Can you believe there are ghosts haunting a concrete jungle like Singapore? Here are the infamous ones.
Everyone constantly talks about them, but not many people claim to have seen them. What are we yapping about? Ghosts, of course, specifically in Singapore. You’d think the city’s skyscrapers would keep the supernatural at bay – but some things just won’t stay hidden in the shadows of the little red dot. Cemeteries, abandoned buildings, toilets… this motley crew is anywhere and everywhere. But who are “they”? Close the windows, draw the curtains, switch on the lights, and get under your blanket, ‘cos we’re going to dive into this topic.
The ghosts haunting Singapore
1. Pontianak
She’s an icon, a legend, and she is the moment. The doyenne of the supernatural world, the one to rule them all. Pontianak is the shortened form of “perempuan mati beranak” in Malay, which refers to women who died during childbirth. It’s believed their unfortunate deaths resulted in them transforming into vengeful spirits.
Hardly anyone refers to her by name for fear of invoking her presence. So instead, everyone calls her by less sinister nicknames like Kakak, Miss P, Miss Ponz, and even Fatimah Rocker (because of her crowning glory).
It’s very easy to recognise this being: long, jet black tresses (no hair loss treatment needed) and a white dress. They’re said to reside amongst banana trees and come out at night to prey on unsuspecting victims. How do you know if she’s nearby? You’ll hear the sounds of a baby crying or that oh-too-familiar frangipani flower scent. That’s your cue to exit, stage left! Legend has it that you can incapacitate her by driving a nail through her neck. But who would dare to do such a thing?
2. Pocong
This ghost’s backstory is tied to Islamic traditions. When a Muslim person passes away, they’re wrapped in white cloth, which involves tying the shroud at the top of the head and the feet. The imam (Muslim leader) will loosen the binds before burying the deceased in the cemetery. It’s alleged that pocongs exist because their binds weren’t released, and they seek help from the living to do so.
Anyone brave enough to untie the binds will be rewarded with wealth. Take this with a pinch of salt, folks! Due to their appearance, Malay folks sometimes refer to them as “hantu gula-gula” (literally translated to “sweets ghost”).
Because their feet are tied, pocongs cannot walk properly, so they have to hop around. You’d think you can outrun them, but pocongs can also fly and ‘teleport’ in the blink of an eye. Now, if you were to ask any pious Muslim about this, they’ll tell you pocongs are actually jinns in disguise. Others say they’re cursed souls condemned to roam the earth or murder victims searching for their perpetrators. Another vengeful ghost haunting Singapore? Sheesh.
3. Toyol
Some adults perceive children as “little demons” or anything of that variety (we’re not generalising or pointing fingers here). But what if we were to tell you that such supernatural beings exist? *Cue dramatic sound effect* Meet the toyol, a miniature creature rooted in shamanistic traditions.
According to urban legends, it’s believed to be the spirit of a stillborn child or a dead foetus invoked by black magic practitioners to do their bidding. This can include stealing money or valuable items, or causing harm to intended victims. A toyol may look like a small child, except their skin is green or grey, with sharp teeth and a belly.
It’s actually very easy to take on the toyol. Obviously not physically, unless you’re willing to lose a lot of blood. (We’d rather you participate in a blood donation drive.) Old wives’ tales state that one can distract the being by leaving marbles on the floor or hanging up a shiny object. Toyols are essentially kids (albeit demonic ones) and they’ll happily play by themselves until it’s too late to execute what they originally set out to do. Supposedly, keeping a fish tank will also distract them from their tasks. If you hear marble sounds at 3am, that might just be a toyol…
4. Penanggal
What’s with most supernatural beings’ names starting with the letter P? Sesame Street won’t be pleased. Even though this creature is not predominantly found in Singapore nowadays, it’s still good to know about it. The penanggal is typically a lady who appears normal during the day but becomes a bloodthirsty ghoul after sunset.
At night, its head and entrails detach from the rest of the body and fly around, looking for pregnant women and young children to prey on. Once it spots its victim, the penanggal will squeeze through the windows or wall gaps and attack. They return home after they’re done, sink their engorged organs in vinegar to shrink them, and reattach them to the body.
There are a couple of ways to defeat this disembodied creature. In the olden days, folks would scatter mengkuang leaves around as the thorns would puncture any of the exposed organs. They’d also pour glass shards down the neck cavity, which would kill the penanggal once it reattaches itself. But nowadays? Just make sure you have a sharp object like scissors or a knife lying around, as the creature is afraid of these items.
5. Hantu tetek
The name literally translates to “breast ghost” in Malay, and there’s nothing sexy about it. (This is not Casper or Edward Cullen we’re talking about.) Hantu tetek is a female spirit with pendulous boobs – some say there are more than two, while others believe they’re located at the back instead of the front. The ghost uses its assets to suffocate its victims, typically men (how unsurprising) and children to death.
Mothers from older generations used this folklore to warn their younglings not to play outside during dusk. We doubt this ghost is haunting Singapore today, given that everyone lives in high-rise buildings and you can still spot people out and about in the evening.
6. Orang bunian
Technically, orang bunian aren’t ghosts. In Malay folklore, they’re a race of supernatural beings invisible to most humans unless you have the “spiritual sight” (think of it as something similar to the third eye). The bunian community supposedly lives in another dimension of reality, though some speculate that they also live among us in the forest, at the foothills, and even in the cemetery. Some tombs at Kubur Kassim Cemetery in Siglap are dedicated to orang bunian.
Most people believe that missing cases in the forest can be attributed to these folks. Allegedly, the orang bunian may have taken a liking to the victim and wanted to keep them permanently by their side. Some say there’s a way to speak to them in exchange for favours, but if that doesn’t work, threatening them or making a barter trade are the ways to go. Hmmm, sounds familiar…
How to live peacefully with the ghosts in Singapore
Ghost sightings are common in Singapore. However, there’s a difference between accidentally encountering one and intentionally looking for them. While they may share the same space as us, we always believe prevention is better than cure. Here are a few things we recommend you do if you come face-to-face with the supernatural.
- Never acknowledge anything. It doesn’t matter if you see, smell, or hear something – just pretend you didn’t! Voicing it out will inform them that you know they’re around… and that’s when they attack. On that note, never taunt the supernatural and loudly proclaim you “don’t believe in ghosts”. That’s just asking for trouble.
- Don’t immediately return home if you find yourself in a seemingly haunted place. You don’t want the spirits to trail you, right? It’s like leading a criminal to your house. It’s encouraged that you stick around in public places before heading back.
- Once you reach home, go straight to the bathroom and wash your feet before going anywhere else. This practice is meant to unload anything that might have unknowingly followed you.
- Listen to your gut instincts! If something feels bad, it usually is. Get out before anything happens. It’s better to be called a coward than to have a supernatural being interfere in your life.
Did we miss out on other ghosts in Singapore or practical advice? Let us know!