HAUNTED PLACES: SHIH CHUNG BRANCH SCHOOL, PENANG

The Shih Chung Branch School (originally known as Goh Chan Lau) is often cited as one of the most haunted locations in Penang, Malaysia. Located along Northam Road (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), this crumbling, vine-covered ruin is a stark contrast to the modern skyscrapers surrounding it.

Its "haunted" reputation isn't just local folklore; it is deeply rooted in a dark, multi-layered history.

A Grand Beginning: Goh Chan Lau

Built in the 1880s by the wealthy Cheah brothers, the building was originally a magnificent five-storey mansion named Goh Chan Lau (Five-Storey Villa). At the time, it was one of the tallest and most opulent private residences in George Town.

• A Revolutionary Hub: The house was eventually sold to fund Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in China.
• The Consulate & Hotels: It later served as the Chinese Consulate and even a series of short-lived hotels, including one named Raffles-by-the-Sea.

The Dark Turn: World War II

The building’s supernatural reputation stems largely from the Japanese Occupation (1941–1945). During this period, the Imperial Japanese Army seized the school and converted it into an administrative military headquarters.

• Torture & Executions: It is widely believed that the basement was used as a holding cell and torture chamber. Locals and historians alike note that many people were interrogated and executed within its walls.
• Restless Souls: Many of the hauntings are attributed to the "unsettled spirits" of those who suffered there during the war.

Reported Paranormal Activity

Since the school was abandoned in 1994, it has become a hotspot for urban explorers and paranormal investigators. Common reports include:

• Apparitions of Soldiers: Sightings of ghostly Japanese soldiers marching or standing guard.
• Auditory Phenomena: The sounds of phantom screams, heavy footsteps, and the clinking of chains echoing through the empty halls.
• The "Hysteria" Effect: Some visitors have reported feeling sudden, intense waves of dread or experiencing inexplicable bouts of "mass hysteria" while inside.
• The Locked Coffin: A persistent local legend claims a coffin was once kept in a locked room on the top floor, though its origins remain a mystery.

Current Status

The building is currently in a state of severe dilapidation and is fenced off for safety. While it is a popular spot for photographers (due to the "Marian blue" paint still visible on its walls), unauthorized entry is prohibited and dangerous due to the risk of structural collapse.

Fun Fact: There was once a proposal to turn the building into a columbarium (a place for funeral urns), but the project was scrapped after public outcry from neighbors who feared it would worsen the area's "bad energy."

Google Gemini AI

25 January 2026: 12.46 p.m