THE LADY TEMPLER HOSPITAL, KUALA LUMPUR

The Lady Templer Hospital (later known as Poliklinik Cheras) is frequently cited as one of the most haunted locations in Kuala Lumpur. While the original buildings have since been demolished to make way for the modern Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC), the site’s dark history continues to fuel urban legends.

1. The History and Origins of the "Haunting"

The hospital's reputation for being "keras" (haunted or spiritually heavy) stems from its specific medical history:

• Tuberculosis Center: Built in 1952, it was primarily a facility for tuberculosis (TB) patients. During an era when TB was often fatal, many patients spent their final, agonizing days isolated here.
• Cardiothoracic Surgery: It was a pioneer in heart surgery before the National Heart Institute (IJN) existed. High-stakes surgeries naturally led to many deaths on the operating table.
• Tragedy of May 13 (1969): Local lore suggests that during the racial riots of 1969, the hospital's morgue was used to house many of the deceased, adding a layer of collective trauma to the site.

2. Common Paranormal Sightings

Before the old structures were torn down in 2008, urban explorers and former staff reported several recurring phenomena:

• The Scent of Death: Visitors often reported a sudden, overwhelming smell of rotting flesh or strong medicinal chemicals in areas where there was no logical source.
• Spectral Patients: Witnesses claimed to see apparitions of patients wandering the long, dimly lit corridors, sometimes coughing or appearing in outdated hospital gowns.
• The Operating Theater: This was considered the "hotspot." People reported hearing the sounds of surgical instruments clinking and muffled voices debating, despite the room being empty and locked.
• Disembodied Crying: Soft sobbing or groaning, believed to be the "lingering echoes" of those who died in isolation, was frequently heard at night.

3. Current Status: Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras (HRC)

In 2012, the new Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital opened on the exact site.

• The "Cleanse": It is common in Malaysia for sites with such reputations to undergo spiritual cleansing or "pagar" (protection) rituals during new construction.
• Modern Experiences: While the new facility is bright, state-of-the-art, and efficient, some staff and overnight visitors still whisper about occasional "glitches"—elevators stopping on empty floors or cold spots in the quietest wings of the building.

OTHER FAMOUS HAUNTED HOSPITALS IN MALAYSIA

In addition to the Lady Templer Hospital, several other medical facilities and institutions in Malaysia are legendary for their reported hauntings. These range from historical colonial-era buildings to modern hospitals that still resort to spiritual interventions.

1. Hospital Pulau Pinang (Penang General Hospital)

Built in the late 1800s, this is one of the oldest and most "active" hospitals in the country.

• The History: It served as a military hospital during the Japanese Occupation in WWII. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died here, and many were buried in unmarked graves on the grounds.
• The Legend: A specific "treatment room" in the old wing is said to have been used for medical experiments on prisoners. Staff and patients have reported hearing muffled screams and seeing shadows of figures in old-fashioned hospital gowns at night.

2. Hospital Tanjung Rambutan (Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak)

This is Malaysia’s oldest psychiatric hospital (established in 1911) and is so famous that its name is used as local slang for "crazy."

• The Reputation: Originally called the "Federal Lunatic Asylum," its history of housing the mentally ill in a more restrictive era has created a heavy, eerie atmosphere.
• The Experience: While modern staff emphasize that it is a professional medical facility, visitors often describe a "cold and unwelcoming" energy. Urban legends tell of patients talking to people who aren't there and the sounds of moving furniture in locked, empty wards.

3. Hospital Putrajaya (The "Cleanse" Incident)

Unlike the older hospitals, this is a modern facility that made headlines for its supernatural activities.

• The Event: In 2013, the hospital administration officially engaged 40 Islamic spiritual healers from Darussyifa’ to perform a "memagar" (bordering) ritual to "cleanse" the building of hauntings.
• The Ghost of "Shasha": Staff and doctors whispered about a beautiful lady with long black hair, nicknamed "Shasha," who roamed the corridors of the National Cancer Institute (IKN) next door, wearing white or yellow dresses.

4. Jerejak Island (Penang's "Alcatraz")

While not a single hospital building, this entire island served as a massive quarantine center.

• The History: It was a leprosarium (for leprosy) and a tuberculosis sanatorium from the 1870s until the 1960s. Thousands died in isolation here.
• The Legend: Ghost hunters and visitors have reported sightings of "headless" figures (linked to WWII executions) and the spirits of former patients wandering the ruins of the old wards and the cemetery.

5. Hospital Seberang Jaya (Penang)

This large hospital is notorious due to its location.

• The Ground: It was built near an old colonial-era burial ground where victims of plagues were once laid to rest.
• The Haunting: A common report involves a shadowy figure seen near the operating theaters, which are said to be located directly above the old graves. Night-shift staff have reported hearing their names whispered in empty corridors.

6. The "Old Karak Highway" Hospital Rumors

While there isn't one specific "Karak Hospital" that remains standing, the highway itself is linked to the Old Gombak Hospital (which was near the start of the old road).

The Connection: Many of the victims from the frequent, horrific accidents on the Karak Highway were historically rushed to nearby clinics or hospitals that have since been abandoned or renovated. Tales of "phantom nurses" appearing to motorists who break down on the road are a staple of Malaysian folklore.

Google Gemini AI

22 January 2026: 6.14 p.m