TYPES OF MALAYSIAN GHOSTS
Written by: Emelia Anne & Farah Najihah
Since Halloween is just around the corner we decided to write about our all-time favorite Halloween topic - Ghosts! So in today's issue, we will be talking about the types of ghosts that we often encounter right here in Malaysia. We hope you guys gain some knowledge on how to distinguish these ghosts and what are the best ways to fight them off, cause y'all are gonna need it!
Happy Reading!
Hantu Galah
Hantu Galah has a regular human form but has its head in the clouds (literally). It looks like a normal human being the first time you see it but the longer you look at it, the more you'll have to break your neck to meet its eye (if you see your friends showing sudden growth spurts, something is fishy). This ghost usually resides in the forest, so if you go into the woods, be careful not to carelessly touch any suspicious looking trees as people often mistaken their legs for tress (hairy legs?). If you ever get caught in between their legs, you're done for mate! So our advice? Stay at home where it's all safe and comfy uwu.
Hungry Ghost
The Hungry Ghost is usually spotted during the Hungry Ghost Festival which falls on the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. This ghost is known to be extremely greedy and does not like to share his food with anyone else, including his fellow ghost buddies. So, the only way to win the Hungry Ghost over or to avoid being attacked (or eaten - there is a huge possibility you may be eaten, because, you know, it's the HUNGRY ghost we're talking about here) is to prepare a grand feast for him. We guarantee you will be safe! But they are usually harmless, and roam the Earth for the fun of it :)
Pocong
Probably one of the most famous local ghosts. Most sightings of this ghost have been reported to be in Puchong, but we're not really sure why, though (wink, wink). This ghost is usually wrapped in white burial shroud from head to toe, except for its face. What's unique about this ghost is that its feet are tied together so it can only hop around. You're lucky if you ever come across this ghost because all you need to do is run as fast as your feet can take you, and you'll be safe!
Hantu Penanggal
This ghost is one of the many variation of the vampire, except it looks nothing like a man with fangs and shiny hair. It got its name from the Malay word 'tanggal' which means 'detach' or 'remove'. So can you guess what it looks like? Issa floating head! Legend says that the head belongs to a beautiful midwife with long black hair who made a pact with the devil. But she broke the pact and got cursed instead. Here's the scary part: she looks like a normal human by day but goes home and detaches her head to go hunting at night... so be careful of your friends with long hair? Just kidding. The Penanggal only sucks on the blood of pregnant women and children, so if you're not any of these two, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Pontianak
This ghost is probably the most feared ghost of them all. The Pontianak is an ugly female with long black greasy hair, sharp fingernails and she is always clad in a long white dress. You may be lucky enough to catch sight of her fangs and a bit of blood or fresh meat dribbling from the side of her mouth (she's not the cleanest or most hygienic ghost). She is well-known for her extremely loud wails which can get super annoying especially when you're trying to get some sleep. The only way to defeat her is to wail and moan much louder than her till she gets annoyed.
Langsuir
The Langsuir is actually the Pontianak's mother. Legend has it that the Langsuir is the ghost of a woman who died while giving birth to - you guessed it - the Pontianak. The Langsuir is very similar to the Pontianak: she has long hair, long fingernails and what not (mother-daughter resemblance is very strong here). So the question is, how do you differentiate between the two? Well does it really matter? All we know is, if you every come across either one of them, RUN!
Hantu Raya
No, this ghost does not come out during Hari Raya to eat all your kuih raya. Hantu Raya got its name because 'raya' essentially means great, super, huge and the like. It is said to be the master of all ghosts, but ironically, it is tied to a master of its own. It will give great powers to its master and will resemble its master even after death till it is passed down to a new master. People who see the Hantu Raya will assume that the deceased has been brought back to life and this is where the idea of zombies came from. Pretty influential huh? (Looks like this ghost has the potential to be Malaysia's next uprising influencer!) This ghost even starred in the movie 'Jangan Pandang Belakang' so make sure to check that out and support his rise to fame!
Toyol
Toyol, the Malaysian version of a Goblin has green skin, pointed ears and is very small i size (think Upin Ipin but green). Toyols usually create mischief or steal valuable items such as money or jewelry. Although they can make their masters rich by their acts of theft, they are fortunately easily distracted and are not very intelligent. It is believed that the Toyol can be distracted by scattering beans, buttons or coins on the floor to safeguard yourself and your belongings. So, if you ever fin yourself losing some of your precious items, you know why!
Orang Minyak
Orang Minyak is a creature coated with shiny black grease, which is how it got its name (minyak means oil in Malay). According to Malay legends, the Orang Minyak abducts young women by night and it is only interested in virgins. In the older days, girls would wear sweaty clothing to bed to trick the Orang Minyak into thinking that they were just with a man. We don't know if you got the hint, but the best way to avoid this ghost is by hitting the gym ladies!
So, that's all for this edition of 'Types of Ghosts'. If you would like to see us write about ghosts from other countries, be sure to drop a comment and let us know! We'll try to make it as fun and entertaining (and less scary) as possible!
(This article is written for entertainment purposes only, everything is not 100% accurate)
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