Let’s face it – Malaysians are true suckers for spine-chilling horror stories. Be it a meticulously crafted fiction piece or cautionary tales from the weary, these narratives are equally engrossing and addictive to listen to, but only few has the opportunity to be a part of.
I for one have zero supernatural encounters and fingers crossed, it’ll stay that way. That said, let’s revisit memory lane’s darkest corners with some of Malaysia’s shocking horror tales.
1. Mona Fandey
An excellent horror re-telling wouldn’t be complete without the now-infamous tale of Mona Fandey.
What seemed to be a conventional murder case back in 1993 turned gruesome when state assemblyman, Mazlan Idris was found chopped up in 18 parts and buried in a storeroom near Mona Fandey’s house in Raub, Pahang. Arguably a crime of witchcraft, the singer-turned-bomoh along with her husband were well-known to have offered their services to an exclusive clientele of politicians in order to boost success and popularity. However, this was not the most intriguing part – prior to her execution, she allegedly uttered the words “Akutakkanmati” (I will never die), and was still flaunting her signature smile during the final hours.
2. Jalan Turi Bungalow, Bangsar
To this day, no one really understood the motive of these cruel killings.
A security guard had arguably run amok and butchered two American siblings along with their maid on a fateful day back in 1992 – their bodies chopped and piled on top of each other hidden in the sewer at the back of the bungalow. Daredevils who have been visiting the abandoned house have claimed that the children’s schoolbooks and toys could still be found scattered around until the house was demolished, just a few years back.
The main suspect, AriffinAgas was sentenced to death by the High Court with his execution carried out in 2012.
3. Highland Towers, Bukit Antarabangsa
A devastating tragedy that resulted in the death of 48 innocent lives, Highland Towers till this day have earned a reputation for being one of Malaysia’s spookiest spots. What seemed to be an ordinary occurrence of burst pipes have unexpectedly led to the corrosion of soil, resulting in a massive landslide of an estimated 100,000 square metres of mud. Multiple devastating accounts of rescuers have claimed to have heard cries of help under the rubble, even up to the 7th day of collapse. With a memorial stone erected at the incident site to commemorate the lost lives, the remaining two blocks of Highland Towers have since been abandoned in its ruins and is currently a hideout spot for criminal and drug activities.
To this day, nearby residents claimed to have heard sounds of wailing and screaming around the compound, with some even reporting apparitions of ghostly figures at night.
4. Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur
Built by the British colonial government, the now-defunct Pudu Prison boasts a murky history that spans all the way back to 1895. Formally closed in 1996 to be used solely as a day-holding facility and then again in 2009 when the government decided on its demolition in order to pave the way for commercial development, this bleak spot holds a gloomy past that lasts well to this day. The infamous execution of Botak Chin took place here along with hundreds of other inmates’ final hours – thrill-seekers and visitors to this chilling spot have reported hearing screams from the execution chambers and distant sounds of footsteps along the hollow cells.
5. Mimaland, Gombak
Arguably Malaysia’s first themepark to open its doors back in 1975, Mimaland (Malaysia in Miniature Land) boasts a glorious hey-day from throngs of visitors to impressive attractions of water slides and realistic dinosaur structures. However, tragedy strikes when a 27-year-old Singaporean was found dead after using one of the giant slides and Mimaland was closed temporarily for safety improvements. Shortly after re-opening, the themepark had to close its doors once again after a minor landslide caused structural damage to the pool walls. After these series of unfortunate incidences, Mimaland officially cease operations in 1994 and has been left in ghostly ruins ever since.
A curious case of a cursed spot, many have claimed that the now-abandoned themepark actually sits on a mystical land belonging to orang bunian – there have been plentiful of supernatural sighting reports by daring trespassers in the past. Proceed with extreme caution if you wish.