Do you believe in ghosts?
Malaysia has a good number of haunted locations around the nation, from Mona Fendi to Villa Nabila – from Johor all the way to Penang. We’ve rounded together nine of Malaysia’s most eerie locations. We have no control over how you use the information we’re about to offer you at this point.
Whether this excites you enough to visit the locations on your own or frightens you enough that you don’t want to go near any of them. Either way, we at HYPE only want you to be safe, so if you do wish to explore, go as a group and take the appropriate safety measures. You have been warned.
1. Villa Nabila: Murdered because of jealousy
It is said that a jealous maid murdered a wealthy family that previously resided at the famous oceanfront Villa Nabila in Johor in order to inherit a heirloom. Although their bodies are still missing, it was claimed that they were buried across the compound. The area then came back into the spotlight in 2013 after 23 youths were said to have vanished whilst exploring the area.
The mansion is so well-known that a 2015 film called “Villa Nabila” was made based on actual events that took place there.
What you may experience or encounter: You’d do well to stick together if you’re visiting with your squad, just like you should in any other haunted locations in Malaysia. If not, anything might go wrong or you might discover a new ‘thing’ among you. There have also been sightings of a white-clad woman, according to reports.
Address: Jalan Bertingkat Skudai, Straits View, 80200 Johor Bahru, Johor
2. Victoria Institution: Japanese occupation atrocities
The 1893-founded school is reported to have seen a lot of brutal executions and torture during the Japanese Occupation. Students have reported having disturbing experiences following that tragic time, including seeing doppelgängers and marching Japanese soldiers.
Students having been possessed by spirits had also occurred frequently. One of the incidents included a band member who “disappeared” while practising late one night only to be later discovered on top of the water tank. He reportedly observed a girl walking alone and politely asked her where she was heading. He then apparently forgot what happened.
What you may experience or encounter: A dead body hanging from one of the restroom doors, a black figure on top of the clock tower, or even a mysterious female loitering about alone are all possible sightings that are frequent among students.
Address: Jalan Hang Tuah, 55200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
3. Karak Highway: Horrific deathly accidents
This route that leads to Malaysia’s two most well-known tourist sites, Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands, is one of the country’s most haunted locations. Some of the most tragic accidents have happened there because of how lengthy and twisting it is. A 2011 horror film titled ‘Karak: Laluan Puaka‘ was based on the countless ghost stories surrounding the Karak Highway because its hauntings are so well-known.
What you may experience or encounter: Pontianaks has been spotted, along with a yellow Volkswagen without a driver (which you should never attempt to take over since it will keep coming up in front of you) and a small boy who is wandering aimlessly in search of his mother.
How to get there: From KL, take the Duta-Ulu Kelang Highway and take Exit 3303 towards Genting Highlands. Head towards Kuala Lumpur – Gua Musang Highway Route 28. Take the E8 ramp to Genting Highlands. Go through the Plaza Toll Gombak towards Kuala Lumpur.
4. Bukit Tunku Mansion: Mother of the family hung herself
Although almost nothing is known about the property’s historical history, certain unfortunate events have befallen it. The lavish family’s estate in the British Colonia had a separate maid’s quarters and was constructed to house them. Sadly, within one of the house’s bedrooms, the mother of the family who resided there committed suicide. Whatever happened after that is still a mystery, but the property was eventually abandoned and left to deteriorate and degenerate into a run-down eyesore. Since then, there have been persistent allegations that the house is haunted.
What you may experience or encounter: You may see strange light anomalies, her own apparition or you may being overcome with crippling emotion, rendering them unable to remain within the mansion. Legends of a phantom motorcyclist haunting the Bukit Tunku area exist. Many have since reported a motorcyclist whizzing them at high speeds, only to suddenly disappear into the darkness.
Address: Bukit Tunku, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5. Penang War Museum: Beheading & torturing prisoners-of-war
Near the 1930s, this museum in Bukit Batu Maung served as a British fort. When World War II broke out, Japanese soldiers occupied the location and turned it into a prisoner-of-war base. Here, a lone soldier by the name of Tadashi Suzuki is alleged to have used a samurai sword to torture more than 100 people and perform grisly beheadings.
Even a National Geographic programme on the 10 deadliest locations to visit in Asia featured this location, now known as “Ghost Hill” because of the horrors that occurred there. The hilltop Penang War Museum currently houses eerie tourist attractions like exhibitions of plastic corpses and guillotines that give visitors a disturbing experience.
What you may experience or encounter:
You’re sure to feel uneasy in the sight of images showing the atrocities of war and bunkers filled with ominous tales. Not only that, but other museum visitors claim to have seen ghostly versions of Suzuki strolling around the museum’s tunnels and heard human screams resonating down the hills.
Employees have reportedly heard the noises of tortured victims as well as phantom voices echoing down the tunnels while the area was being restored.
Address: Lot 1350 Mukim 12, Daerah Barat Daya, Batu Maung
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm (everyday)
6. Byram Estate: Family member shot by unidentified killer
Byram Mansion with 99 Doors is located in a calm area of a palm-oil plantation near Nibong Tebal, hence the name of the building. This opulent home, which was abandoned more than 50 years ago, previously belonged to a very wealthy family who enjoyed a luxury lifestyle until 1948, when it was rumoured that one of their family members was brutally shot and the murderer went undiscovered.
It was claimed that when the mansion was abandoned, a well-known local witch doctor utilised the location as a medium to communicate with the paranormal. The house has experienced violence and paranormal activity, which prepped it for the eerie status it currently holds among other haunted places in Malaysia.
What you may experience or encounter:
Locals claim to have heard strange noises coming from the building’s surroundings, including inhuman growls. Because they are afraid of running into one of the witch doctor’s ‘bad spirits’, locals won’t stay in the neighbourhood after sundown. Some claim to have even come upon items. Investigators have also claimed to be overpowered by a bad presence, leaving them unable to complete their tasks.
There are rumours that the mansion contains a 100th door that opens only at a specific time of the day and leads to the world of ghosts.
Address: Jalan Byram, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang
GPS coordinates: 5.17569, 100.45625
7. Banglo Kayangan: The Mona Fandey House
“Saya tidak akan mati.” (“I will never die.”) – These were Mona Fandey’s infamous final words, who was accused of killing politician Mazlan Idris. The then-politician was hacked to death and partially skinned by Mona and her husband, a notorious witch doctor. The pair was subsequently given a death sentence.
What you may experience or encounter: Even though there aren’t many accounts of paranormal encounters at her home, a grisly murder did take place there. There are supposedly still items from her black magic ceremonies in her abandoned home.
Address: Seksyen 12, Shah Alam
8. Mimaland: Death on a water slide
The first theme park in Malaysia opened in Gombak in 1975 and was called Mimaland, short for Malaysia in Miniature Land. Every youngster growing up in the 1970s and 1980s had to go there since it had a sports park, a water park, and a park with life-sized dinosaurs.
But the park saw a string of unfortunate incidents, including the death of a Singaporean tourist on a water slide and damage caused by a landslide to the same pool where the disaster occurred a year earlier. In 1994, the park was forced to close its doors. The location has an ominous feel to it because it has been abandoned and the amusement park’s attractions are still spread about.
What you may experience or encounter: The park has gained notoriety as Malaysia’s abandoned Jurassic Land, attracting tourists who want photos with the dinosaur statues that have been left there and some who think the location is haunted.
Local film “Miimaland”, which is a 2020 horror film about a group of individuals filming a reality show at the park, was also filmed here. During filming, The cast and crew encountered a number of spooky occurrences while filming, including a mysterious hysterical attack involving three of the staff members, as reported by China Press.
9. Kellie’s Castle: 70 construction workers died
William Kellie Smith, a Scotsman, was the owner of this lavish mansion in Perak. But because he died from pneumonia before it could be finished, it was left unfinished for more than 80 years after his passing before it finally became a well-known tourist destination in 2000.
With the discovery of four secret tunnels beneath the house, where over 70 employees are rumoured to have perished from the Spanish flu while working on them, it has also gained a reputation for being ‘dark’.
What you may experience or encounter: Many people who visited the estate claim to have witnessed Smith’s restless spirit wandering the balcony, which is now designated with a plaque that reads “Ghostly Cloister Balcony.” Although he didn’t pass away here, it is said that his ghost is still in the house because he abandoned his ambition of creating a mansion and it was never finished.
Address: 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak
Opening hours: 9am – 5.30pm (Mon-Thu) , 9am – 6pm (Fri-Sun)
