TEROWONG MENORA: THE REAL STORY BEHIND IT.

That's the iconic one - on the North-South Expressway near Jelapang, Ipoh. It's beautiful, but on the road it has a very heavy reputation.

Here's the full breakdown:

1. The Real Tunnel - Facts

What it is: Terowong Menora / Meru-Menora Tunnel. It's actually TWO tunnels side-by-side, one for northbound and one for southbound.

Location: Underneath the Keledang Range (Banjaran Keledang), at KM 260 near Jelapang, Perak. Coordinates: 4°41′29″N 101°1′7″E

Size: Officially 800 m long, but because the entrance/exit cuts are different, one side is 880 m and the other 830 m.

History: 

• Construction started in 1983 by United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM).
• Opened officially 24 September 1987 by Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah
• Part of the RM360 million Ipoh-Changkat Jering highway project, the second toll road in Perak.

Why it's dangerous (not supernatural):

It's a known blackspot. Steep slope, sharp bends, and long downhill stretches before and after the tunnel. Heavy vehicles lose brakes here.

Stats: 

• Between the tunnel mouth at KM 260.0 and the old Jelapang toll site: 142 accidents recorded from 2003 onwards, 12 dead, 74 seriously injured
• In 2018 alone: 564 accidents in the tunnel, 7 fatal accidents with 11 fatalities
• Recent worst: 12 May 2022, 5 students from Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) died in a fiery crash with two trailers near the tunnel

That's why PLUS has put AWAS speed cameras on both sides, and the government is pushing the WISE bypass (West Ipoh Span Expressway from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar) to avoid it.

2. The Haunted Stories - Why people say it's haunted

Because so many fatal accidents happened there, local lore says the spirits of victims never left. It's regularly listed as one of Malaysia's most haunted highways alongside Karak Highway.

The classic stories drivers tell:

1. The Honking Ritual: Many lorry and car drivers will honk 2-3 times before entering the tunnel. The belief is you're asking for permission from the penunggu (guardian) - a Pontianak said to reside in the jungle/tunnel. Legend says Pontianak's sudden appearances cause accidents.

2. The Mosque That Doesn't Exist: A common story from your exact spot - at dusk around 7pm, drivers claim to see a bright mosque and people in white walking to pray on the left side of the road just after the tunnel. When they look again, it's just a dense forest. There's no mosque there.

3. Shared with Karak Highway - the Yellow Volkswagen: Although more famous on Karak, the Menora version exists too. A driverless old yellow VW Beetle is driving slowly in the left lane. If you overtake it, it appears in front of you again a few hundred meters later. If you look inside, there is no driver.

4. The Extra Passenger: Drivers (especially lone drivers at night) report hearing breathing, or feeling someone sitting in the back seat, or seeing a woman with long black hair in the rearview mirror inside the tunnel.

5. The Smell of Flowers / Cold Spot: Sudden strong fragrance of frangipani (bunga kemboja) or sudden cold draft inside the tunnel even with windows closed – classic Pontianak sign in Malay folklore.

No official or scientific evidence for any of this, of course. JPJ and PLUS attribute everything to road geometry, speeding, brake failure, and fatigue. But for locals who drive KL-Ipoh regularly, the combination of dark rainforest, 800 m of pitch-dark tunnel, and knowing so many died on that slope makes it feel very eerie – especially 12am-3am.

Have you ever driven through it yourself at night? Most people say the northbound descent after the tunnel towards Ipoh is the worst – you pick up speed so fast without realising.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

28 October 2026: 2:50 a.m.

THE OLD GOMBAK ROAD (FEDERAL ROUTE 68) - ABANDONED HIGHWAY BEFORE KARAK.

That's the iconic bend - Jalan Gombak Lama / Old Gombak Road, Federal Route 68. Your photo captures exactly why it has such a reputation: narrow, wet, sharp blind corners flanked by thick jungle.

Here are the facts:

What it is

• Location: Runs from Gombak, Selangor, to Kampung Ketari/Bentong, Pahang, through the Titiwangsa range.
• History: Before there was Karak Highway, Jalan Gombak was the main connector between Gombak, Selangor, and Kampung Ketari in Bentong, Pahang.
• Karak Highway / E8 was built in the 1970s as an alternative for the winding, narrow route 68, which runs from Gombak in Kuala Lumpur to Bentong, Pahang. After Karak opened in 1979, Old Gombak became the old abandoned route.

Today it's still open but very quiet - flanked by dense forests, the narrow and quiet Jalan Gombak nevertheless remains in use today by a small number of cars and cyclists. The bends here make it hard to see far down the road, adding to its eeriness.

It was notorious for lorry accidents, landslides, brake failures on steep descents, and no street lights.

Why it's called Malaysia's most haunted road

The combination of fatal accidents + dense jungle + abandoned structures gave it a perfect storm for ghost stories. It's consistently ranked in the top 3 alongside Karak Highway and Bukit Tunku.

Common legends you hear from drivers:

1. The Gombak Police Station – Along this road you'll also find a creepy abandoned building known as the Gombak Police Station. Rumour says it was built during the Malayan Emergency to house a British office overseeing a nearby dam and later became a police station. People claim to see figures inside, lights on, and hear voices. YouTubers love to go at night. In October 2021, The Vibes sent journalists and a paranormal livestream host to explore a police station in the forest. The article describes the ruins, a strange human-like sound, and a patch of unusually cool air near a waterfall. One participant reported seeing shapes in the distance. 
2. Mimaland – Interestingly enough, the famously abandoned theme park Mimaland is also situated along Jalan Gombak. Malaysia's first theme park (1971-1994) closed after a Singaporean tourist drowned and a landslide destroyed the pool. It's said to be haunted by that victim.
3. Classic apparitions: Pontianak on the roadside, a lost schoolboy looking for his mother (similar to Karak), a woman in white asking for a ride, a strong perfume/frangipani scent in the car, and the famous "yellow VW that cannot be overtaken".
4. The viral car-mat video (2019): One video clip went viral for showing white, willowy "fingers" dropping a car mat from the window of a wrecked vehicle being lifted from the side of a cliff. The tow operator said he saw nothing while filming. It was reported in Malaysian news outlet MSTAR on 16 August 2019.
5. The driver who felt someone sitting in the back seat (2012): A blog published on 11 December 2012. A driver was driving towards Genting Sempah at around 11.30 p.m. in light rain. He began feeling unusually frightened and imagined a long-haired woman sitting in the back seat. He repeatedly checked the rearview mirror but could see nothing. He then felt something like fine strands of hair brush his face, followed by what he described as a forceful tap on his right shoulder. He accelerated away and chose the highway for his return journey > Abdrahimblogspot.
6. A Singaporean family lost on the road (2022): On 2 August 2022, the horror programme "Malam Seram" hosted by KC Champion featured a story titled "Keluarga SG Sesat di Jalan Gombak Lama Nyaris Maut". The programme's description says the story concerned a Singaporean family that became lost and ended up driving along Jalan Gombak Lama. It describes the road as dark and frightening at night.

Current status

It's not fully abandoned anymore. Birdwatchers still go there to spot montane birds.

But on my last trip here on 28 December 2022, construction is now ongoing at several sections of the Old Gombak Road, and when I looked at the signboards, it was the ECRL development. So several sections are now under construction for the East Coast Rail Link and are fenced off.

If you want to go – go in daylight, from the Gombak side near Ulu Klang, you are very close. Go with a friend, don't stop in the blind corners, and don't enter the police station or Mimaland – both are structurally unsafe, plus there are wild animals and Jabatan Perhutanan patrols.

One other important point: Jalan Gombak Lama has also been associated with serious road accidents and reports of bodies being found in the area. Those are real-world safety concerns, but they do not establish that the road is haunted. 

Conclusion

The 2012 long-haired woman account is probably the most compelling of these stories if you're interested specifically in what drivers claim to have experienced. The 2019 long-finger video is the more interesting case if you want something visual that was reported by a news outlet.

Neither establishes a paranormal event. What we have is a mixture of personal testimony, published folklore, a disputed video, and a genuinely eerie environment.

One last thing worth keeping in mind: if you ever drive this route at night, the winding road, rain, darkness and limited visibility are real hazards. Don't stop in an unsafe spot or put yourself at risk trying to investigate a strange sight.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

28 October 2026: 2:05 a.m.

THE HAUNTED JALAN BUKIT TANGGA, JELEBU

Jalan Bukit Tangga (Route N32) in Negeri Sembilan holds a heavy reputation as one of the most notorious, haunted mountain passes in Malaysia.

Before the road was modernised, widened, and straightened, it was an incredibly narrow, unlit, pitch-black route that twisted tightly like a "beaten snake" (ular dipalu) next to deep, unforgiving ravines. The combination of catastrophic fatal accidents and its dense forest backdrop fuelled decades of unsettling paranormal encounters.

It cuts through thick jungle at the foot of Gunung Besar Hantu - a mountain in Mukim Kenaboi, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, near the Pahang border. 

The Most Famous Urban Legends & Sightings

Drivers and locals share several prominent supernatural tales about this stretch:

1. The Bunian Wedding & Market: Drivers travelling late at night (often in the 1980s and 90s) reported suddenly rounding a curve to find the deep jungle brilliantly lit up. They would see rows of parked cars and crowds of people dressed elegantly in traditional Baju Melayu, appearing to host a massive wedding or night market. Elders warn never to call out to or verbally acknowledge the sight, as it is believed to be a Kampung Bunian (a hidden dimension of supernatural beings). 
2. The white figure (pontianak): Many night drivers and truck operators claim to have spotted a solitary woman dressed in white standing precariously on the dark shoulder of the road or sitting in the deep ravines past midnight. 
3. The Imperial woman at the waterfall: at around 2:00 a.m., multiple witnesses have claimed to see a lady in a dress in elegant, royal palace attire standing silently near the mist of the roadside of Air Terjun Bunian. 
4. Ghostly soldiers: due to the historical backdrop of the deep Berembun forest during the Emergency era, older generation drivers claimed to have seen spectralappritions of old wartime warriors lying on marching right across the dark asphalt.
5. Mystical Roadside durian: a common local cautionary tale warns drivers never to stop and pick up fallen durian found on the shoulders of Bukit Tangga. Taking them without permission is said to invite severe spiritual disturbances or cause vehicles to mysteriously break down or plunge into the ravine. 

Why the Road Feels So Eerie

• The "Along Spoon" Connection: People frequently conflate the tragedy of Along (vocalist of the 90s Malaysian pop band Spoon) with this road. While his body was actually discovered in a sack down a ravine at KM 28 along the nearby Jalan Kuala Klawang-Genting Peras back in 2000, the gruesome case deeply stained the collective memory of the entire Jelebu mountain region.
• Heavy Mist & Isolation: Even today, driving past Route 86 at 3:00 AM means navigating dense, heavy fog that rolls in from the surrounding forest reserve, dropping visibility to almost zero and creating an incredibly tense atmosphere.

Note: While the upgraded road is much safer and brighter today, locals still advise keeping a respectful, quiet tongue (jangan cakap takbur) and driving cautiously when crossing the hill at night.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

28 October 2026: 1:07 a.m.

THE HAUNTED OF HUTAN LIPUR LENGGENG

Hutan Lipur Lenggeng is in Negeri Sembilan, about 25 km from Seremban, on the main road between Kg. Pantai and Lenggeng, inside Hutan Simpan Setul. It has a small tiered waterfall, campsites, a surau, and toilets – all built by Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan. But locals say almost no one goes there anymore. Not because it's far, but because the aura is too heavy.

However, it is still listed as "Still in Operation" in the Negeri Sembilan tourism database. 

Here are the stories that made it one of the scariest spots in N9:

1. The Headless Woman - Putri Tanpa Kepala

This is the main legend. According to a local resident named Putri who spoke to bloggers, the forest is truly haunted.

"The headless female figure is actually linked to a rape and murder incident that once took place there."

The story goes back to the 90s. A woman was raped and murdered, and her body was dumped in the Hutan Lipur. Since then, campers and drivers report seeing a female figure in white, standing near the toilets or by the roadside, with no head.

An army group who camped at the official campsite once had to retreat in the middle of the night after being disturbed by her.

2. The Pocong on the Tree and the Locked Toilet

A paranormal enthusiast named Rynn went there at night to investigate.

He claimed he saw a creature like a pocong hanging from a low tree branch. When he checked the public toilet block, one stall was locked from inside with no one inside, and a strong smell like a rotting carcass - smell of a carcass - filled the area, but there was no dead animal at all.

That's a common theme. People who pass the toilets say they are the hotspot.

Paranormal YouTuber Faizal Rozi did a 3-hour recording there and captured a woman's voice, mendayu-dayu – crying / moaning – right in front of the toilet area.

3. The Uneasy Feeling Even in Daylight

Blogger Idan wrote about getting lost and ending up there at 6pm after sending his kid to school in Tuanku Jaafar. He wanted to go to Empangan Hulu Jelebu but ended up on the quiet, winding road to Lenggeng.

Even at 6pm, with no other visitors, he said the place felt long and scary. His son immediately felt "bad feeling", and he did one loop and left straight away.

He later found out that stretch of road is notorious for accidents and mysterious disturbances for drivers. That's why for locals, Hutan Lipur Lenggeng is not just a recreational forest.

Although there are surau, camping sites, toilets, and rest areas, it is left empty and feels abandoned – maybe because of its remote location, or maybe because the aura is too strong and people just don't want to get close.

Most people who live around Jelebu/Lenggeng and use that road daily say they have never seen anything, only a tapir or an owl at 2am. But they all agree on one thing: you are almost always alone on that road, whether it's 8pm, 10pm or 2am. And if you stop at that gate after dark, don't stay long.

Want to explore the real stories?

Here are two online sources discussing the legends associated with Hutan Lipur Lenggeng:

Shukri Vlogs — Hutan Lipur Lenggeng, Kisah Kejadian Wanita Mati Dibunuh — a paranormal exploration discussing the alleged murder story and other local tales.

HShadows Channel — Kisah Seram Hutan Lipur Lenggeng — a Malay-language horror-story video about the location.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 11:15 p.m.

THE HAUNTED LEGEND OF SUNGAI LINGGI

The Sungai Linggi flows through the states of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. It is one of the two major rivers that serve as water sources for most of Negeri Sembilan, the other being the Muar River. The narrow mangrove channel is up near Kampung Paya Lebar / Kuala Linggi. Brown water, tangled roots, low branches. This is exactly where locals say you don't shout or be rude.

Sungai Linggi doesn't have ONE ghost story; it has a layered legend. The main one everyone in Negeri Sembilan / Melaka knows:

1. The Buaya Putih - The White Crocodile

This is the haunted legend of Sungai Linggi.

Locals say the river is guarded by a white crocodile, and it has a commander. The village head of Sungai Timun has talked about it before - locals believe the white crocodiles have a bond with the Jinn, and they have their own leader called Tok Putih and his partner.

It's not just an animal. In the local telling: 

• The white crocodile is a penunggu – a guardian spirit of the river.
• It only appears to certain people, usually before a drowning or during pasang besar (high tide).
• Fishermen have an old pantang: you never say bad words about the crocodile; you call it "Atuk" or "Datuk".
• There's old folklore about people making a bargain with the crocodile in the Linggi River – protection or catch in exchange for offerings

Because of that, Sungai Linggi is one of the few rivers in Peninsular Malaysia that still has a wild breeding population of estuarine crocodiles, and boat operators on the cruise will tell you, "A local legend of a story about the famous white crocodile in Sungai Linggi brought visitors a-visiting," but no one ever guarantees you'll see it. The baby crocodile on the nipah fronds is common; the white one isn't.

2. Hantu Air

The second layer is older Malay river belief. Hantu Air lives in large bodies of water like rivers.

The traditional explanation is that Hantu Air comes from a dark ritual called 'akak', where shamans captured spirits and cast them into flowing waters, and some historians say the legend was also a warning for children and fishermen about deep or turbulent waters.

On Linggi, because the water is so murky and tidal, Hantu Air is said to take the form of a floating log - you think it's a log until it moves.

3. The Ghost of Nenek Putih

According to a local legend reported in Malaysian media, Nenek Putih was once a human woman who lived around 500 years ago.

One day, she was preparing dodol beside Sungai Linggi when hot dodol splashed onto her chest. In pain, she jumped into the river — but never came back to the surface.

Her husband searched desperately for her, but her body was never found.

Several nights later, he reportedly dreamed of his missing wife. In the dream, she told him not to search for her anymore. She claimed that she had transformed into a white crocodile living in the supernatural realm.

The legend says that Nenek Putih continued to watch over her descendants, and a family later claimed to have inherited a spiritual connection with her.

Some members of the family reportedly believed they had seen a large, pale crocodile appear near the river after reciting Quranic verses.

This story was published as folklore and family testimony; the supernatural claims have not been independently verified.

Ref: Utusan TV

4. The mysterious pact between humans and crocodiles

Another old legend tells of an agreement between the people living along Sungai Linggi and the crocodiles inhabiting its waters.

The supposed agreement was simple: humans would not disturb the crocodiles, and the crocodiles would leave the villagers alone.

Over time, this belief became associated with local taboos. Visitors were traditionally warned against slapping the water or washing their feet in the river.

Whether supernatural or not, the river is home to real crocodiles, so keeping a respectful distance is sensible.

Ref: Udang Galah Sungai Timun

5. Why Linggi feels haunted

Sungai Linggi was once the busiest tin-trading route from Sungai Ujong to the Straits of Melaka. Isabella Bird wrote about it in 1883 in The Golden Chersonese. Many traders died there; the Dutch built a fort there in the 18th century, and now it's all mangroves, firefly trees (Berembang), and old charcoal kilns.

So when you go on the 3-hour boat from Kampung Paya Lebar, the guide mixes eco, heritage, and that white crocodile story. That's the package.

If you want to go, the best time is late afternoon for fireflies, and ask the boatman from Koperasi Kampung Paya Lebar. Don't go looking for the white one at night; the locals will just laugh and tell you, "He looks after the river—not for show."

One last thing: Sungai Linggi is genuine crocodile habitat, so don't approach the water at night or disturb wildlife in pursuit of a ghost story. The real river is dangerous enough without adding a pontianak to the itinerary.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 9:04 p.m.

HAUNTED JALAN YONG PENG - PAGOH

The “Haunted Jalan Yong Peng–Pagoh” refers to the spooky stories associated with the stretch of road between Yong Peng and Pagoh in Johor, Malaysia.

That area is part of the southbound/northbound road network in Johor, and drivers sometimes share eerie roadside tales about travelling late at night. To separate local folklore from verified facts, we'd need to identify the particular story you're referring to.

The site TheSmartLocal rounded up the Yong Peng-Pagoh accounts well:

"The Yong Peng-Pagoh road looks like any other Malaysian road in the day. But many locals claim that this route is just as haunted as Karak Highway, their stories corroborated by several bloggers who have shared their firsthand eerie experiences from their travels down this road near midnight."

The Famous Ghost Stories

1. The woman in the back seat

A motorist reportedly felt his car becoming unusually heavy while travelling at night. He later told his wife that he had seen a pale woman sitting in the back seat, wearing red clothes.

2. The woman and child asking for petrol

Another well-circulated legend describes a woman in white and a young boy asking passing motorists for help with petrol. The story is part of the route's local supernatural folklore, not a verified paranormal incident.

3. The car that suddenly feels heavy

A long-running tale tells of a driver whose car seems sluggish, as though carrying an extra passenger, until the strange sensation disappears later in the journey.

4. The stalled white Daihatsu Charade

A classic 80s hatchback is seen broken down in the left lane with no one inside. When you pass it and look in the rearview, it's gone. 

There is also a real, tragic history behind some of the road's reputation: in February 2021, a human skull was found near a car that had reportedly gone down a slope at KM 122.4 of the PLUS highway. Police investigated it as a possible fatal road accident. This is a documented accident-related discovery, not evidence of a haunting.

You can read the original stories here:

1. Kisah diganggu di Lebuhraya Yong Peng–Pagoh

2. Yong Peng Highway’s Own Ghost

Specific Stretch of the Yong Peng-Pagoh Highway

The best-supported answer is that the haunted-road stories refer to the North–South Expressway (PLUS), along the Yong Peng–Pagoh stretch in Johor, but there is no reliable evidence establishing one officially recognised “haunted spot.”

Two locations or descriptions are worth distinguishing:

1. KM 122.4 — a documented accident site

Location: KM 122.4, northbound/southbound direction described in reports as travelling from Yong Peng towards Pagoh.

• What happened: On 19 February 2021, highway maintenance workers discovered human remains near a car that had apparently gone down a steep slope and become concealed by vegetation.
• Reliable reporting: Bernama reported the case, with coverage also published by The Star and Malay Mail. Police suspected a road accident from around May or June 2020.

This is a real, documented incident. However, the reports do not establish that KM 122.4 is the precise location of the supernatural encounters.

2. The hilly section after Yong Peng, before the Pagoh exit — the actual folklore location

This is the more specific answer when it comes to the ghost stories.

In a report published by Kosmo!, dated 25 June 2023, a man recounted his friend's alleged encounter with a pale female apparition inside their car. The account places the encounter in a hilly area after the Yong Peng exit, with the strange experience ending after they passed the Pagoh exit. The article also mentions other stories of a female apparition along the hilly stretch between Yong Peng and Pagoh.

An earlier account published by BeautifulNara in January 2018 similarly describes a dark, hilly area where a driver reportedly saw a woman in his rear-view mirror. It does not provide a kilometre marker.

Conclusion: If you're trying to pinpoint the location people talk about, focus on the hilly section of the PLUS highway after Yong Peng and before the Pagoh exit. The stories do not reliably identify a single kilometre marker, and KM 122.4 should not be labelled the haunted spot without further evidence.

For safety, don't stop on the highway shoulder to investigate or take photographs. Use a proper rest area if you need to stop.

References:

1. Beautiful Nara: Kisah diganggu ketika perjalanan melalui Lebuhraya Yong Peng-Pagoh. 
2. Spooky Corner: Malaysia Urban Legends. 
3. The Smart Local: 7 Most Haunted Roads in Malaysia That you'll want to steer clear of at night.
4. Kosmo: Lembaga Wanita tumpang kereta di Lebuhraya.
5. Malay Mail: Human skull found near Yong Peng-Pagoh highway.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 5:53 p.m.

HAUNTED JALAN KLUANG - MERSING

The Jalan Kluang–Mersing route (specifically the stretch passing through Kahang and Jemaluang) is widely considered one of the most "angker" (haunted) highways in Johor, Malaysia. Cutting through dense forest reserves, oil palm estates, and isolated terrain, this road is notorious for its pitch-black nighttime conditions, sudden dense fog, sharp "S" curves, and a lack of mobile network coverage. 

The urban legends and supernatural encounters reported by drivers along this route generally centre around a few recurring eerie phenomena:

1. The Sudden Window Fog & "Benda Putih" (The White Apparition)

Many drivers recount that when entering the Kahang-Jemaluang stretch past midnight, the car’s front windscreen will suddenly fog up with thick condensation, dropping visibility to zero in seconds. 

• The Encounter: Drivers who try to wash the windscreen from the inside or roll down the window to splash water find that the fog does not clear. 
• The Legend: Those who look closely into the sudden white mist or check their rearview mirrors often spot a disturbing white entity (benda putih) or a towering dark shadow standing by the tree line, which locals refer to as the jembalang tanah (earth demons). 

2. The 2010 Ravine Crash & The Mirror Phantom

One of the most famous viral accounts documented on Malaysian horror forums like Fiksyen Shasha involves a group of female university students driving back to Mersing late at night. 

• The Crash: After feeling a strange, trance-like state (mengkhayal) wash over the vehicle, the driver suddenly lost control. The car violently flipped and crashed into a deep ravine. 
• The Haunting: While they survived the crash, the haunting followed them. While recuperating at a family home in Mersing, one of the girls woke up at 2:00 AM to see a long-haired female spirit standing frozen, staring blankly into a full-length mirror at the foot of the bed. The entities only vanished after a local Imam performed a traditional cleansing ritual. 

3. The Illusory "Pelita" (Oil Lamps) of the Forest

Before modern expansion, travellers frequently fell victim to visual illusions deep in the forest stretches. 

• The Phenomenon: Drivers would see warm, flickering lights deep in the jungle, resembling pelita (traditional oil lamps) from the Orang Asli (indigenous) or village houses, which brought a sense of comfort.
• The Trap: However, after crossing three small, narrow bridges, the lights would abruptly vanish, leaving drivers completely disoriented. Moments later, cars would mysteriously strike an invisible object in the middle of the road or experience sudden mechanical failures (like snapped belts), leaving them stranded in the dark for hours. 

Driving through the Jalan Kluang–Mersing route during daylight offers a stark contrast to the eerie tales that shroud it at night. The vibrant greenery of the dense forests and the sprawling oil palm estates come alive under the sun, creating a picturesque landscape that is both beautiful and serene.

As you navigate the winding roads, the sunlight filters through the trees, casting playful shadows on the asphalt. The sharp "S" curves, while still demanding attention, are less daunting in the daylight, allowing for a more relaxed driving experience.

However, even in the light, there’s an undeniable sense of mystery that lingers in the air. The stories of the supernatural still echo in the back of your mind, reminding you of the legends that haunt this stretch of highway. You might find yourself glancing at the tree line, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of the infamous "benda putih" or the shadowy figures that drivers have reported seeing at night.

The journey can be a reflective one, as the beauty of the surroundings invites contemplation. You may even feel a sense of connection to the local culture, imagining the tales passed down through generations about the spirits that roam these lands.

While the daylight dispels much of the fear associated with this route, it also enhances the allure of its mysteries, making it a memorable drive for anyone brave enough to traverse it.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 5:09 p.m.

THE HAUNTED ROAD: TAPAH TO CAMERON HIGHLANDS

The old road from Jalan Tapah to Cameron Highlands (FT59), Perak, Malaysia, has the perfect ingredients for a Malaysian ghost story: thick jungle, winding mountain bends, heavy mist, and long stretches where the only sound is your car engine.

It was completed on 14 November 1930 and is 89.85 km long from Tapah to Kg Raja; it was the ONLY road to the Cameron Highlands until the Simpang Puai highway opened in 2001. 

Over the years, stories about haunted journeys along the Tapah–Cameron Highlands route have circulated among local travellers. Some tell of mysterious figures appearing beside the road, unexplained shadows in the headlights, and strange encounters late at night. However, individual tales are often difficult to verify, so it's worth separating local folklore from documented events.

Here's a spooky retelling inspired by the kind of supernatural stories associated with old Malaysian mountain roads. 

1. The black figure at the roadside

One account published on the Malaysian horror-fiction website Fiksyen Shasha describes a late-night drive from Tapah towards Ringlet after light rain. The road was dark, with only occasional vegetable lorries passing through.

While waiting for an oncoming lorry, the storyteller noticed something sitting on a roadside shelter used by Indigenous traders during the day.

It was a black figure with no visible face.

The storyteller's husband appeared calm, even smiling, but she couldn't tell whether he had noticed the figure too. They continued towards Ringlet, arriving at around 11:32 p.m.

Was it a supernatural encounter or something made frightening by the darkness? The account doesn't establish that.

2. The langsuir and the sleeping passenger

Another chilling tale appears in an online Malaysian forum, where a contributor recounts a story supposedly experienced by two vegetable farmers travelling along the Tapah–Cameron Highlands road in the late 1980s.

According to the retelling, one man noticed a terrifying female apparition, identified as a langsuir, near their vehicle. His companion seemed unresponsive, despite attempts to wake him.

The driver reportedly sounded the horn repeatedly until the apparition flew towards a nearby tree. He then described hearing its eerie laughter for what seemed like hours, while his companion remained unconscious.

By the time daylight arrived, both men were able to continue their journey.

This is an unverified, second-hand forum account, not a confirmed paranormal incident. Still, it's a classic example of the frightening stories associated with isolated Malaysian roads.

3. Why the road feels haunted.

There's a real-world reason the route can feel unnerving, even without ghosts. The road has steep terrain, sharp bends, limited lighting and stretches beside deep slopes. Local reporting has highlighted the challenges faced by motorists, particularly when meeting heavy vehicles at night.

Fog can distort headlights, tree branches can resemble human figures, and fatigue can make ordinary sounds seem unusual. Those conditions provide a natural backdrop for ghost stories to spread.

4. The Forest itself

Between Batu 14 and Batu 26, you pass Lata Iskandar, Kuala Woh, and many Orang Asli villages. Truck drivers say the stretch around Lata Iskandar is the worst — heavy mist suddenly drops like in your drone shot, engines lose power, and you hear knocking on the roof or cries from the jungle. Old timers attribute it to spirits disturbed by the road cutting and the many landslide deaths over the decades.

There's also the less supernatural but real horror — the road was built along mountain slopes and is prone to landslides which damage the road, with closures between Batu 25 and Batu 26 being common.

If you drive it

The photo is beautiful in daylight, but locals still avoid it after 7pm: 

• Top up in Tapah town — petrol gets scarce after that
• Use low gear, not brakes, on the downhill — the fog makes the road slick.
• Don't stop at random laybys at night, especially near the waterfalls.
• If you feel car-sick, take Simpang Pulai (FT185) instead — the old Tapah road is famous for making passengers vomit from the turns

Have you driven it at night? Most people who grew up in Perak have at least one weird Tapah road story — the mist suddenly going silent is the one I hear most.

References:

1. Fiksyen Shasha: Hantu Cameron.
2. Utusan.com: Jalan Tapah - Cameron Highlands bahaya. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 5.00 a.m.

HAUNTED ROAD: JALAN RAYA GERIK - JELI

Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli, Federal Route 4.

The sign says it all:

Selamat Datang ke Jalan Raya Timur Barat.

Gerik 112 km / Pulau Pinang 284 km / Alor Setar 364 km

Opened in 1982, it cuts straight through the Banjaran Titiwangsa virgin jungle. No streetlights, no villages for 100 km+, thick fog, and still wild elephants crossing. That's why it's ranked as one of the most dangerous AND most haunted highways in Malaysia.

Why people say it's haunted:

1. Bukit Buloh — the hotspot

Local drivers from Kg Pahit between Gerik & Kroh say there's one stretch called Bukit Buloh. In the story there, your car suddenly becomes super heavy. Even dropping to gear 3 going downhill, the car doesn't want to move forward.

2. The overtaking car that disappears

Classic JRTB story: in the middle of the night, a car follows close behind you like it wants to overtake. You give way, it overtakes — then it vanishes straight into the darkness. Leaving you alone on the road.

3. The Woman on the Bridge.

On Jalan Sumpitan (the shortcut route in the same network), drivers report seeing a woman standing alone on a bridge at midnight, face covered by hair.

4. General JRTB vibe

The highway is famous for wild elephants crossing, thick fog, and no lighting at night. Many drivers report seeing shadows that shouldn't be there or hearing strange sounds in the silence of the night. Even bathing at the river wakaf shelter near the Jeli side, many say it feels eerie.

Locals say because the road was built by cutting through old jungle, JKR lost many workers during construction in the 70s, plus a lot of fatal accidents—including the recent UPSI bus crash at KM53.

Tips if you want to drive through:

• Don't go through after 10pm alone if you can avoid it. If you have to, fill up a full tank in Gerik or Jeli; there is no petrol station in between.
• Don't honk at elephants — in a recent case police reported a driver stopped and turned off his headlights because elephants were crossing.
• Keep spotlight/fog lamps on, phone with offline maps, and don't entertain it if you see something by the roadside.

References:

1. Nazz & Co: 10 Jalan Raya Paling Bahaya & Seram di Malaysia - Berani Lalu?.
2. Aerill.com: Kisah Seram: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat (Gerik).

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 4:45 a.m. 

MYTHOS : BUKIT MILAN, REMBAU, N.S

Bukit Sembilan in Rembau is not just a small hill — it's one of the most famous perkampungan bunian stories in Negeri Sembilan.

The place 

• local name: Bukit Milan / Bukit Sembilan
• Location: Inside Chengkau village, under MPKK Kampung Lada, just off Jalan Seremban-Tampin. Elevation is only 45 metres.
• On top there is an old batu berdinding — a stone wall that locals say was originally 6 metres wide and 3 metres high but is now shrinking / diminishing.

It's listed in almost every Negeri Sembilan "scariest places" list because no one dares to go there alone — even approaching it makes your hair stand.

Why is it called haunted?

The belief is the hill is a kampung bunian — an invisible village. The aura serum has still been felt until today.

Three stories keep coming up from Kampung Lada elders:

1. Barang dipinjam bunian

Aminah, 70s, who lived near the hill, said clothes, songkok and keys would disappear. After a week or two they would reappear exactly where they were lost, even though the house was searched many times. Eventually she just said "nanti pulangkan balik".

Ref: Kosmo: Bunian Pinjam Barang orang Kampung.

2. Rombongan bomoh cari harta

Around the 1960s, former ketua kampung Abd. Latip Alias remembers a female bomoh bringing almost 10 women on foot past his house in Kg Batu Puteh (about 500 m from the wall) to the hill, bringing back pinggan mangkuk and harta karun wrapped in cloth and carried on their heads.

3. The hot spring and the 3 women

At the foot of Bukit Milan there is a hot spring that never dries even in drought. People used to do ritual — pulut, telur, ayam hitam when padi was turning yellow — until around 1963, when it was stopped as khurafat.

Then in the 1980s, owner Cikgu Hasan met 3 young women bathing there at 11am. When asked where they were from, they said, "Dari Bukit Milan nak pergi ke Gunung Datuk." "Then they vanished in the pool.

Locals believe if you're unlucky, you will be 'ditegur' – something there.

Now

Today the hill itself is quiet and overgrown — most people just see it from the road. But Rembau has leaned into the horror fame. Right now there's a travelling attraction called Misteri Trak Kuning / Ghost Ride operating around the Rembau-Bongek area on Fri-Sat-Sun nights, 8pm-12am — a truck ride through dark dirt roads with pocong and hantu performers jumping out. They rotate Indonesian horror themes like Pengabdi Setan and KKN Desa Penari.

If you want to visit Bukit Milan itself, go in daylight, with locals, don't go alone, and treat it as a historical megalith / cultural site — not a ghost-hunting spot. The MPKK Kampung Lada still manages the area.

Bukit Milan is not just a made-up scary story on Facebook. It's a mythos location (kampung bunian) that has become an urban legend because people keep adding real village experiences to it.

In Rembau folklore classification, it sits in the same category as Gunung Datuk and Gunung Besar Hantu — historic hills where physical and spiritual realms overlap. If you treat it as just a "haunted hill for thrill seekers", you miss why locals still respect it.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 4:04 a.m.