangladesh and Northeast India in the west to the Sulu Archipe ...
, black giant squirrel
The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel (''Ratufa bicolor'') is a large tree squirrel in the genus '' Ratufa'' native to the Indomalayan zootope. It is found in forests from northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, ...
, red giant flying squirrel
The red giant flying squirrel or common giant flying squirrel (''Petaurista petaurista'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae (squirrels). It is found in a wide variety of forest–types, plantations and more open habitats with scatter ...
, mouse deer
Chevrotains, or mouse-deer, are small even-toed ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only extant members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera, but several species also are known only f ...
, brush-tailed porcupine
The brush-tailed porcupines are a genus, ''Atherurus'', of Old World porcupines found in Asia and Africa.
Characteristics
The brush-tailed porcupines have bodies covered in quills like their New World relatives. These quills are shorter and not ...
, and common palm civet
The Asian palm civet (''Paradoxurus hermaphroditus''), also called common palm civet, toddy cat and musang, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, it is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern as it accommodates to a broad range ...
, from a total of 45 species of mammals and 138 species of birds, including the majestic frigatebird
Frigatebirds are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. The five extant species are classified in a single genus, ''Fregata''. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked ...
.[ Moreover, Tioman has species that are endemic to its shores. The Tioman walking catfish '']Clarias batu
''Clarias batu'' (sometimes known under the common name Tioman walking catfish) is a species of Clariidae, clariid catfish. It is only known from Tioman Island off the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The eel-like catfish found on this islan ...
'' can be seen on rainforest walks. Kajang slender litter frog is only known from Mount Kajang.
Tioman's corals have been affected by a mass bleaching event in 2010 whereby the island lost a significant portion of its live coral cover. That resulted in many corals turning a dull white colour and some even fragmenting into pieces of dead coral skeleton. The 2016 bleaching event only just touched on Tioman's Coral Reefs, and as such, the coral has remained in good and healthy condition.
Tourist attractions
Tioman Island
* Tioman Airport
Tioman Airport , also known as Pulau Tioman Airport, is an airport serving Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia. It is located next to Tekek village (Kampung Tekek).
The relatively small size of aircraft able to take off and land at Tioman means that p ...
* Panuba Bay
* Salang
* Tekek Village
* Minang Cove - The only cove of Tioman Island
* Asah Waterfall
* Bagus Place Retreat - The most eco-friendly area on Tioman Island
* Juara Turtle Project - volunteer sea turtle and environmental conservation
* Golden City - part of Salang village
* Air Batang - also known as ABC
Around Tioman
* Pulo Jehat
* Tulai Island
* Three Little Islands
** Sepoi Island
** Labas Island
** Soyak Island
Climate
Politics
Tioman Island lends its name to the state constituency of Tioman
Tioman Island ( ms, Pulau Tioman) is a mukim and an island in Rompin District, Pahang, Malaysia. It is located off the east coast of the state, and is some long and wide. It has seven villages, the largest and most populous being Kampung Te ...
, comprising the island and part of the Rompin District
The Rompin District is a district located in the southeastern corner of Pahang, Malaysia. Rompin is currently under the Rompin District Council.
The district covers an area of 5,296 km and located 130 kilometres from Kuantan, the capital ci ...
including the town of Kuala Rompin
Kuala Rompin or ''Rompin town'' is the largest town of Rompin District, southeastern Pahang, Malaysia. It is located on the South-East coast of Peninsular Malaysia and faces the South China Sea. It is about south from Kuantan, the State Capital ...
. Its representative to the State Legislative Assembly is Mohd. Johari Hussain from UMNO
The United Malays National Organisation (Malay: ; Jawi: ; abbreviated UMNO () or less commonly PEKEMBAR), is a nationalist right-wing political party in Malaysia. As the oldest continuous national political party within Malaysia (since its in ...
-Barisan Nasional
The National Front ( ms, Barisan Nasional; abbrev: BN) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1973 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties. It is also the third largest political coalition with 30 se ...
. Its representative to the Malaysian Parliament is Hasan Ariffin, also from UMNO
The United Malays National Organisation (Malay: ; Jawi: ; abbreviated UMNO () or less commonly PEKEMBAR), is a nationalist right-wing political party in Malaysia. As the oldest continuous national political party within Malaysia (since its in ...
-Barisan Nasional
The National Front ( ms, Barisan Nasional; abbrev: BN) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1973 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties. It is also the third largest political coalition with 30 se ...
.
Non-governmental organisations
* Juara Turtle Project- volunteer sea turtle and environmental conservation
Transportation
Air
The island houses the Tioman Airport
Tioman Airport , also known as Pulau Tioman Airport, is an airport serving Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia. It is located next to Tekek village (Kampung Tekek).
The relatively small size of aircraft able to take off and land at Tioman means that p ...
with flights from Subang
Subang may refer to:
Indonesia
* Subang, Kuningan, a town and district in Kuningan Regency, West Java
* Subang Regency, a regency of West Java
** Subang, Subang, a town and district in Subang Regency, West Java
Malaysia
*Subang (federal constitue ...
.
Water
The island is served by ferries from Mersing, Johor and Tanjung Gemok, Pahang. Both are located in Malaysia. Currently, two ferry companies are operating in both jetties. You can purchase the ticket at the counter book directly from their respective website to secure your seats in advance.
1. Bluewater Ferry
bluewater.my
2. Cata Ferry - cataferry.com
3. Jetty Location
Google Map
Legend
According to legend, Tioman Island is the resting place of a beautiful dragon princess. Whilst flying to visit her prince in Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, this beautiful maiden stopped to seek solace in the crystal-clear waters of the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
. Enraptured by the charms of the place, she decided to discontinue her journey. By taking the form of an island, she pledged to offer shelter and comfort to passing travellers.
Local mythology claims that the island is the embodiment of the mighty dragon Sri Gumom. The dragon was on his way to visit his sister Gunung Linga (Lingin Peak). Still, the great Sri Rama forbade the meeting, and Sri Gumom was turned into a stone and fell into the deep sea where he now remains, frozen in eternity as this beautiful island with its distinctive topography.
Radio and television
Radio
Community radio within Tioman:
*FM 90.0
*FM 96.8 (Pahang FM
Pahang FM (stylised as PAHANG fm) is a Malay language-radio station in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. It is maintained by the State Radio Televisyen Malaysia Pahang. It is broadcast from Kuala Lumpur throughout several of the country's cities ...
) - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
*FM 100.7 Nasional FM
*FM 103.2 (Airport radio)
*FM 104.0 (Tioman community radio)
*FM 104.1
From Malaysian mainland:
* FM 88.3 Minnal FM - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
* FM 89.1 Ai FM - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
* FM 90.1 Radio Klasik - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
* FM 92.1 Johor FM - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
* FM 92.9 (TraXX FM
TraXX FM is a 24/7 English-language radio station operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia. Established on 1 April 2005, it was previously known as the English Language Service in 1946, the Blue Network in 1959 and Radio 4 in 1993.
The station's ...
) - owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( en, Radio Television of Malaysia, abbreviated as RTM, stylised as rtm), also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia ( ms, Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia. Establi ...
* FM 102.5 Best FM
Television
* TV1 - Channel 50 (Temporarily unavailable)
* TV2 - Channel 53 (Temporarily unavailable) - Currently broadcasting on Channel 11
* TV3 - Channel 32
* NTV7 -
* 8TV - Channel 7
* TV9 - Channel 9
*TV Alhijrah
TV AlHijrah is a state-owned Malaysian free-to-air Islamic television channel, owned and operated by Al-Hijrah Media Corporation, a company under the purview of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia of the Prime Minister's Department. ...
- Channel 40
Local:
* TV5 - Channel 5
See also
*Tioman Airport
Tioman Airport , also known as Pulau Tioman Airport, is an airport serving Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia. It is located next to Tekek village (Kampung Tekek).
The relatively small size of aircraft able to take off and land at Tioman means that p ...
*List of islands of Malaysia
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
*List of islands in the South China Sea
Islands in the South China Sea includes the South China Sea Islands (Spratly Islands, Pratas Island, Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank), islands on the China coast, on the Vietnam coast, on the Borneo coast, and the peripheral islands of Tai ...
References
External links
*
Tioman Island Travel Information Website
Tourism Malaysia - Tioman Island
(Supplement 6 of the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology'' is a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal published by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore. It covers the taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of Southeast As ...
)
Tioman island Travel Informations
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