The Tale of the Giant Tortoise
Long ago, a Chinese fisherman and a Malay fisherman were caught in a violent storm while out at sea. Their small boats capsized, and both men struggled to survive in the rough waters south of Singapore.
Seeing their distress, a giant magical tortoise emerged from the depths. In an act of compassion, the tortoise transformed itself into an island — allowing the two fishermen to climb onto its back and reach safety.
Grateful for their rescue, the fishermen later returned to build places of worship on the island to give thanks:
A Chinese temple dedicated to Tua Pek Kong
A Malay keramat (shrine) honouring a revered holy man
To this day, visitors can still see the colourful tortoise statues around the island and visit the historic Tua Pek Kong Temple, built in 1923.