SEJARAH KERAMAT, WANGSA MAJU DAN SETIAWANGSA

Wangsa Maju & Setiawangsa bermula sebagai sebuah kawasan ladang getah pada abad ke-19 sebelum dibangunkan menjadi bandar kediaman moden Kuala Lumpur pada dekad 1980-an. Kedua-dua penempatan bersejarah ini dipisahkan secara geografi oleh Bukit Dinding, sebuah kawasan hijau yang terkenal. 

Manakala Kg Datuk Keramat di Kuala Lumpur bermula sebagai kawasan perlombongan bijih timah dan hutan belukan sebelum diterokai menjadi petempatan pelbagai etnik Melayu pada awal tahun 1920-an. 

KERAMAT, KUALA LUMPUR

Kampung Datuk Keramat di Kuala Lumpur bermula sebagai kawasan perlombongan bijih timah dan hutan belukar sebelum diteroka menjadi petempatan pelbagai etnik Melayu pada awal tahun 1920-an. Terletak di pinggir pusat bandar raya, ia mengekalkan identiti sebagai perkampungan Melayu tradisional di tengah-tengah kepesatan metropolitan. 

Rentetan sejarah dan asal-usul Kampung Datuk Keramat merangkumi perkara penting berikut:

Asal-Usul Nama dan Misteri Kubur Keramat

• Era Tangga Cina: Sebelum dikenali dengan nama sekarang, kawasan ini asalnya berdaftar di bawah Kuala Lumpur Municipality (KLM) sebagai Kampung Tangga Cina. Nama ini diambil sempena kehadiran tangga batu di puncak Bukit Setiawangsa menuju ke kubur imigran awal Cina. 
• Dua Makam Misteri: Nama "Datuk Keramat" mula melekat secara sinonim apabila kawasan ini bertukar pentadbiran menjadi Majlis Tempatan Kuala Lumpur. Hal ini berpunca daripada kewujudan dua makam/kubur tua (salah satunya mempunyai struktur rumah berkubah kecil) di pinggir Pasar Datuk Keramat. 
• Amalan Membayar Nazar: Mengikut cerita lisan penduduk, kubur tersebut dianggap "keramat" oleh masyarakat lampau. Ramai orang (termasuk komuniti India Muslim dan warga tempatan) sering datang ke situ untuk berdoa, meminta hajat, atau mengadakan kenduri membayar nazar, sehinggakan frasa "mahu ke kubur Datuk Keramat" akhirnya kekal menjadi nama rasmi kampung. Identiti sebenar pemilik makam itu dipercayai seorang pendakwah warak dari Sumatera bernama Sheikh Abdullah (atau Sheikh Abdur Rahman). 

Penerokaan Awal dan Geografi Kampung

• Kawasan Bekas Lombong: Geografi asal Datuk Keramat merupakan sebahagian daripada dataran pengeluaran bijih timah yang bersambung dengan Ampang dan Kuala Ampang. 
• Penghijrahan Pelbagai Etnik: Sekitar tahun 1920-an, kawasan hutan dan bekas lombong ini mula diteroka secara intensif oleh pelbagai sub-etnik Melayu dari Nusantara, terutamanya masyarakat Bawean (Boyan), Jawa, Bugis, dan Minangkabau. 
• Pembahagian Kawasan: Petempatan ini terbahagi kepada dua zon utama:
• Keramat Luar: Bersebelahan Jalan Kent, kawasan perumahan awal yang tersusun di bawah program Lembaga Kemajuan dan Perusahaan Kampung (RIDA) sekitar 1950-an.
• Keramat Dalam: Bermula dari kawasan pasar utama sehingga ke Jalan Jelatek, Keramat Hujung, dan Bukit Keramat. 

Pemodenan dan Landskap Kontemporari

• Pasar Datuk Keramat (1976): Pasar ikonik ini dahulunya merupakan tapak lombong timah. Peniaga Melayu pada awalnya hanya berjualan di tebing lombong sebelum kawasan itu ditimbus sepenuhnya dan dibangunkan sebagai pasar kekal pada tahun 1976, menjadikannya nadi ekonomi utama komuniti setempat. 
• Pembangunan Infrastruktur: Kedudukannya yang strategik bersebelahan kem tentera (Kementerian Pertahanan/Kementah) dan pusat bandar menjadikannya tumpuan penjawat awam sejak zaman selepas merdeka. Kemasukan sistem rel LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya (Stesen LRT Dato' Keramat dan Jelatek) serta pembinaan lebuh raya AKLEH telah mentransformasikan sebahagian landskap Keramat dengan kewujudan kondominium moden, tanpa melupakan struktur rumah kayu tradisional yang masih bertahan. 

WANGSA MAJU

Wangsa Maju dahulunya merupakan sebuah ladang getah British yang dikenali sebagai Hawthornden Estate sebelum dibangunkan menjadi perbandaran moden terancang pada tahun 1984. Kawasan yang terletak di dalam Mukim Setapak ini telah dirasmikan pembukaannya oleh Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, pada 27 Februari 1984. Pembangunan ini menjadi perintis kepada konsep Penswastaan dan Persyarikatan Malaysia yang melibatkan kawasan seluas 400 hektar. 

Kronologi Sejarah & Asal-Usul (Wangsa Maju & Bukit Dinding)

• Zaman Perang Saudara (1870-an): Sebelum menjadi ladang, kawasan sekitar Bukit Dinding di Wangsa Maju pernah terlibat dalam siri Perang Kelang (Perang Saudara Selangor) yang dikenali sebagai The Battle of Bukit Dinding. 
• Formasi Batuan Tertua KL (400-500 Juta Tahun Dahulu): Kajian geologi mengesahkan batuan di bukit ini merupakan khazanah tertua di Kuala Lumpur, terdiri daripada jenis syis (Dinding schist) dan kuarzit yang terbentuk sejak zaman Kambrian hingga Ordovisian. 
• Kawasan Orang Asli Temuan (Sebelum 1840-an): Sebelum penerokaan moden, kawasan hutan tebal di sekitar bukit ini didiami oleh masyarakat pribumi suku Temuan. 
• 1883 - Perlombongan Bijih Timah Gonggang: Kawasan kaki bukit di sebelah barat daya mula diteroka untuk aktiviti perlombongan bijih timah dan dikenali sebagai "Gonggang" (kini kawasan Setapak dan Wangsa Maju). Pada September 1883, juruukur McCarthy mencadangkan pembinaan jalan raya untuk menghubungkan lombong-lombong di Gonggang terus ke Ulu Bunus. (Surat McCarthy kepada H.F. Bellamy bertarikh 24 September 1883). 
• 1870 - Medan Perang Klang : Kawasan sekitar Bukit Dinding, Ulu Gonggang dan Lembah Sungai Gisir (Kini Lembah Keramat) menjadi lokasi pertempuran penting dalam Perang Saudara Selangor (Perang Klang). Pasukan Syed Mashhor dan Chong Chong telah menyerang kubu pertahanan pasukan Tengku Kudin dan Yap Ah Loy (diketuai oleh Hiu Fatt dan Tung Khoon) yang berada di kawasan sekitar bukit ini. 
• 1888 (Oktober) - Pembukaan Ladang Getah Hawthornden : Pada Oktober 1888, F.A.Toynbee, bekas Pengurus Ladang Weld's Hill kepunyaan syarikat Messrs.Hill and Rathborne telah membuka ladang pertanian seluas 1,000 ekar di Ulu Gonggang (Batu 5-6 Jalan Pahang) untuk tanaman kopi dan lada sulah. Ladang ini kemudian berkembang menjadi Ladang Getah Hawthornden yang merangkumi sebahagianbesar Bukit Dinding. 
• 1892 - Kerja-kerja pengukuran tanah di Ladang Hawthornden, geran tanah dikeluarkan. 
• 1900-1920: Ladang Hawhornden telah diambilalih oleh Loke Yew, dan diusahakan dengan lombong dan ladang getah. 
• Era Estet Getah (1900-an - 1980-an): Kawasan ini dikuasai oleh syarikat British dan beroperasi sepenuhnya sebagai estet getah yang dipanggil Hawthornden Estate atau Ladang Hawthorden. 
• 1964 & 1968 : Lokasi Penggambaran Filem Hollywood & P. Ramlee: Sewaktu zaman darurat, keunikan landskap bukit ini telah menarik minat pengarah filem. Filem Hollywood bertajuk "The Seventh Dawn" (1964) lakonan William Holden dan filem komedi Melayu klasik "Anak Bapak" (1968) arahan Tan Sri P. Ramlee telah menjalani penggambaran di kawasan estet getah bukit ini. 
• 3 September 1965 : Kerajaan Persekutuan mengumumkan perancangan sebuah perbandaran baru di Ladang Wardieburn termasuk sebahagian kecil Ladang Hawthornden. 
• 1983 - 1995 - Pembangunan Moden: 
• Ladang Hawthornden dan Ladang Gonggang mula dibersihkan dan dibangunkan. Pelan induk telah dikeluarkan pada 9 Disember 1983.
• Syarikat Island & Peninsular (I&P) Group mula membangunkan kaki bukit ini menjadi kawasan perumahan Taman Setiawangsa, dengan fasa terakhirnya iaitu Puncak Setiawangsa disiapkan pada tahun 1995. 
• Pelancaran Bandar Baru (1984): 
• Kerajaan mengambil alih tanah estet tersebut untuk membina perbandaran terancang ketiga di Kuala Lumpur selepas Bandar Tun Razak dan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn. Nama "Wangsa Maju" dipilih bagi membawa imej gabungan komuniti dan kemajuan.
• 26 Februari 1984 : Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden telah dirasmikan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Identiti Awal dan Pembagian Seksyen

• Sistem Kod 'R' : Pada peringkat awal, kawasan Wangsa Maju ditandakan dengan kod abjad 'R' yang bermaksud 'Regions / Residential"
• Perumahan Awal: Pembangunan awal memfokuskan kepada pembinaan flat kos rendah dan sederhana di Seksyen 1, Seksyen 2, Seksyen 4, dan Seksyen 5.
• Kumpulan Sasaran: Rumah-rumah awal ini dibina khusus untuk menampung keperluan penjawat awam, keluarga muda, pekerja kota, dan veteran tentera. 
• Pembahagian Wilayah: Kini, perbandaran ini berkembang pesat dan dipecahkan kepada beberapa seksyen utama termasuk Seksyen 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, dan 10. 
• Seksyen yang hilang: 

Ketiadaan Seksyen 3, 7, 8, dan 9 di Wangsa Maju adalah disebabkan oleh penjenamaan semula nama kawasan (rebranding) dan perubahan pelan induk pembangunan asal.

• Seksyen 3 : Kini adalah Sri Rampai dan Wangsa Melawati.
• Seksyen 7 & 8: kini adalah Wangsa Maju Suburban Centre (KLSC) / Sri Rampai dan kawasan sekitar AEON Big Wangsa Maju. 
• Seksyen 9: Kini adalah Setiawangsa dan Desa Putra. 

Perkembangan Menjadi Hab Pendidikan & Komersial

Seiring dengan peredaran masa, Wangsa Maju tidak lagi sekadar bandar kediaman tetapi telah bertukar menjadi hab pendidikan utama dengan kewujudan institusi seperti Universiti Pengurusan dan Teknologi Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR UMT) serta institusi negara seperti Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia (ITBM). Kemudahan pengangkutan LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya turut mematangkan ekosistem pengangkutan di sini. 

SETIAWANGSA

Sejarah Setiawangsa bermula daripada petempatan awal perlombongan bijih timah pada abad ke-19 sebelum dibangunkan menjadi pinggir bandar moden Kuala Lumpur pada akhir abad ke-20. Kawasan yang dahulunya dikenali sebagai sebahagian daripada wilayah "Gonggang" kini telah bertukar menjadi pusat kediaman, komersial, dan kawasan parlimen yang dinamik. 

Berikut adalah kronologi dan liputan sejarah perkembangan Setiawangsa:

Asal-Usul dan Zaman Perlombongan (Abad ke-19)

• Kawasan Gonggang: Sebelum nama Setiawangsa digunakan, kawasan ini berada dalam lingkungan petempatan awal Kuala Lumpur yang dikenali sebagai Gonggang. 
• Lembangan Sungai Bunus: Gonggang merupakan kawasan perlombongan bijih timah penting yang terletak di antara Sungai Gombak dan Sungai Klang. 
• Pembukaan Awal: Menurut catatan sejarah, kawasan Gonggang dibuka sekitar tahun 1855 oleh Hulubalang Ali di bawah pimpinan tokoh Mandailing, Sutan Puasa. 
• Pembangunan Setiawangsa (1983-1995) : Syarikat Island & Peninsular (I&P) Group mula membangunkan Ladang Gonggang Estate menjadi kawasan perumah Taman Setiawangsa dengan fasa terakhirnya Puncak Setiawangsa disiapkan pada 1995.

Gonggang - Nama yang hilang di Setiawangsa.

Nama Gonggang kali terakhir digunakan pada tahun 1980an apabila pihak kerajaan melalui syarikat pemaju I&P mula untuk memajukan kawasan yang dikenali sebagai Gonggang Estate atau Ladang Gonggang. … Kampung-kampung kecil yang berada di Ladang Gonggang ini dipindahkah ke Perumahan Kos Rendah yang terletak di Keramat dan nama Gonggang Estate telah ditukar kepada Setiawangsa selepas ia dibangunkan. Sejak daripada itu, nama Gonggang ini akhirnya hilang di dalam lipatan sejarah buat selama-lamanya. Nama Kg Gonggang juga kini telah hilang dan diganti dengan Kg Datok Keramat dan tiada lagi nama Gonggang disebut kecuali di dalam Sejarah Kuala Lumpur. Adalah dipercayai nama Jalan Enggang yang terletak di persimpangan Jelatek / Keramat adalah berasal daripada nama Gonggang dan ditukar oleh pemaju atas sebab yang tidak diketahui. Walaupun nama Gonggang ini telah berkubur, namun begitu sejarah nama Gonggang masih terpahat di dalam dokumen lama Kuala Lumpur dan menjadi sebahagian daripada sejarah Wangsa Maju yang menjadi salah satu daripada daerah yang termaju di Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur ini.” 

(Budak Wangsa Maju, 23 September 2018)

Pembangunan Moden (Akhir Abad ke-20)

• Syarikat Pembangun: Kawasan perumahan dan komersial Taman Setiawangsa mula dibangunkan secara terancang oleh syarikat hartanah terkemuka, Island & Peninsular Berhad (I&P). 
• Topografi Unik: Pelan pembangunan membahagikan kawasan ini mengikut bentuk muka bumi bukit, iaitu Puncak Setiawangsa (puncak bukit), Bukit Setiawangsa (tengah bukit), dan Taman Setiawangsa (kaki bukit). 
• Infrastruktur Pendidikan: Bagi menampung populasi yang meningkat, institusi awal seperti Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Setiawangsa mula dibina pada Februari 1992 dan beroperasi sepenuhnya pada tahun 1993. 

Evolusi Politik dan Pentadbiran

• Kawasan Parlimen: Setiawangsa kemudiannya diiktiraf sebagai sebuah kawasan parlimen persekutuan (kod P118) di bawah Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. 
• Latar Belakang Penduduk: Sejak tahun 2000-an, majoriti penduduknya terdiri daripada golongan bumiputera kelas pertengahan, termasuk kakitangan awam, swasta, serta kuarters penguatkuasa seperti polis dan tentera. 
• Landskap Politik: Dari segi sejarah pilihan raya, kawasan parlimen ini asalnya merupakan kubu kuat Barisan Nasional (BN) sebelum mengalami peralihan mandat politik buat kali pertama pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 (PRU-14) tahun 2018. 

BUKIT DINDING

Bukit Dinding ialah sebuah bukit setinggi 291 meter hingga 302 meter yang terletak di antara Setiawangsa dan Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. Nama "Dinding" diberikan kerana lereng bukit ini yang sangat curam, dengan kecerunan melebihi 45 darjah yang menyerupai sebuah dinding gergasi. Bukit ini menyimpan sejarah geologi, peperangan, dan sosioekonomi yang sangat kaya di ibu kota. 

Bukit Dinding ini lokasinya adalah berdekatan dengan Highland Towers yang runtuh pada 11 Disember 1993. 

Kronologi dan Peristiwa Penting

• 1840-an: Penerokaan bijih timah bermula di kawasan kaki bukit sebelah barat daya, yang ketika itu dikenali sebagai wilayah Gonggang (kini kawasan Setapak dan Wangsa Maju).
• 1870: Bukit Dinding menjadi kubu strategik semasa Perang Saudara Selangor (Perang Klang). Pasukan Syed Mashhor melancarkan serangan hebat ke atas kubu gabungan Tengku Kudin dan Yap Ah Loy di kawasan ini.
• 2012 (Disember): Insiden Tanah Runtuh dilereng bukit bersebelahan Bukit Dinding.

(Seterusnya rujuk kepada Kronologi Wangsa Maju diatas).

Sungai Gisir, Lembah Keramat, KL

Kawasan Padang di AU4 yang terletak di Lembah Sungai Gisir di Lembah Keramat dan Hulu Kelang adalah dijangka sebagai lokasi berlakunya pertempuran "The Battle of Bukit Dinding". Dahulunya terdapat perkampungan Melayu di sini yang dikenali sebagai Kampung Seri Lembah Keramat. 

Kini, Bukit Dinding berfungsi sebagai salah satu kawasan "paru-paru hijau" terakhir di Kuala Lumpur yang sangat popular dalam kalangan peminat aktiviti mendaki (hiking) dan penunggang basikal bukit. 

Rujukan:

1. Wikipedia: Kampung Datuk Keramat.
2. Wikipedia: Wangsa Maju .
3. Wikipedia : Setiawangsa. 
4. Berita Harian: 2 Kubur cetus nama Kampung Datuk Keramat.
5. Cebisan Sejarah Hutan: Hutan Bukit Dinding.
6. KL Pulasan: Sejarah Wangsa Maju: The Battle of Bukit Dinding, The Forgotten War of Perang Kelang. 
7. Zulheimy Maamor: Bukit Dinding, K.L.
8. FB Sejarah Hutan: 1983-12-09: Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden.
9. Astro Awani : Pelihara Khazanah Geologi Bukit Dinding milik batuan tertua di KL.
10. Wangsa Maju Boyz: Sejarah Wangsa Maju: Kesan Pendudukan Pahang ke atas Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor.
11. S.M. Middlebrook, J.M. Gullick and C.A. Gibson-Hill @ Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS), July 1951 : "Yap Ah Loy (1837-1885)" m.s 56.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

21 Julai 2026: 5.37 p.m

MISTERI : RESTORAN ADIK MANJA, PAHANG

Restoran Adik Manja di Kuantan, Pahang, terkenal sebagai salah satu lokasi lagenda urban dan kisah seram paling popular di Malaysia. Kedai makan fizikal asalnya terletak di sepanjang Jalan Gambang, menghala masuk ke bandar Kuantan. 

Status Operasi Sebenar

• Sudah Lama Ditutup: Restoran ini sudah tidak lagi beroperasi sejak sekitar tahun 2018 atau 2019.
• Keadaan Fizikal: Bangunan asal kedai tersebut kini merupakan sebuah struktur kedai yang kosong, usang, dan terbiar di tepi jalan. 

Misteri & Kisah Viral yang Terkenal

Restoran ini sering menjadi buah mulut pengguna jalan raya dan tular di platform media sosial seperti TikTok dan Facebook kerana "misteri bunian": 

• Kelihatan 'Hidup' pada Waktu Malam: Ramai orang luar atau pemandu yang pertama kali melalui Jalan Gambang mendakwa melihat restoran ini terang-benderang dan dipenuhi ramai pelanggan sekitar jam 12 tengah malam. 
• Misteri Singgah Makan: Menurut cerita mistik tempatan, ada mangsa yang mendakwa pernah singgah, memesan makanan, dan berasa suasana kedai sangat meriah. 
• Berubah Menjadi Usang: Kejanggalan hanya disedari apabila mereka kembali lalu di kawasan tersebut pada waktu siang, di mana kedai itu sebenarnya hanyalah sebuah bangunan buruk yang berhabuk tanpa kerusi atau meja. 

Walaupun terdapat dakwaan premis baharu menggunakan nama yang sama di kawasan berhampiran, nama "Restoran Adik Manja" di Jalan Gambang tetap kekal ikonik sebagai subjek cerita seram komuniti.

PENUTUPAN RESTORAN ADIK MANJA

Sejarah penutupan Restoran Adik Manja di Jalan Gambang, Kuantan, mempunyai dua versi sudut pandang yang berbeza—iaitu fakta realiti perniagaan dan juga dakwaan mistik/lagenda urban yang tular dalam kalangan masyarakat tempatan. 

Berikut adalah penjelasan kronologi sejarah asal penutupannya:

1. Sejarah Asal Menurut Fakta Realiti

Sebelum menjadi terbiar, restoran ini merupakan sebuah kedai makan yang sangat popular di Kuantan: 

• Zaman Kegemilangan (1990-an - 2000-an): Premis ini dibina pada awal tahun 1990-an. Menu utamanya adalah makanan panas dan masakan ala Siam/Tomyam. Disebabkan lokasinya yang strategik di tepi jalan utama masuk ke Kuantan dari arah Tol Gambang, ia menjadi hentian utama pemandu lori, bas, dan musafir untuk makan malam. 
• Faktor Penutupan Rasmi: Mengikut rekod tempatan, restoran ini mula mengalami kemerosotan pelanggan secara berfasa dan bertukar-tukar pengurusan beberapa kali. Faktor utamanya adalah persaingan perniagaan, isu pengurusan, dan pembukaan lebuh raya baharu yang mengubah aliran trafik utama kenderaan. Kedai ini ditutup sepenuhnya secara rasmi sekitar tahun 2018 hingga 2019. 

2. Versi Sisi Gelap & Dakwaan Mistik (Sihir Perniagaan)

Bagi penduduk tempatan dan komuniti pengkaji mistik, penutupan restoran ini sering dikaitkan dengan unsur khurafat:

• Sihir Pemisah / Pengkhianatan: Terdapat dakwaan popular bahawa kedai ini terpaksa ditutup kerana menjadi mangsa sihir khianat perniagaan (perbuatan syirik orang dengki). Kedai dikatakan tiba-tiba kelihatan "tutup" atau "ghaib" pada pandangan pelanggan waktu siang, menyebabkan perniagaan mereka rugi teruk sehingga pemilik asal terpaksa menyerah kalah. 
• Tragedi Rumah Sebelah: Bersebelahan dengan tapak restoran tersebut, terdapat sebuah struktur rumah terbiar yang didakwa pernah berlaku kisah tragedi keluarga pemilik asal, menyebabkan tapak tanah kawasan itu dianggap "keras" oleh masyarakat sekitar. 

3. Realiti Semasa (2026)

Pada zaman kegemilangannya (sekitar 1990'an hingga 2010) restoran in beroperasi sebagai sebuah restoran masakan panas dan hidangan ala Siam (Thai). Ianya menjadi tumpuan pemandu lori, pemandu bas ekspres dan pengembara malam. 

Saya masih ingat antara menu popular restoran ini adalah Tomyam Poktek, Burung Puyuh Goreng Kunyit, Mee Ladna, Nasi Goreng Kampung dan lain-lain.

Pihak berkuasa tempatan dan penduduk Kuantan telah menegaskan bahawa kisah mistik kononnya "kedai bunian dibuka jam 12 malam" itu hanyalah rekaan kandungan (content) media sosial semata-mata demi meraih tontonan. Penutupan kedai ini adalah murni disebabkan isu operasi komersial biasa, dan premis itu kini kekal sebagai sebuah monumen usang peninggalan zaman kegemilangannya. 

Rujukan:

1. Kosmo: Misteri Kedai "Adik Manja" di Kuantan. 
2. Kosmo: Mana ada bunian berniaga, ini semua content.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 Julai 2026: 2.34 p.m

NAN MADOL - CAPITAL OF SAUDELEUR DYNASTY

Nan Madol served as the absolute ceremonial, religious, and political capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty. This highly stratified chiefdom united the roughly 25,000 people of Pohnpei Island in modern-day Micronesia. Constructed directly on top of a coral reef flat, this massive stone city thrived as a centralized powerhouse from around 1100 to 1628 CE.

The Rise and Structure of the Saudeleur Dynasty

• Legendary Origins: The first organised government to unite the entire island of Pohnpeian, ruling from approximately 1100 to 1628 CE. 
• Pohnpeian oral history credits twin sorcerers, Olisihpa and Olosohpa, with building the city by levitating enormous basalt rocks using a flying dragon. Olosohpa eventually married a local woman and established the ruling lineage. 
• Centralization of Power: The Saudeleurs utilized Nan Madol to control potential political rivals. They forced regional chiefs and high-status nobles to reside within the city, preventing rebellions in their home districts. 
• The "Venice of the Pacific": The complex spans nearly 100 artificial islets linked by an intricate network of tidal canals. It was built using colossal basalt columns and coral fill without any modern machinery. 
• Religious Center: The rulers derived their legitimacy from the native Thunder God, Nahn Sapwe. Rituals often involved sacred marine entities, such as dedicating turtle sacrifices to an oracle moray eel. 

Life in the Stone City

• Elite Isolation: The stone compounds were reserved strictly for the ruling elite, priests, and their servants. Commoners lived on the main island. 
• Logistical Dependence: Because Nan Madol lacked a natural source of fresh water or agricultural land, the Saudeleurs relied completely on daily tributes of food and water brought from the mainland by canoe. 
• Functional Zoning: The city was split into two key sectors. Madol Powe (Upper Nan Madol) handled mortuary and religious practices—anchored by the grand royal tomb of Nandauwas. Madol Pah (Lower Nan Madol) served as the primary administrative sector housing the royal palace at Pahn Kadira. 

Tyranny, Climate Stress, and Fall

Over several centuries, the initially benevolent dynasty devolved into severe tyranny, demanding unsustainable amounts of food and labor from its subjects. Recent scientific data also shows that intense El Niño and La Niña climate cycles raised sea levels and brought violent ocean surges, severely battering the seawalls and overwhelming the city's infrastructure. 

Discontent reached a breaking point around 1628 CE. A legendary warrior named Isokelekel led an invasion from the nearby island of Kosrae and overthrew the last Saudeleur tyrant. Isokelekel instituted a new, decentralized ruling system called Nahnmwarki, which modern Pohnpeian chiefs still trace their lineage to today. The difficult-to-maintain islets were progressively abandoned back to nature shortly thereafter. 

CONNECTION BETWEEN SAUDELEUR DYNASTY AND THE MALAY

The connection between the ancient city of Nan Madol (located in Pohnpei, Micronesia) and the Malay people is rooted entirely in their shared Austronesian heritage, linking them through language, ancestral seafaring migrations, and cultural traits. While they are separated by thousands of kilometres, both cultures trace back to the same prehistoric roots. 

1. Shared Linguistic Ancestry

The most definitive link between the builders of Nan Madol and the Malay people is their language. 

• The Austronesian Tree: The Pohnpeian language (spoken by the builders of Nan Madol) and the Malay language both belong to the Austronesian language family. 
• Malayo-Polynesian Subgroup: Both languages fall under the Malayo-Polynesian branch. Because of this, they share ancient cognates (root words) relating to nature, navigation, and core family structures. 

2. The Great Maritime Migrations

Both groups are descendants of the world's greatest prehistoric navigators. 

• The Out-of-Taiwan Theory: Around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, Austronesian-speaking seafaring populations migrated southward from East Asia.
• The Split: One branch migrated into Island Southeast Asia, establishing the populations that eventually became the Malayic and western Indonesian groups. Another branch ventured eastward across the open Pacific using advanced outrigger canoes, eventually colonising Micronesia and building the monumental structures of Nan Madol. 

3. Societal and Cultural Parallels

As cousin cultures branching from a single source, the Saudeleur Dynasty of Nan Madol and early Malay kingdoms shared several distinct cultural characteristics: 

• The Kava Culture: Smarthistory notes that artifacts at Nan Madol show heavy ritual processing of kava. While the Malay world shifted toward other customs over time, early Austronesian botanical and ceremonial traditions share structural roots. 
• Highly Stratified Chiefdoms: Nan Madol functioned as a highly centralized elite centre designed to control the population. This social complexity mirrors the hierarchical, coastal-oriented power structures of early Malay polities (like Srivijaya) that relied heavily on maritime trade, networks of canals, and artificial modifications to coastal geography. 

References:

1. Wikipedia: Saudeleur Dynasty
2. Wikipedia : Nan Madol .
3. UNESCO : Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia.
4. Wattpad : Lemurians & Atlanteans - Suatu ketika dahulu... kita adalah Lemurians  dan Altanteans.
5. Zulsegamat : Temui Semula Kerajaan-Kerajaan Melayu Nusantara yang telah hilang.
6. Soscili: 4 teori Melayu yang mungkin buat korang terkejut & ternganga besar. 
7. Nach.Gov.fm : Nan Madol, East Site of Temwen Island.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 July 2026: 1.48 p.m

WARKAH CINTA TERTUA DUNIA

Sumber: Dark of Mystery

Siapa sangka batu bersurat yang dijumpai di lembah Nippur, Iraq menjadi satu artifak yang cukup berharga dalam penyelidikan arkeologi. Apa yang menariknya, batu bersurat tertera tulisan Cuneiform ini sebenarnya adalah sebuah warkah cinta yang tertua pernah direkodkan.  

Mula dijumpai pada tahun 1889, ukiran batu ini telah ditemui seorang ahli arkeologi dari Universiti Philadelphia, Amerika Syarikat, Profesor Noah Kramer. Difahamkan, ukiran batu bersurat ini merupakan sebuah artifak peninggalan masyarakat Sumeria- sebuah bangsa yang menduduki tamadun awal Mesopotamia.  

Pada mulanya, objek ukiran batu tersebut hanya dianggap sebagai penemuan biasa sahaja. Bagaimanapun, selepas 58 tahun kemudian barulah diketahui  artifak berkenaan sebenarnya sangat bernilai terutamanya membongkar rahsia kisah kehidupan masyarakat kuno itu. 

Berdasarkan penyelidikan lanjut dan proses terjemahan mendapati, batu bersurat tersebut merupakan surat cinta yang diukir khas sempena hadiah perkahwinan. Surat ini dikatakan milik seorang bangsawan wanita yang bernama Inanna. Ia merupakan sebuah puisi cinta yang ditujukan khas kepada bakal suaminya.  Dianggarkan, warkah  cinta tertua di dunia itu ditulis sekitar tahun 2030 Sebelum Masihi.  

Berikut adalah terjemahan daripada petikan ayat surat berkenaan “Bridegroom, dear to my heart,Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,Lion, dear to my heart,Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet. You have captivated me,Let me stand tremblingly before you. Bridegroom, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber,You have captivated me,Let me stand tremblingly before you.Lion, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber”.

“Bridegroom, let me caress you,My precious caress is more savory than honey,In the bedchamber, honey-filled,Let me enjoy your goodly beauty,Lion, let me caress you,My precious caress is more savory than honey.Bridegroom, you have taken your pleasure of me,Tell my mother, she will give you delicacies,My father, he will give you gifts.Your spirit, I know where to cheer your spirit”.

“Bridegroom, sleep in our house until dawn,Your heart, I know where to gladden your heart,Lion, sleep in our house until dawn.You, because you love me,Give me pray of your caresses,My lord god, my lord protector,My Shu-Sin, who gladdens Enlil’s heart,Give my pray of your caresses.Your place goodly as honey, pray lay your hand on it,Bring your hand over like a gishban-garment,Cup your hand over it like a gishban-sikin-garment”. 

Dalam tradisi masyarakat Sumeria, seseorang wanita yang ingin melangsungkan perkahwinan hendaklah melakukan kejutan istimewa buat pasangan mereka. Seperti mana yang sering dilakukan, mereka akan menulis puisi cinta yang diukir khas pada satu kepingan batu bersaiz kecil. Ia dianggap satu hadiah istimewa dan sebagai tanda kesetiaan serta kasih sayang golongan wanita Sumeria terhadap pasangan mereka. Kebiasaannya, amalan menulis puisi ini   dilakukan pada malam perkahwinan.

Tamadun Mesopotamia merupakan salah satu tamadun terawal di dunia yang wujud sekitar tahun 6,000 Sebelum Masihi. Lokasi tamadun kuno ini dikenal pasti terletak di Teluk Parsi iaitu di antara dua batang sungai utama yang dikenali Sungai Tigris dan Sungai Eupharates.  

Ketika zaman perkembangan tamadun ini, masyarakatnya terkenal dengan pelbagai ciptaan dan teknologi baru pada masa itu. Sebagai contoh, sistem pengairan yang sistematik bagi mengelakkan bencana banjir dan kemarau, pelopor pertama dalam penciptaan roda, memperkenalkan sistem nombor baru dan kalendar tahunan.

Selain itu, tamadun ini juga memiliki sistem pengurusan yang cekap terutamanya dalam urusan perdagangan dan pentadbiran. Menariknya, apa jua yang melibatkan kedua-dua aktiviti ini akan direkodkan pada plat-plat yang diperbuat daripada tanah liat. Rekod-rekod ini ditulis dengan menggunakan sistem penulisan mereka sendiri yang dikenali Cuneiform atau tulisan pepaku. 

C&P

19 Julai2026: 10.24 p.M

HAUNTED PLACES, HOUSES, BUILDING & GHOSTS AROUND THE WORLD

1. 99 Door Mansion: at Nibong Tebal,Seberang Perai, Penang > officially known as Caledonia Mansion or Calonia House, built in 1917 and has a reported 99 doors. It is currently abandoned and decrepit building known for its eerie legends, including whispers of a hidden 100th door. Belong to a wealthy British Ramston familyof planters, it was abandoned after the murder of the eldest son in 1948.  
2. Agnes Keith House: Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia - house of Agnes Newton Keith, an American Author. Reportedly haunted with a female apparition,believed to be the spirit of a resident who died throughout the wartime period.The house turned into a museum in 2004. 
3. Agrasen Ki Baoli: India - It is said that people coming to collect water were often called by a disembodied voice. 
4. Aisha Kandisha: one of the most famous and feared supernatural entities in Moroccan folklore. She is depicted as a predatory, shape-shifting figure who uses her extreme beauty to seduce men, drive them mad and ultimately lure them to their doom. 
5. Alcatraz Island: USA - notorious prison with legends of ghosts and strange occurences. 
6. Amber Court : Genting Highland, Pahang, Malaysia - an apartment and hotel built in 1990's. It has a notorious reputation as a haunted location with supernatural activities. 
7. Amityville : Long Island, New York, USA - became the subject of books and films after apparent hauntings following the murder of the DeFeo Family. The Lutz family purchased the home but remained in the home for only 28 days.In a court where the Lutzes were sued, they admitted that almost everything in the 1977 book "The Amityville Horror" was fictional. 
8. Ammon Demon House: a highly publicised case of alleged haunting and demonic possession that took place in a rental home on Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana, starting in 2011. Latoya Ammons, along with her mother Rosa Campbell and her three children, claimed that the house was overrun by up to 200 demons. Official figures including Police Officers, medical staff and social workers documented witnessing events they could not explain. Wikipedia: Ammons haunting case.
9. Ancient Ram Inn: Wotton-Under-Edge, England - believed to be one of the oldest inns in England (12th century). It's filled with reports of ghosts, including a monk, a little boy and even the Devil himself. 
10. Aokigahara Forest, Japan :  Known as the "Sea of Trees", this dense forest is tied to countless disappearance. Whispers, strange sounds and heavy atmosphere make it deeply unsettling. 
11. Aradale Hospital : Australia - 130-year old hospital, said to be location of over 130,000 deaths. The asylum is now abandoned and is considered to be one of Victoria's creepiest sites.With over 60 buildings, countless report of paranormal activity in Aradale. ... it is most definitely haunted. 
12. Baron Empain Palace, Cairo : the Baron's wife tragically fell to her death, and her spirit now roams the halls.Locals often hear whispers, footsteps and see shadows in the windows long after dark. 
13. Belchen Tunnel Ghost: 
1. at California's Interstate 80 near the Sierra Nevada mountains features a recurring tale of a hitchhiker dressed in old-fashioned clothing who disappears right before the car enters high-elevation tunnels. 
2. at Eptingen, Switzeland - a famous European variation accurs in the Belchen Tunnel on the A2 highway. Drivers describe an elderly woman, often called the "Belchen-spund" who boards cars and warns drivers of an impending catastrophe before disappearing. 
14. Bhangarh Fort : in India - abandoned fort with a legend that no one stays there after sunset. 
15. Blue Bell Hill Ghost : located on the A229 road, California, motorists frequently report hitting or picking up a young woman. She is believed to be the ghost of a bride-to-be who died in a tragic car accident on the road in 1965. 
16. Borgvattnet Parish : at Jamtland, Sweden - the most haunted place in Sweden. The church is built on cursed ground, and a lake nearby hides a grisly legend a grisly legend of murder and betrayal. 
17. Borley Rectory : England - was considered the most haunted house in the world, but its notoriety was deemed to have been created by Harry Pace, an expert magician and proven hoaxer. 
18. Bran Castle: Romania - a.k.a Dracula's Castle, the creepy fortress was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's dark tale. A local guide will retell the terrifying myths and facts about the castle. 
19. Bukit Tunku: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - previously known as Kenny Hill, a leafy area with British Colonial houses.There's a report of a phantom motorcycle and a ghost of a woman standing in the middle of the road.Local taxi drivers usually refuse to pick up women and children at night. 
20. Carrington Psychiatric Hospital: New Zealand - Auckland's first asylum was built in 1853. The ghost from the asylum's past now haunt students and staff of UNITEC Institute of Technology. 
21. Casa Loma: in Toronto, Canada - a house was completed in 1914.There have been rumors of ghosts there for many years. It is now a historic house museum and landmark that is decorated as a haunted house at Halloween. 
22. Castle of Good Hope: South Africa's oldest colonial building - several specters have been seen roaming the castle, including a soldier who repeatedly leaps from its walls, a woman dressed in gray wandering the castle's corridors and a spectral canine or ghost dog seen roaming the grounds. 
23. Catacombs of Paris : France - miles of tunnels lined with the bones of millions. Strange noises and sudden feelings of unease are common among visitors. 
24. Changi Beach : Singapore - During World War II, this beach was the site of executions by the Japanese Army. Many claim to see ghostly figures walking along the shore at night. 
25. Chateau De Brissac : located at Brissac-Quince, France - home to the "Green Lady", the ghost of a woman who was said to have been murdered by her husband in the 15th century. She is often seen on the grand staircase. 
26. Chuuk Lagoon: Micronesia, perfect example of a haunted destination under the sea.The site of one very deadly battle in particular. The massive attacked lasted 3 days, resulted in the deaths of 4,500 Japanese sailors. 
27. Corvin Castle : in Romania - considered one of the world's top five haunted places.According to locals, it has been haunted by its former occupant, Vlad the Impaler, ever since he was killed in an ambush. 
28. Eastern State Penitentiary: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA > once the famous prison in the world, it held Al Capone and "Slick Willie" Sutton. Visitors report cold spots, eerie whisper and the feeling of unseen eyes watching fro the cellblocks. 
29. Edinburgh Castle : at Ediburgh, Scotland - a fortress with a dark history of war, torture and execution. The sound of drums and ghostly figures are said to appear, especially at night. 
30. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel: Canada - 131-year-old hotel is known for its amazing views of Banff National Park and also for the guests who have checked in but never checked out. The most popular lingering guests are said to be that of a burning bride, the bellman and a bartender. 
31. Farafra Desert: Egypt - famous in paranormal folklore for being haunted by the cursed ghost of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Dozens of tourists and local Bedouin nomads have reported seeing an aimless, ghostly figure wandering among the surreal chalk-white rock formations at night. 
32. First World Hotel: Genting Highland, Pahang, Malaysia - the world's largest hotel , with 6,118 rooms. Reportedly haunted due to gambling related suicides. 
33. Gettysburg Battlefield: the Battle of Gettysburg lasted for 3 days with 50,000 died in the conflict. The site at Pernnsylvanis field is haunted by fallen soldiers, searching for their rifles and comrades, unaware that the battle was over. 
34. Ghosts of Culloden: The Battle of Culloden, fought on 16 April 1746, where 1,500 Jacobite soldiers were brutally killed in less than an hour. Visitor at Culloden frequently report a tall, gaunt Jacobite soldiers roaing the battlefield in traditional clan tartan. Another famous ghost sighted was the ghost of Bonnie Prince Charlie. 
35. Ghosts of Dieppe: a famous 1951 paranormal incident of an autiroty time-slip linked to the tragic World War II Dieppe Raid of August 9, 1942. In August 1951, two English sisters-in-law Dorothy & Agnes Norton, were awakened by the deafening sounds of a military battle coming from the sea. They documented a distinct sequence of gunfire, dive-bombers, explosiona and men crying out even though the sea and sky appeared completely calm and empty.
36. Hairy Hands: the phenomenon primarily occurs on the B3212 road near Postbridge and Two Bridges at Dartmoor, Devon, England. For over century, drivers and motorcyclists have reported a pair of unattached, ghostly or disembodied 'hairy hands' suddenly appearing out of nowhere. 
37. Hashima Island: Japan - abandoned and haunted island with a dark past and eerie ruins. 
38. Highland Towers : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - after a tragedy of a collapse tower on 11 December 1993,  that killed 48 residents, the remaining towers were reportedly haunted as claimed by the nearest residents who live not far from there. 
39. Hoia Baciu Forest: in Romania - it is called "Bermuda Triangle" of Romania due to the rumored supernatural disappearances of visitors, earning the Hoia-Baciu Forest a reputation for being one of the most ghostly places on earth.
40. Island of the Dolls: In Mexico - creepy island covered in dolls, with a chilling legend behind it. 
41. Jalan Turi Bungalow triple murder: the triple murder happened in April 23, 1992, two children, aged 11 and 7, along with their maid, had been battered to death inside the home. The Security Guard, Ariffin Agas was arrested and accused for murdering and was executed at Kajang Prison on 27 December 2002. The bungalow has been demolished, but passersby claim the site was haunted. 
42. Jerejak Island: Pulau Pinang, Malaysia - was once quarantine centre from leprosy and tuberculosis patients in British Malaya as well as maximum secutiry prison. There are some few reports of ghost sightings in the island.
43. Karak Highway : a Malaysian urban legend about a ghostly schoolboy who wanders the notoriously dangerous Karak Highway at night, asking passing motorists "Have you seen my mother?". The legend stems from the story of a car accident where the mother, who was driving, was killed upon impact, while her son suffered fatal injuries from the broken windscreen, dying while still searching for her. Karak highway itself is known for being one of Malaysia's spookiest and most haunted places, and also listed as one of the most haunted highway in the world, with a high number of accidents occurring there, making night journeys particularly dangerous. 
44. Kehoe House: Savannah, Georgia, USA - many believe the city is cursed because old burial grounds were covered up, paved over and built upon, quite literally one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. 
45. Kellie's Castle : Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia - a Moorish revival castle built by Scottish businessman William Kellie-Smith as a gift for his wife. The bulding remain unfinished as Kellie died of Pneumonia in 1926 before the completion of the castle. It was believed the castle was haunted by alleged Indian workers who died during the construction of the castle. The castle now become one of the popular tourist spot and international ghost hunters. 
46. Kinarut Mansion: located at Kinarut, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia - one of Sabah's most infamous paranormal hotspots. This century-old site is legendary for its ghostly folklore and eerie atmosphere. 
47. La Laurie Mansion: located at New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - home to the notorious Madame LaLaurie, who was accused of horrific crimes. Strange screams and ghostly apparitions are often reported. 
48. Lavender Lady:, San Francisco, U.S - a young woman dressed in lavender from the 1940's is frequently reported hitchhiking near the Golden Gate Park. She vanishes after mentioning she is cold. 
49. Manly Quarantien Station: Sydney, Australia - the station was used to hold settlers suspected of having diseases like the bubonic plague or smallpox. Hundres died during the quarantine process and the station is now referred to as Australia's most haunted site. 
50. Muriel's Jackson Square: New Orleans, USA - a restaurant in Muriel's Jackson Square rumored to be haunted by the spirit of former Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, who committed suicide after losing the restaurant in a poker game. 
51. Myrtles Plantation: St. Francisville, Louisiana, USA -  built in 1796, this plantation is one of America's most haunted homes. The ghost of Chloe, a former enslaved girl, is said to still roam the house where she once lived. 
52. Old Changi Hospital: Singapore - built by the British Government in 1935. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used as a military hospital for wounded Japanese soldiers and some Allied prisoners of war. It also served as a prison area managed by the notorious Kempetai, Japanese Military Police. The hospital now are said to be haunted by the victims of the Japanese Occupation, the spirits of those who died in the hospital and the prison. 
53. Palace of Versailles: widely considered one of the most haunted location in France, heavily tied to the tragic and bloody events of the French Revolution. The most famous ghost associated with Versailles occured on 10 August 1901. The ghost of Marie Antoinette, reliving her last days before the Monarchy fell. 
54. Penang War Museum: located at Batu Maung, Penang > built within a former coastal defense fort from World War II, this museum has been the site of numerous executions and battles, leading to its haunted reputation. 
55. Phantom of Fort Pulaski: unexplained auditory phenomena deeply tied to the bloody Civil War near Savannah, Georgia, U.S. The fort is still haunted by shadows  and unexplained footsteps of the dead soldiers. 
56. Poveglia Island, Italy: Once a quarantine station and mental asylum, this abandoned island is said to be cursed. Visitors report hearing screams and seeing shadown in the ruins. 
57. Pudu Prison:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -  built between 1891 and 1895, located at Jalan Shaw (now Jalan Hang Tuah). The prison was demolished in December 2012 to make way for Bukit Bintang City Centre. It is famous for stories of hauntings stemming from executions and deaths within its walls. 
58. Resurrection Mary :America's most famous hitchhiker ghost. She is typically seen walking along Archer Avenue near Ressurection Cemetery wearing a white party dress. Legend says she dances with drivers at local halls, asks for a ride home and vanishes as the car passed the cemetery gates. 
59. Robert The Doll: an allegedly haunted artifact manufactured around 1904 belong to Robert Eugene Otto. The doll currently display at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, USA. Over the decades, it has earned a global reputation as one of the world's most terrifying haunted objects. Wikipedia: Robert (Doll).
60. Rosenheim Poltergeist: one of Germany's most infamous paranormal claims, occuring in 1967 inside the law firm of attorney Sigmund Adam in Rosenheim, Bavaria. 19-year-old Annemarie Schaberl newly hired secretary was claimed for her acute emotional distress, frustration with her job, and repressed psychological tension unconsciously triggered the physical and electrical disturbances. 
61. Route 44:Drivers on Route 44, Rehoboth, Massachusettd, U.S report picking a red-haired man wearing a plaid shirt. He sits quietly in the back seat, occasionally muttering before laughing maniacally and vanishing into thin air. 
62. Queen Mary: Historic Ocean Liner at Long Beach, California, USA. Said to be haunted by former passengers and crew. Cold spots, mysterious footsteps and apparitions are common on board. 
63. Shih Chung Branch School, Penang, Malaysia: founded in 1938, and occupied the site of a former five-storey villa on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in Penang. During World War II, the building was under the Japanese occupation, and locals allegedly executed there, leading to widespread belief that the spirits of those who died haunt the premises. 
64. Stanley Hotel, U.S.A : Estes Park, Colorado, USA - the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining". Guests report apparitions, cold spots and the piano playing by itself in the empty ballroom. 
65. Tao Dan Park: Vietnam - one of the most haunted places in the world. Vietnam locals believe a young man was killed in an attack and returns to the park every night searching for his lost love. At night, a young man's ghost and apparition may come lurking in the shadows of the park's trees. 
66. Tower of London: Nearly a thousand year of history, imprisonment, torture and execution. The spirit of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and many others are said to still walk the grounds at night. 
67. Vanishing hitchhiker : Wikipedia : Vanishing Hitchhiker.
68. Villa Nabila: located at Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia - the villa is surrounded by legends of a series of murders and family tragedy, making it a chillingly infamous location and has garnered a reputation as one of the country's most haunted locations and JB scariest yet. 
69. Village of Pluckley: England - known as the most haunted village in England. 
70. Waverly Hills Sanatorium: USA - abandon hospital with a terrifying history of deaths and experiments. 
71. Whaley House: located at San Diego, USA - the famous ghost sighted was "Yankee" Jim Robinson, who was hanged on the site in 1852. 
72. White Lady of Palombaggia: Drivers on the winding coastal roads of Corsica, France report a woman dressed in white waving for a ride. Local lore says she violently screams right before a dangerous curve to warn drivers, then vanishes. 
73. Winchester Mystery House: located at San Jose, California, USA - built by Sarah Winchester, this mansion has staircases to nowhere, hidden doors and endless rooms - said to confuse restless spirits. 
74. Windsor Castle: United Kingdom - widely considered the most haunted of all the British Royal residences, boasting more than 25 reported ghost sightings across its millennium long history. Among the famous Royal Ghosts sighted were Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn & King George III.
75. Wukang Mansion: a historical house in Shanghai, China, has a reputation forbeing haunted because of the large number of suicides of celebrities, intellectuals and state-persecuted people there. 
76. Zvikov Castle : Czech Republic - haunted by spectral dogs and the Zvikovsky Rarasek, a kind of magical imp. There are frequent reports of cameras breaking, fires extinguishing and animals behaving strangely. It is said that people who sleep in the tower will die within a year. 

Other's reading :

1. CN Traveler : 64 Haunted Hotels Around the World you can stay at, if you dare. 
2. Contiki :  A Definite list of the 13 most haunted places in the world.
3.  Island Destination: The Most Haunted Destinations in the Entire World. 
4. Roaming Around The World : Top Creepy Places Around the World. 
5.  Maps Apple : 12 Most Haunted Places in the World. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

19 July 2026: 1.57 p.m

Chola Copper Plates unravel forgotten Malaysian history

By A.Kathirasen

Free Malaysia Today

The Anaimangalam Copper Plates provide tangible evidence of ancient India–Malay world connections.

On May 16, the Netherlands returned the 11th-century Anaimangalam Copper Plates to India. Here in Malaysia, the event passed with hardly a whisper.

I didn’t see any report of it in the major newspapers or news portals, and social media mentions were sparse.

What, you may ask, has the return of some ancient copper plates from the Netherlands to India got to do with us? On the surface, very little.

But look deeper, and they speak to something profound in our shared past — ties that stretch far beyond the Melaka Sultanate and colonial rule, and which still quietly colour the plural spirit of our nation.

The plates draw us back to the Srivijaya Empire and its key centre of Kadaram, known today as Kedah. They offer a glimpse into an era when the Chola Empire of South India and the kingdoms of the Malay Archipelago engaged one another not in rivalry, but in the language of trade, diplomacy, and pragmatic goodwill.

The Anaimangalam Copper Plates, also known as the Chola Plates and Leiden Plates, belong mainly to the time of Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE).

According to Leiden University one object comprises 21 copper plates held together by a bronze ring bearing the seal of King Rajendra Chola I (the son of Rajaraja Chola I), who reigned in the 11th century. Five plates contain Sanskrit inscriptions, and the remaining 16 plates contain inscriptions in Tamil. The other object comprises three copper plates also held together by a bronze ring – this time bearing the seal of King Kulottunga Chola I (who reigned from 1070 to 1120) – containing Tamil inscriptions.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the symbolic handover ceremony in The Hague together with Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten, described the plates as symbols of Chola maritime reach and cultural confidence. The artefacts had reached Leiden University via a Dutch missionary in the early 18th century.

At the heart of the plates lies a telling episode of goodwill. And this is where the story gets interesting.

In 1006 CE, the Srivijayan ruler Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman sought permission from Rajaraja Chola I to build a Buddhist monastery – the Chudamani Vihara – in the Chola port of Nagapattinam.

Rajaraja Chola I was a devout Hindu, the very king who built the majestic Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur. Yet he not only granted permission but generously allocated land in Anaimangalam village — some 450 acres — together with tax exemptions, for a Buddhist institution from across the sea to take root in his realm.

Think about it. A powerful Hindu king willingly offering land in his own territory to support a Buddhist monastery for foreign merchants and monks and ordering that the revenue in that area go towards its upkeep.

It was an act of statesmanship and religious openness that still speaks to us today.

In a world often divided by faith, it reminds us that personal belief need not hinder mutual respect and the greater good of harmonious living. It also tells us about the virtues of a good leader.

In return, the Srivijayan king sent his envoy Vimalan Agatheesvaran bearing gifts — lamps, silver vessels and plates — to the Kayarohana Siva Temple, a graceful acknowledgement of the Chola ruler’s own faith.

These exchanges, preserved on the copper plates, tell a story of reciprocity and understanding.

For us in Malaysia, the story should feel particularly close because the plates refer to the Srivijayan ruler as “the Lord of Srivijaya, who is also ruling Katāha” — the ancient Sanskrit name for Kedah.

Strategically located at the northern gateway of the Straits of Malacca, with Gunung Jerai standing sentinel for sailors crossing the Bay of Bengal, Kadaram was a thriving node in the great Indian Ocean trade network.

Tamil merchant guilds like the Manigramam and Ainnurruvar had been active in these waters from the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. An inscription at Takua Pa in southern Thailand (8th–9th century) bears witness to their organised presence near Kedah.

Through trade and exchange, they brought goods, ideas, architectural knowledge, administrative models and religious concepts. Local communities absorbed what enriched their lives, giving rise to a vibrant hybrid culture whose tangible traces can still be seen in the ancient candi temples and artifacts of the Bujang Valley.

But relations were not always harmonious. Later, Rajendra Chola I launched naval expeditions against Srivijayan ports, including Kadaram, to secure trade routes (more on this in my next column). It shows that cooperation and competition walked side by side in the maritime world. As it does even today.

The return of the plates to India invites us to reflect on a broader truth.

Too often, the Indian presence in Malaysia is viewed narrowly through the prism of British colonial rule and the arrival of indentured labourers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

But these copper plates, the ruins in Bujang Valley, and other archaeological and written evidence tell a far richer and older story. Indian — particularly Tamil — engagement with our region goes back well over a thousand years.

This long chapter of trade, cultural dialogue, and mutual influence helped transform local societies long before the Melaka Sultanate or the colonial period. This history informs us that Indians helped shape the layered foundations of what we as a nation are today.

This, of course, does not diminish the pivotal role of Islam in defining Malay civilisation. On the contrary, it adds depth and colour to our national tapestry — reminding us that Malaysia has long been a crossroads where different worlds met, mingled, and enriched one another.

In the quiet return of these ancient plates lies a gentle lesson: that openness, respect across faiths, and the wisdom to see beyond one’s own boundaries are not modern ideals. They are part of our heritage — values worth remembering and nurturing in our diverse society today.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

C&P

18 July 2026: 7.57 p.m

Gunung Jerai: unearthing its history, unveiling its mystery

By Maria J. Dass

Scoop : 15 October 2023

I AM in two minds about writing this piece on a recent trip to Gunung Jerai – a lesser-known hill station in the country – simply because I feel I have found a hidden gem that I would like to keep under wraps and protected from haphazard development that plagued other local hill resorts once demand for attractions, accommodation and recreational activities spike.

The word “Gunung Jerai” or “Mount Jerai” has been a familiar term since I embarked on a quest to explore Malaysian history and heritage. This site is however not within the radar of most local or foreign tourists.

Ancient sailors looked out for the peak of this mountain to mark their entry into one of the busiest maritime routes – the Strait of Melaka. The foot of this mountain was where the thriving ancient ports of the Bujang Valley – Sg Batu and Pengkalan Bujang – were located until receding sea levels pushed the coastline further westward – leading to the decline of these ancient maritime trading sites where evidence of international trade, a large iron smelting industry and multicultural society has been (and is still being) unearthed by archaeologists since the 1930s.

The abundance of minerals in the area, especially much valued iron and gold, is indicated by pegmatite lines at the peak of Gunung Jerai. Iron in particular was the reason why the Kingdom of Ancient Kedah which the Bujang Valley was a part of prospered.

The 10-km drive up to Jerai Hill Resort via narrow winding roads took about 30 minutes, with hardly any stops along the way. This resort is located within the Jerai National Geopark that is made up of 24 geosites, three geoarchaeological sites, one bio site and eight historical and cultural sites. Declared a geopark in 2017, it covers 816 sq km in the districts of Yan and Kuala Muda.

Padang Tok Sheikh is one of the most significant sites within this geopark. Located 1,150m above sea level, it is one of the oldest rock formations on mainland Peninsular Malaysia, formed during the Cambrian period 550 million years ago – back when this side of the world was a part of Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent.

This site has high heritage value being the oldest rock formation found in mainland Peninsular Malaysia, and the second oldest in the country after the Mat Chinchang range on Langkawi Island, which is a Unesco Global Geopark site that is recognised as the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia.

The Padang Tok Sheikh rock formation was once a shallow seabed covered by mud clay and sand. Long periods of sedimentation caused this seabed to be buried deep in the earth’s surface and harden into rock over time.

It was pushed to the surface and its current position as a result of an episode of granite intrusion that occurred 220 million years ago during the Triassic period. This shift also resulted in the land mass we have today including the Titiwangsa Range that was formed about 250 million years ago.

The heritage value of this spot is confounded by the fact that this place is believed to be where the first call to prayer was performed in Peninsular Malaysia – by the 9th Sultan of Kataha (Kedah today) Sultan Muzaffar Shah (Maharaja Derbar Raja II).

The ruler was converted to Islam by Arab Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Ahmad bin Sheikh Jaafar Qumiri in the 12th century AD – according to the ancient text Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa. This is a conflict of sorts with earlier accounts of Islam entering this part of the world through the Malacca Empire in the 15th century – but that is for another article.

Datuk Dr Mohktar Saidin, an archeologist and geologist, and former director of University Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Global Archaeological Research, said over 5,000 years ago the shoreline in the area was about 8-km inland.

It thus supported the development of a maritime settlement that had a thriving port, interaction between multi-ethnic and cultural communities and barter trading.

Based on his archeological findings, Mokhtar said that port cities like Sg Batu existed around 788 BC. These port cities including Pengkalan Bujang in Merbok started to decline following a drop in sea levels that saw the shoreline moved westward to where it is today.

The ecosystem in the area also included mangrove swamps, in which the wood was needed to produce charcoal required by the iron smelting industry. The iron smelting process needed temperatures of up to 1,200°C to melt iron ore sourced from the Bujang Valley.

In addition to this, raw materials like clay, granite and laterite used to make bricks and produce building materials, bases and pillars were abundant in the surrounding areas.

A workshop manufacturing granite structures was unearthed in Bukit Batu Pahat. Clay bricks can be seen in the remains of jetties, Hindu and Buddhist temples and other structures unearthed by archaeologists.

Some of the other attractions at Jerai Geopark include mangrove forests along the Merbok River estuary and tropical rainforests with endemic flora and fauna, islands like Pulai Bidan, Pulau Songsong, Pulau Sayak and Pulau Telur, ancient shorelines, geo disaster sites such as spots hits by the tsunami in 2004, museums and galleries, traditional villages, cuisine and socio-cultural practices.

Some of the best views from Gunung Jerai are from Jerai Hill Resort where the vast green paddy fields in the Yan district can be seen merging with the azure waters of the strait of Melaka – intermittently dotted with islands. – October 15, 2023

C&P

18 July 2026: 7.29 p.m