HGB Ep. 230 - Legends of Malaysia

 
Moment in Oddity - Flathead Lake Monster

Flathead Lake can be found in northwest Montana, on the southern tip of the Rocky Mountain Trench. It is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Flathead Lake is also home to a creature that is named for the lake. Those who have seen the Flathead Lake Monster describe it looking similar to the Lockness Monster with an eel-like or snake-like body. There are other reports that compare the monster to a giant sturgeon. Some say it is brownish in color, others say it is blue-black. The first sighting was recorded in 1889 by Captain James C. Kerr and his passengers as he steered the steamboat U.S. Grant around Lake Flathead. There is an average of one to two sightings a year. In 1993, a person reported seeing two monsters in Big Arm Bay. That same year, there were thirteen reported sightings. The most recent sighting was in the summer of 2016. If there is some kind of sea monster in the waters of Flathead Lake in Montana, that would certainly be odd!

This Month in History - Invention of Insulin
Suggested by listener Lori Gunter in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month

In the month of November, in 1922, Eli Lilly Chemist George B. Walden discovered isoelectric precipitation, which made it possible to produce large quantities of highly refined insulin. The discovery of Insulin and the road to its man-made production dates back to 1869 when a medical student in Berlin named Paul Langerhans discovered tissue clumps in the pancreas, which were named for him, the Islets of Langerhans.  Dr. Frederick Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, began experiments at the University of Toronto in a lab provided by J.J.R. Macleod in 1921 to see if they could isolate what substance was produced by the pancreas. Dr. Banting figured out that it was connected to the Islets of Langerhans and he began tests on dogs that eventually confirmed the existence of Isletin or what we now call Insulin. Dr. Banting and Best injected a severely diabetic dog with pancreas extract and prolonged its life. A biochemist named James Collip worked with the men to purify the substance and they tested it on a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson. He had a severe allergic reaction and Collip purified the Insulin further. It worked like a charm. Eli Lilly then collaborated with the University of Toronto to figure out a way to produce Insulin commercially.  Lilly research chemist George Walden developed the pure, stable form of insulin and a way to produce it in large quantites with isoelectric precipitation. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded in 1923 to Dr. Banting and J.J.R. Macleod. Dr. Banting was infuriated that Best was not mentioned in the award and he split his prize with the assistant. MacLeod split his prize with the biochemist Collip.

Legends of Malaysia (Suggested by listener Courtney Weaver)

Sabah is one​ ​of​ ​two​ ​Malaysian​ ​states​ ​located​ at the northern tip ​of​ ​Borneo. The​ ​island​ ​is​ ​shared​ ​with​ ​Brunei,​ ​ Indonesia​ ​(Kalimantan),​ ​and​ ​the​ ​second Malaysian​ ​state,​ ​ Sarawak. This is ​home​ ​to​ ​over​ ​forty​ ​different​ ​ethnic​ ​ groups​. Beaufort is a town located in Sabah and this is where our guests join us from. They attend SMKBeaufort and it is one of the oldest in town. There are many legends of ghouls, ghosts and creatures in Malaysia. Some of these are similar to ones discussed in our Legends of Indonesia episode. We are joined on this episode by our listener Courtney Weaver and her students  Siti Nur Waheedah Binti Mat Lazim, Ainur Nadiah Binti Jaafar, Ila Afirah Binti Rozland and Ifi Aleeya Binti Rozland. These ladies will share these legends and some of their own paranormal experiences.

​ Brief​ ​history​ ​of​ ​Sabah: Tribal​ ​until​ ​it​ ​was​ ​annexed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​​ ​sultanate​ ​of​ ​Brunei. Brunei​ ​then​ ​leased​ ​the​ ​eastern​ ​section​ ​of​ ​Sabah​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Filipino​ ​Sulu Sultanate​ ​(leading​ ​to​ ​continuing​ ​conflicts​ ​in​ ​claims​ ​to​ ​this​ ​day.) British​ ​North​ ​Borneo​ ​Company and the Japanese​ ​occupation​ ​during​ ​WWII.  Beaufort is a town​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​southern​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Sabah​ ​around​ ​the​ ​Padas​ ​River. It was established​ ​by​ ​the​ ​British​ ​North​ ​Borneo​ ​Company​ ​as​ ​a​ ​center​ ​of​ ​trade​ ​for rubber​ ​production. Along​ ​with​ ​Labuan,​ ​central​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Allied​ ​strategy​ ​to​ ​reclaim​ ​North​ ​Borneo from​ ​Japanese​ ​occupation.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​towns​ ​most​ ​heavily​ ​impacted​ ​by fighting​ ​during​ ​this​ ​campaign. SMKBeaufort​ ​(our​ ​school)​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​oldest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​town. It’s​ ​important​ ​to​ ​note​ ​the​ ​ethnic​ ​makeup​ ​of​ ​Beaufort,​ ​as​ ​this​ ​will​ ​influence the​ ​stories​ ​that​ ​we’ll​ ​be​ ​sharing.​ ​Beaufort​ ​is​ ​home​ ​to​ ​several​ ​communities including​ ​Bisaya,​ ​Tatana,​ ​Bajau,​ ​Murut,​ ​Buginese,​ ​Om,​ ​Brunei,​ ​and Dusun.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​also​ ​several​ ​Sarawakian​ ​(Sabah’s​ ​fellow​ ​Malaysian state​ ​on​ ​the​ ​island.) For​ ​example,​ ​Buginese​ ​and​ ​Om​ ​have​ ​Indonesian​ ​origins​ ​so​ ​you’ll be​ ​hearing​ ​some​ ​stories​ ​also​ ​common​ ​in​ ​Indonesia! Many​ ​of​ ​these​ ​stories​ ​have​ ​evolved​ ​as​ ​cultures​ ​have​ ​mixed​ ​in Sabah.
   
There are many legends in Malaysia, some of which are similar to Indonesia.  Here are many of them:

Balan​ ​Balan​​ ​-​ ​a​ ​living,​ ​vampiric​ ​creature​ ​that​ ​detaches​ ​its​ ​head​ ​at​ ​night​ ​and​ ​goes in​ ​search​ ​of​ ​menstruating​ ​and​ ​pregnant​ ​women.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​head​ ​is​ ​detached,​ ​the internal​ ​organs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​balan​ ​balan​ ​trail​ ​beneath​ ​it​ ​as​ ​it​ ​flies​ ​around.​ ​If​ ​the​ ​balan balan​ ​drinks​ ​your​ ​blood,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​become​ ​sick;​ ​unceasing​ ​menstruation​ ​or possibly​ ​a​ ​miscarriage.​ ​The​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​rid​ ​yourself​ ​of​ ​a​ ​balan​ ​balan​ ​is​ ​to​ ​find and​ ​burn​ ​the​ ​body​ ​while​ ​the​ ​head​ ​is​ ​detached;​ ​then​ ​the​ ​head​ ​will​ ​have​ ​nothing​ ​to return​ ​to​ ​and​ ​will​ ​be​ ​vulnerable​ ​to​ ​sunlight.​ ​These​ ​creatures​ ​pass​ ​as​ ​humans, and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​genetic​ ​condition​ ​passed​ ​from​ ​generation​ ​to​ ​generation.​ ​​ ​There​ ​are​ ​two schools​ ​as​ ​to​ ​where​ ​the​ ​balan​ ​balan​ ​came​ ​from;​ ​one​ ​camp​ ​says​ ​that​ ​they​ ​have always​ ​existed;​ ​another​ ​claims​ ​that​ ​a​ ​pact​ ​made​ ​through​ ​black​ ​magic​ ​was​ ​broken and​ ​a​ ​family​ ​was​ ​cursed.​ ​Because​ ​the​ ​condition​ ​is​ ​genetic,​ ​the​ ​creatures​ ​spread across​ ​Sabah​ ​as​ ​the​ ​family​ ​moved.​ ​The​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​the​ ​balan​ ​balan​ ​is​ ​thought​ ​to​ ​be Kota​ ​Belud.

Gimbaran/​​Sahak​​ ​-​ ​family​ ​spirits.​ ​A​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​family​ ​makes​ ​a​ ​pact​ ​with​ ​a spirit​ ​in​ ​exchange​ ​for​ ​protection​ ​and​ ​prosperity.​ ​However,​ ​if​ ​the​ ​master​ ​of​ ​the spirit​ ​passes,​ ​or​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​feels​ ​disrespected,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​turn​ ​on​ ​the​ ​family.​ ​In​ ​this​ ​case the​ ​family​ ​is​ ​vulnerable​ ​to​ ​possession;​ ​in​ ​which​ ​case​ ​an​ ​exorcism​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be performed.​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​learning​ ​more​ ​about​ ​this,​ ​watch​ ​​Jangan Pandang ​ ​ Belakang ​ ​ ​(​Don’t ​ ​ Look ​ ​ Back) ​ ,​ ​available​ ​on​ ​YouTube​ ​with​ ​English subtitles. ○ Malaysian​ ​exorcisms​ ​v.​ ​the​ ​exorcist. Several​ ​of​ ​the​ ​girls​ ​have​ ​experienced​ ​this​ ​type​ ​of​ ​haunting,​ ​and even​ ​witnessed​ ​the​ ​possessions.​ ​

Tambuakar​ ​​-​ ​A​ ​creature​ ​unique​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Padas​ ​River​ ​in​ ​Beaufort;​ ​with​ ​a​ ​few similarities​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Loch​ ​Ness​ ​Monster​ ​or​ ​Champy​ ​in​ ​Lake​ ​Champlain.​ ​The creature​ ​is​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​look​ ​something​ ​like​ ​a​ ​dragon;​ ​and​ ​its​ ​anger​ ​is​ ​what​ ​can cause​ ​the​ ​Padas​ ​River​ ​to​ ​flood​ ​(Beaufort​ ​is​ ​extremely​ ​susceptible​ ​to​ ​flooding!). Often​ ​this​ ​is​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​the​ ​accidental​ ​consumption​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tambuakar’s​ ​children, which​ ​often​ ​appear​ ​like​ ​fish.

Pontianak​ ​​-​ ​a​ ​female​ ​vampiric​ ​spirit​ ​believed​ ​in​ ​Beaufort​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​a woman​ ​who​ ​died​ ​while​ ​pregnant.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​have​ ​the​ ​appearance​ ​of a​ ​pale​ ​woman​ ​with​ ​long​ ​dark​ ​hair,​ ​red​ ​eyes,​ ​and​ ​wear​ ​white​ ​clothing​ ​smeared with​ ​blood.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​beautiful​ ​until​ ​they​ ​reveal​ ​their​ ​true​ ​form.​ ​They​ ​enjoy hanging​ ​out​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​leaves​ ​of​ ​banana​ ​trees​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day.​ ​​ ​As​ ​far​ ​as​ ​we​ ​can tell,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​in​ ​keeping​ ​with​ ​Indonesian​ ​tradition;​ ​however​ ​in​ ​Sabah​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​preys on​ ​pregnant​ ​women​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​attack/steal​ ​their​ ​unborn​ ​children.

Langsuir​ ​​-​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​pontianak;​ ​only​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​a​ ​woman​ ​who suffered​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​betrayal​ ​or​ ​heartbreak​ ​(murder/suicide).​ ​They​ ​haunt​ ​men; known​ ​to​ ​rip​ ​out​ ​their​ ​insides.​ ​If​ ​a​ ​man​ ​looks​ ​at​ ​a​ ​langsuir,​ ​she​ ​can​ ​suck​ ​out​ ​his eyes​ ​(for​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​a​ ​better​ ​term).

Penunggu/Djinn​​ ​-​ ​The​ ​girls​ ​can​ ​better​ ​explain​ ​this;​ ​but​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​types​ ​of djinn;​ ​some​ ​good,​ ​some​ ​bad.​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​told​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can​ ​move​ ​into​ ​a​ ​home​ ​or building​ ​that​ ​has​ ​been​ ​unoccupied.

Toyol​ ​​-​ ​a​ ​goblin​ ​like​ ​creature​ ​that​ ​commits​ ​minor​ ​thefts​ ​and​ ​petty​ ​crimes​ ​for​ ​the benefit​ ​of​ ​their​ ​owner.​ ​Mainly​ ​they’re​ ​only​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​low​ ​level​ ​crime​ ​but​ ​can​ ​be induced​ ​to​ ​murder​ ​with​ ​special​ ​rituals.​ ​They​ ​look​ ​like​ ​small​ ​bald​ ​children​ ​with greyish​ ​green​ ​skin,​ ​pointy​ ​ears​ ​and​ ​rows​ ​of​ ​sharp​ ​teeth.​ ​It’s​ ​essential​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the toyol​ ​happy,​ ​or​ ​they​ ​will​ ​cause​ ​chaos​ ​in​ ​your​ ​life.​ ​There’s​ ​debate​ ​about​ ​whether, when​ ​the​ ​master​ ​dies​ ​the​ ​contract​ ​ends​ ​or​ ​if​ ​the​ ​contract​ ​is​ ​passed​ ​down​ ​from generation​ ​to​ ​generation.​ ​A​ ​person​ ​can​ ​be​ ​released​ ​from​ ​a​ ​contract​ ​through​ ​the work​ ​of​ ​a​ ​bomoh.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​stories​ ​of​ ​toyol​ ​sucking​ ​blood​ ​through​ ​the​ ​toes​ ​of their​ ​owners​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​strength.

Pocong​ ​​-​ ​the​ ​soul​ ​of​ ​a​ ​dead​ ​person​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​its​ ​burial​ ​shroud.​ ​The​ ​pocong​ ​will come​ ​to​ ​people​ ​for​ ​help.​ ​However,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​is​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​the​ ​burial​ ​shroud (tight​ ​around​ ​the​ ​legs​ ​and​ ​feet)​ ​they​ ​must​ ​hop​ ​or​ ​jump​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​move.​ ​Some believe​ ​that​ ​if​ ​you​ ​say​ ​the​ ​name,​ ​the​ ​ghost​ ​will​ ​get​ ​one​ ​hop​ ​closer​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​Some believe​ ​that​ ​this​ ​ghost​ ​appears​ ​40​ ​days​ ​after​ ​burial,​ ​the​ ​traditional​ ​mourning period,​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​loved​ ​ones​ ​that​ ​their​ ​spirit​ ​still​ ​has​ ​not​ ​been​ ​released.

Hantu​ ​Raya​​ ​-​ ​a​ ​spirit​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Christian​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​a​ ​demon;​ ​acts​ ​as​ ​a double​ ​for​ ​a​ ​practitioner​ ​of​ ​black​ ​magic.​ ​The​ ​master​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Hantu​ ​Raya​ ​either made​ ​a​ ​pact​ ​with​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​or​ ​inherited​ ​it​ ​from​ ​previous​ ​generations.​ ​The​ ​master must​ ​provide​ ​for​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​and​ ​appoint​ ​it​ ​a​ ​new​ ​owner​ ​before​ ​their​ ​own​ ​death. Those​ ​who​ ​fail​ ​to​ ​do​ ​so​ ​will​ ​suffer​ ​in​ ​death​ ​or​ ​even​ ​become​ ​a​ ​zombie-like creature.​ ​The​ ​Hantu​ ​Raya​ ​will​ ​assume​ ​the​ ​form​ ​of​ ​this​ ​master​ ​forever​ ​after.

Mempagar​ ​Possessions​​ ​-​ ​several​ ​of​ ​the​ ​girls’​ ​previous​ ​school​ ​experienced​ ​a series​ ​of​ ​possessions​ ​they’re​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​discuss. They also discuss some school hauntings.

Bomoh/Bobohizan​​ ​-​ ​witches​ ​or​ ​witch​ ​doctors​ ​in​ ​Sabahan​ ​culture.​ ​Bomoh​ ​is​ ​a more​ ​general​ ​name,​ ​while​ ​bobohizan​ ​are​ ​exclusively​ ​for​ ​Dusun.​ ​Visiting​ ​a​ ​bomoh or​ ​bobohizan​ ​is​ ​forbidden​ ​in​ ​Islam,​ ​however​ ​they​ ​can​ ​be​ ​visited​ ​for​ ​various​ ​spells and​ ​curses.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​good​ ​bomoh​ ​and​ ​bad​ ​bomoh.  ○ 2015​ ​Earthquake​ ​in​ ​Kundasang

In​ ​2015,​ ​ten​ ​foreign​ ​tourists​ ​summiting​ ​Mount​ ​Kinabalu​ ​thought​ ​that it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea​ ​to​ ​strip​ ​off​ ​their​ ​clothes​ ​and​ ​pose​ ​naked​ ​at the​ ​peak​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mountain. Mountains​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​sacred​ ​places​ ​to​ ​Kadazan Dusuns;​ ​especially​ ​Gunung​ ​Kinabalu,​ ​the​ ​tallest​ ​mountain​ ​in Sabah​ ​and​ ​all​ ​of​ ​Southeast​ ​Asia.​ ​The​ ​mountains​ ​are considered​ ​resting​ ​places​ ​for​ ​spirits.  ○ Climbing​ ​Gunung​ ​Wakid,​ ​the​ ​third​ ​tallest​ ​mountain​ ​in Sabah,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​told​ ​that​ ​I​ ​must​ ​be​ ​quiet​ ​and​ ​not​ ​speak​ ​ill of​ ​the​ ​mountain​ ​or​ ​the​ ​experience. Three​ ​days​ ​later​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​6.0​ ​magnitude​ ​earthquake​ ​that​ ​rocked Kinabalu​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Kundasang​ ​region,​ ​killing​ ​18​ ​people. Bobohizan​ ​and​ ​other​ ​tribal​ ​leaders​ ​were​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​the​ ​mountain​ ​in order​ ​to​ ​conduct​ ​cleansing​ ​ceremonies​ ​to​ ​pacify​ ​the​ ​spirits​ ​that​ ​the tourists​ ​had​ ​disrespected.

Bunian​ ​​-​ ​“hidden​ ​people”;​ ​they’re​ ​almost​ ​exactly​ ​like​ ​people,​ ​only​ ​they​ ​live​ ​in​ ​a different​ ​dimension.​ ​They​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​people​ ​to​ ​become​ ​lost​ ​in​ ​the​ ​forest,​ ​and​ ​on a​ ​full​ ​moon,​ ​the​ ​bunian​ ​can​ ​dance​ ​in​ ​a​ ​circle​ ​around​ ​a​ ​person;​ ​preventing​ ​them from​ ​ever​ ​returning​ ​to​ ​our​ ​dimension.​ ​They​ ​live​ ​in​ ​homes​ ​much​ ​like​ ​traditional Malaysian​ ​style.

Mak​ ​Lampir​​ ​-​ ​​ ​A​ ​witch​ ​known​ ​for​ ​her​ ​large​ ​(long)​ ​breasts;​ ​stories​ ​differ​ ​in​ ​that she​ ​may​ ​smother​ ​children​ ​with​ ​them.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​also​ ​known​ ​to​ ​hide​ ​children​ ​and kidnap​ ​them​ ​from​ ​their​ ​homes.​ ​Their​ ​location​ ​can​ ​only​ ​be​ ​revealed​ ​by​ ​prayers​ ​of an​ ​imam.

Head​ ​Hunting​ ​​-​ ​The​ ​tribes​ ​in​ ​North​ ​Borneo​ ​(Kadazan,​ ​Dusun,​ ​Murut,​ ​Rungus​ ​in particular)​ ​were​ ​famous​ ​during​ ​the​ ​days​ ​of​ ​colonialism​ ​for​ ​practicing​ ​head hunting.​ ​There’s​ ​an​ ​awesome​ ​exhibit​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Sabah​ ​Museum​ ​in​ ​Kota​ ​Kinabalu devoted​ ​to​ ​the​ ​practice.​ ​From​ ​what​ ​I’ve​ ​gathered,​ ​heads​ ​were​ ​taken​ ​for​ ​several different​ ​reasons:​ ​prove​ ​victory​ ​in​ ​battle,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​manhood​ ​rite​ ​of​ ​passage,​ ​or​ ​for religious​ ​reasons.​ ​In​ ​some​ ​bands,​ ​a​ ​man​ ​could​ ​not​ ​marry​ ​until​ ​he​ ​had​ ​taken​ ​a
certain​ ​number​ ​of​ ​heads.​ ​Heads​ ​were​ ​displayed​ ​in​ ​places​ ​of​ ​prominence​ ​(homes or​ ​specified​ ​places​ ​in​ ​the​ ​kampung;​ ​in​ ​Kampung​ ​Sunsuron,​ ​near​ ​Tambunan,​ ​you can​ ​still​ ​see​ ​at​ ​the​ ​entrance​ ​to​ ​the​ ​kampung​ ​the​ ​reliquaries,​ ​for​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​a​ ​better term,​ ​where​ ​heads​ ​were​ ​kept​ ​to​ ​this​ ​day)​ ​​ ​and​ ​treated​ ​with​ ​great​ ​respect; following​ ​rituals​ ​for​ ​purification​ ​and​ ​welcoming​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​were​ ​often​ ​treated​ ​as​ ​a member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kampung’s​ ​ancestral​ ​spiritual​ ​community.​ ​They​ ​could​ ​be​ ​called​ ​on to​ ​aid​ ​the​ ​community​ ​in​ ​times​ ​of​ ​great​ ​need.

There​ ​are​ ​some​ ​specific​ ​time​ ​periods​ ​that​ ​spirits​ ​are​ ​said​ ​to​ ​be​ ​particularly​ ​active; one​ ​is​ ​around​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​Hari​ ​Raya,​ ​or​ ​Eid​ ​Aidilfitri.​ ​Another​ ​is​ ​around​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of the​ ​azzan​ ​(azzan​ ​being​ ​the​ ​call​ ​to​ ​prayer)​ ​for​ ​Maghrib​ ​(normally​ ​around​ ​sunset, the​ ​fourth​ ​of​ ​the​ ​five​ ​prayers).​ ​It​ ​is​ ​said​ ​that​ ​the​ ​ghosts​ ​do​ ​not​ ​cannot​ ​stand​ ​the sound​ ​of​ ​the​ ​azzan,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​howling​ ​and​ ​whining​ ​of​ ​dogs​ ​around​ ​this​ ​time​ ​is evidence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​spirits​ ​fleeing​ ​its​ ​reach.

Ghosts​ ​of​ ​WWII​ ​​-​ ​during​ ​WWII,​ ​the​ ​Japanese​ ​occupied​ ​Sabah​ ​to​ ​access​ ​its natural​ ​resources​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​use​ ​it​ ​as​ ​a​ ​location​ ​for​ ​concentration​ ​camps.​ ​Sabah (Ranau/Kundasang)​ ​was​ ​the​ ​site​ ​the​ ​Sandakan​ ​Ranau​ ​Death​ ​March.​ ​Beaufort itself,​ ​being​ ​a​ ​railroad​ ​town​ ​close​ ​to​ ​Labuan,​ ​was​ ​key​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Allied​ ​strategy​ ​to reclaim​ ​Sabah​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Japanese.​ ​As​ ​such,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​stories​ ​of​ ​Japanese​ ​ghosts haunting​ ​the​ ​town.

This was a fascinating and fun cultural experience hearing about the legends of Malaysia from our SMKB Horror Club Creepy Girls! Are these just traditional stories handed down through the generations or did some of these creatures actually exist at one time. Do they still exist? That is for you to decide!