{"id":145300,"date":"2024-10-31T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T02:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/singapore\/?p=145300"},"modified":"2024-10-31T10:56:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T02:56:08","slug":"pontianak-ghosts-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/singapore\/pontianak-ghosts-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Things that go bump in the night: The ghosts you don’t wanna meet in Singapore’s shadows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone constantly talks about them, but not many people claim to have seen them. What are we yapping about? Ghosts<\/a>, of course, specifically in Singapore. You\u2019d think the city\u2019s skyscrapers would keep the supernatural<\/a> at bay \u2013 but some things just won\u2019t stay hidden in the shadows of the little red dot. Cemeteries<\/a>, abandoned buildings<\/a>, toilets<\/a>\u2026 this motley crew is anywhere and everywhere. But who are \u201cthey\u201d? Close the windows, draw the curtains, switch on the lights, and get under your blanket, \u2018cos we\u2019re going to dive into this topic.<\/p>\n

The ghosts haunting Singapore<\/h2>\n

1. Pontianak<\/h3>\n
\"Pontianaks
Bananas are great, but the trees hide sinister figures. Photography: Isuru Ranasinha via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She\u2019s 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 \u201cperempuan mati beranak\u201d in Malay, which refers to women who died during childbirth. It\u2019s believed their unfortunate deaths resulted in them transforming into vengeful spirits.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very easy to recognise this being: long, jet black tresses (no hair loss treatment<\/a> needed) and a white dress. They\u2019re said to reside amongst banana trees and come out at night to prey on unsuspecting victims. How do you know if she\u2019s nearby? You\u2019ll hear the sounds of a baby crying or that oh-too-familiar frangipani flower<\/a> scent. That\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n

2. Pocong<\/h3>\n
\"Pocongs
Allegedly, pocongs can be spotted at their final resting place. Photography: vapourtrails via Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This ghost\u2019s backstory is tied to Islamic traditions. When a Muslim person passes away, they\u2019re 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<\/a>. It\u2019s alleged that pocongs exist because their binds weren\u2019t released, and they seek help from the living to do so.<\/p>\n

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 \u201chantu gula-gula\u201d (literally translated to \u201csweets ghost\u201d).<\/p>\n

Because their feet are tied, pocongs cannot walk properly, so they have to hop around. You\u2019d think you can outrun them, but pocongs can also fly and \u2018teleport\u2019 in the blink of an eye. Now, if you were to ask any pious Muslim about this, they\u2019ll tell you pocongs are actually jinns in disguise. Others say they\u2019re cursed souls condemned to roam the earth or murder victims searching for their perpetrators. Another vengeful ghost haunting Singapore? Sheesh.<\/p>\n

3. Toyol<\/h3>\n
\"Not
Not an actual toyol, obvi. Photography: Emma Frances Logan via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some adults perceive children as \u201clittle demons\u201d or anything of that variety (we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

According to urban legends, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually very easy to take on the toyol. Obviously not physically, unless you\u2019re willing to lose a lot of blood. (We\u2019d rather you participate in a blood donation drive.) Old wives\u2019 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\u2019ll happily play by themselves until it\u2019s 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\u2026<\/p>\n

4. Penanggal<\/h3>\n
\"Penanggals
Remember to shut your windows at night\u2026 Photography: TJ Holowaychuk via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s with most supernatural beings\u2019 names starting with the letter P? Sesame Street won\u2019t be pleased. Even though this creature is not predominantly found in Singapore nowadays, it\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re done, sink their engorged organs in vinegar to shrink them, and reattach them to the body.<\/p>\n

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\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n

5. Hantu tetek<\/h3>\n
\"Hantu
You probably won’t find them at the void deck. Photography: budak via Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The name literally translates to “breast ghost” in Malay, and there\u2019s nothing sexy about it. (This is not Casper or Edward Cullen we\u2019re talking about.) Hantu tetek is a female spirit with pendulous boobs \u2013 some say there are more than two, while others believe they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

6. Orang bunian<\/h3>\n
\"Orang
Missing cases in the forest are said to be the work of orang bunian. Photography: Deepak Gupta via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Technically, orang bunian aren\u2019t ghosts. In Malay folklore, they\u2019re a race of supernatural beings invisible to most humans unless you have the \u201cspiritual sight\u201d (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<\/a>. Some tombs at Kubur Kassim Cemetery in Siglap<\/a> are dedicated to orang bunian.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s a way to speak to them in exchange for favours, but if that doesn\u2019t work, threatening them or making a barter trade are the ways to go. Hmmm, sounds familiar\u2026<\/p>\n

How to live peacefully with the ghosts in Singapore<\/h2>\n
\"Istana
The golden rule of living with ghosts in Singapore: don’t go to the haunted places. Photography: Olga Terekhova via Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ghost sightings are common in Singapore. However, there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n