A Look at the Types of Ghosts in Malaysia

Malaysia - Image credit: www.saomaitours.com

Every culture around the world has ghost stories. In today's blog, thanks to Atlasboscura.org, we'll
explore the ghosts of Malaysia!

WHERE IS MALAYSIA? Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. It's known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers.  Malaysia is separated into two main landmasses: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (or Malaysian Borneo). The capital city is Kuala Lumpur and the government is seated in Putrajaya, both in the southern half of Peninsular Malaysia.

WHAT KINDS OF GHOSTS ARE THERE? Hantu is the general term for all ghosts, spirits, and otherworldly beings in Malaysia and among the Malay people of maritime Southeast Asia and its diaspora. There are hundreds, probably thousands, of them, ranging from natural spirits (representations of individual rivers, trees, and lakes) to vampire-type ghosts to leprechaun-like tricksters. Some are good, some are bad, some are to be avoided, and some are like partners to the living. And they coexist with wide range of religions observed by the very diverse people of Malaysia.

Malaysian Ghosts  - Source: Vebma and Ghosts in Asia

WHAT IS THE PONTIANAK GHOST? The pontianak is a kind of vampire-ghost. It emerges upon the death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth. She has the shape, usually, of a demonic woman capable of flight, who targets the blood of young children. (Alternatively, the pontianak may prey on men; these stories vary by region and teller.) 

WHAT IS A HANTU TETEK GHOST? The hantu tetek, a ghost with pendulous breasts who likes to kidnap children just to play with them for awhile. She is used to explain why sometimes a child is found, unharmed, in a weird place, like deep in a bush or up a tree. 

WHAT IS A TOYOL GHOST? A toyol is usually described as looking like a naked baby, though sometimes as more of a gremlin-baby. What's really weird: You can buy one. Typically one purchases a toyol from a bomoh, or medium. It wouldn’t quite be described as a purchase, since you’d be paying the bomoh for connecting you with a toyol and the spirit itself would be free. Toyol are childlike: mischievous, a little clumsy, a little needy, easily distracted. But they are known as excellent thieves. You can have your toyol go out and steal for you, though Nicholas says it’s sometimes believed that a toyol will only steal up to the dollar amount you paid for it. 

WHAT IS THE HANTU POLONG? The hantu polong, is a sort of attack ghost used to inflict harm. It must be fed with blood from one’s fingers. 

SEVERAL OTHER GHOSTS - The hantu buta causes blindness, hantu cika causes colic, hantu kembung is behind stomach aches. Some are more innocuous: Hantu apu is a party ghost, and so is hantu jamuan, though if it is not invited, it will wreck the festivities. Hantu lembong is a spirit of swollen growths on trees. For more details, check out the source article: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/malaysian-ghosts