FROM KOTA KINABALU TO KIMANIS AND KENINGAU: 138 KM THROUGH THE CLOUDS OF CROCKER RANGE.

This is the most famous horror road in Sabah — every Sabahan driver has a story about it.

Jalan Kimanis-Keningau Highway is 61 km, connecting Kimanis (West Coast) to Keningau (Interior). It was an old logging road, opened as a highway in 2006, and it goes up to 1,371m through Crocker Range National Park.

About 138 km from Kota Kinabalu to Keningau via Kimanis-Papar road. The Kimanis-Keningau Highway itself is only 53 km but cuts straight through Crocker Range National Park - it's Malaysia's highest highway, steep, misty and full of hairpin bends. 

It is known as the steepest highway in Malaysia — gradient 10% to 25%, with thick fog, 6.5 km of fog-zone yellow lines, emergency ramps, and almost no street lights on the old route.

Wikipedia

Because of that, 3 different horror layers exist there:

1. The Gravity Hill / Bukit Magnet at KM44

The most famous mystery. At KM44 Jalan Kimanis-Keningau, if you turn off your engine and put your car in neutral, your car will slowly move uphill by itself. Even a water bottle or tin can will roll uphill.

In the old days, people thought this area was ‘keras’ and mystical because of a penunggu. Some called it Bukit Magnet.

A UMS geologist, Dr Felix Tongkul, later explained it is an optical illusion — a reverse gravity hill. The area that looks higher (1048 m) is actually 2 metres lower than the valley area (1050 m). Your eyes see it as uphill, but it's actually downhill, so the car rolls.

But old folks say it's not science; it's the spirits of the Crocker Range pulling you. Whether it's an optical illusion or not, no one dares to test it alone after midnight. 

Locals still don't drive there at night. The road without a ghost story feels incomplete. If you drive Kimanis-Keningau at night, you don't just fight the fog and the steep bends. You drive through stories. 

2. The Real Horror — Accidents

This road is genuinely deadly. Lorries overheat, brakes fail, and cars fall into ravines. KM40, KM42, KM44, and KM45 are black spots where fatal crashes happen almost every year — trailers overturning, 5 family members dead in one car, and lorries crashing due to brake failure.

The fog at Batu 16 is so thick you can't see a deep pothole until you hit it.

That's why many old drivers say the accidents are not just because of the steep road but because they were disturbed.

3. The Ghost Stories Drivers Tell

These are the stories you hear at Oyong Restaurant or Dimie Mountain Resort stops:

a) The Woman with the Bakul

A lone Dusun woman carrying a rattan basket (bakul) standing in the middle of the road at 2 am in the fog. When you stop, she disappears. Some say she is a victim of an old landslide.

b) The Hitchhiker at KM42

Drivers pick up a woman in white near Kimanis who asks to go to Keningau. She is quiet in the back seat. When you reach Keningau roundabout and look back — seat empty, but wet footprints.

c) The Old Logging Road

The old road (before the new highway) is darker — trees cover it even in daylight. Truck drivers say their lorry water-cooling tanks boil for no reason, and they hear someone pushing their lorry from behind on the steep climb.

d) The White Lady of the Fog

The summit near the Dimmie Resort, always thick with fog. Lorry drivers who do the Kota Kinabalu-Keningau run talk about a woman in white standing by the emergency ramp. She looks like she's asking for help, then disappears in the side mirror. Some say she's linked to the many fatal accidents on this highway. In the Sabah version, she's a Pontianak-beautiful from far, terrifying up close. 

e). The Hantu Tinggi in Crocker Forest.

Before the highway was sealed, the whole range was deep forest. Locals near old houses like Kinarut Mansion believed in Hantu Tinggi – a ghost that disguises itself as a tall tree in the forest. On the Kimanis side, hunters still say if you hear someone calling your name in the jungle but see no one, don't answer. 

That is why people say, 'If you drive Kimanis-Keningau at night, don't stop at KM44, don't pick up anyone, and if your car feels like it's being pulled uphill by itself—just press the accelerator and don't look back.'

However, we travelled from Kota Kinabalu to Kimanis-Keningau. We drove in daylight, so I only got beautiful clouds and good photos at Sook and Keningau. But my Keningau friend, who travelled with us, laughed and said, "You should try at 2.00 a.m. abang, then you'll meet the real owner of the road."

Ref: UtusanTV: Misteri Jalan Keningau - Kimanis

The Dimmie Pendalaman Resort, the famous pit stop at Mile 8, Crocker Range National Park, is about halfway between Papar and Keningau. It's one of the only 3 official stops on the steepest highway in Malaysia. A must-stop for all lorries to cool their brakes and refill water-cooling tanks. 

KENINGAU, SABAH

The interior Division of Sabah, between Tambunan and Tenom. Our Yayasan Jantung Malaysia Health Screening was held at Sek. Keb. Sook, Keningau, in 2015. 

Ref: 2015: Keningau, Sabah. 

The main community hall in Keningau. It was named after Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, the founding president of PBRS, long-time MP of Pensiangan and former Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah. He passed away in April 2024. 

About 40-50 km south from Keningau town, one of the biggest primary schools in the interior division. 

The Keningau roundabout monument, with the sirung (traditional Dusun hat) and spears - a symbol of the interior Dusun culture. Anyone who visits Keningau will take a selfie here. This is the heart of town. 

The winding roads and steep gradients tested our driving skills, but the breathtaking views made it worthwhile. As we navigated through the misty Crocker Range, we could feel the weight of the stories that lingered in the air. Each hairpin bend seemed to whisper tales of the past, reminding us of the road's notorious reputation.

We encountered thick fog that rolled in unexpectedly, reducing visibility to mere meters. It was a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked on this highway. Despite the challenges, we pressed on, fuelled by a mix of adrenaline and curiosity about the legends that surrounded this infamous route.

As we approached the various landmarks, we couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The Gravity Hill at KM44 was particularly intriguing, and we shared a laugh about the optical illusion that had captivated so many before us. The stories of the ghostly figures and tragic accidents added an eerie charm to our journey, making it an unforgettable experience.

By the time we reached Keningau, we were exhausted but exhilarated. The trip was more than just a drive; it was a journey through history, mystery, and the stunning landscapes of Sabah.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

16 October 2026: 3:47 a.m.