Forget Trick or Treat, what better way to celebrate Halloween today than to know some of Malaysia’s most haunted spots. Here are 9 popular ones that most of us grew up hearing.
1. Villa Nabila, Johor
Dubbed one of Malaysia’s most haunted spots, this abandoned mansion overlooks the Straits of Johor. The most recent one took place sometime last year when a 16-year-old boy who entered the mansion went missing (he was found in the end). Other stories include a wealthy Caucasian family who were murdered, possibly by a maid who then buried the bodies in the compound.
2. Ria Apartment, Genting Highlands
Everyone has heard about the infamous Ria Apartment in Genting Highlands. In fact, it’s hard to pinpoint a place in Genting that isn’t haunted but this apartment in particular has too many stories told by guests who have stayed there. The Pahang Block is apparently the most haunted and you only need to Google Ria Apartment to understand its reputation. Supernatural apparitions, hearing whispers and voices are some of the experiences documented by guests.
3. Highland Towers, Bukit Antarabangsa
After the tragic collapse of this high density residential block, home owners reportedly heard people screaming for help coming from the site. Highland Towers is a popular ghost hunting spot for those who want a bit of spook.
4. Jalan Turi Bungalow, Bangsar
I’ve only heard about this well known story a couple of weeks ago from one of our writers and it genuinely creeped me out. In 1992, a bodyguard of an American expatriate family murdered their maid and two children. The three bodies were cut up into tiny pieces and dumped in the septic tank at the back of the house.
5. Bukit Tunku
This upscale and affluent neighbourhood has its fair share of ghostly tales. The most well known one is of a motorcyclist who died in a race one night. Apparently, people have seen a phantom motorcyclist riding at a high speed and vanishing into dark. Other stories include sightings of ghosts in abandoned bungalows.
6. Kellie’s Castle
Built by William Kellie Smith in 1915 for his wife, the story of Kellie’s Castle is one of mystery and tragedy. It took many years for the castle to be completed as workers were infected by the Spanish flu and Smith died of pneumonia in 1926. It is said that people have seen the Smith family wandering in the castle, even though they’ve never moved in. Early this year, the Kellie’s Castle Paranormal Night Tour was launched, hoping to attract more tourists to the enigmatic castle.
7. Karak Highway
A haunted list in Malaysia wouldn’t be complete without Karak Highway, a highway that was built to link Kuala Lumpur and Karak, a town in Pahang. Its reputation was earned from the countless accidents that have taken place over the years and it is arguably the most haunted highway in Malaysia. Stories include a yellow, driverless Volkswagen Beetle that appears out of nowhere and sightings of pontianaks to name a couple.
8. Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur
The now demolished Pudu Prison was located in the heart of KL and the prison housed notorious criminals as well as those who were sentenced to death. Those who have been inside for a tour often claim that they experienced an eerie, disturbing vibe. Screams have also been heard from chambers where prisoners were hung.
9. Mimaland
Mimaland was Malaysia’s first theme park that was built in 1971 in Ulu Gombak. In 1993, a Singaporean tourist died in an accident at the theme park’s giant surf board. The death of the 27-year-old shocked the public and Mimaland was shut temporarily. It was re-opened to the public after improvement works but soon after, disaster struck again, this time in the form of a minor landslide that ruined the pool. Mimaland ceased operations in 1994 and until this day, it remains abandoned and in ruins.