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.

URBAN LEGEND: HOTEL MAYANG SARI, PORT DICKSON

Hotel Mayang Sari, Port Dickson — one of the most famous abandoned / haunted spots in Negeri Sembilan.

It's not the operating Mayangsari Resort (Batu 2, Jalan Pantai) that you still see on Agoda. This is the big abandoned complex with the orange-tiled roofs on the left and right in your drone shot. It's been empty for almost 30 years.

Why it was abandoned

In the late 90s Port Dickson had a huge boom of hotels and resorts being planned and built. Then the Asian Financial Crisis hit in 1997/98.

Many projects stalled mid-construction and were left scattered along the PD coastline as unfinished buildings. Hotel Mayang Sari was one of them — structure was up, but it never properly opened and has been rotting since.

Why people call it haunted

It made it into local lists as one of the scariest places in Negeri Sembilan for years.

The most-shared story is from a guy named ""Aben"—featured in a Negeri Sembilan HPE1043 E-Magazine feature on Hotel Mayang Sari:

"When he and his family arrived at the room, they were startled to see how dirty it was. They read Quranic verses to protect their family. At night they heard the bed being pulled in the room above, very noisy. On checkout day, while reading comics in his mother's room, a guy clad in white appeared from inside the toilet and stared at him. When they exited, a man's voice was heard with a tiny laugh that wasn't his father's."

Other versions online mention Room 703, dragging chairs, and bathroom doors shaking on their own — typical for all the abandoned PD resorts like Glory Beach Resort next door.

The combination of empty towers, overgrown pools like in the photo, broken roof tiles, and the fact that urban explorers go in at night to film cemented the reputation.

Now?

It's still abandoned, fenced but not really guarded. Very dangerous — rotten floors, broken glass, no lights. Locals strongly advise NOT to enter. You can see it from outside near Batu 2 1/2, Jalan Pantai, 71000 Port Dickson — about an hour from KL.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

27 October 2026: 12:26 p.m.

URBAN LEGEND : JALAN KUALA KLAWANG-GENTING PERES

It's not Genting Highlands. This is Route N32, the old mountain road that links Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan (Kuala Klawang) to Hulu Langat, Selangor. You know you're on it when you see the blue sign: N32 K. KLAWANG - GENTING PERAS - KL 59 km, Ampang 58 km, Semenyih 35 km.

Why it has that reputation: 240+ sharp bends through dense jungle and hilly terrain. In the day it's a nice ride; at night it's pitch black — no streetlights, no kampung, no phone signal in places.

Because it's so dark and quiet, it floods and closes a lot too, which adds to the isolation. Police often list it as closed during heavy rain.

It's listed by locals alongside Karak Highway, Jalan Lama Bukit Putus, and Gombak Lama as one of the 5 creepiest night roads in Malaysia.

What people say happens there.

The stories are very consistent across Facebook, Instagram and Threads:

1. The heavy bike / invisible passenger

Motorcyclists climbing the hill suddenly feel the bike become extremely heavy, like someone jumped on behind. They hear crying or heavy breathing near their ear.

2. The woman in white

Drivers report seeing a long-haired woman in a white dress standing by the roadside, especially in the early morning. Social posts describe it as pontianak/langsuir-type sightings — "You won't be alone in Genting Peras."

3. The "don't stop" rule

Night riders who do it often say the same thing: full tank, check lights, and never stop for anything odd. One viral post from Negeri Sembilan kini shows a bike parked at the N32 sign at night with that exact warning in the caption — commenters then pile on with pocong stories and "bulu roma naik" moments.

People who get diverted onto it by Waze late at night describe it as genuinely shaken — one Threads user last week said they were directed onto it at 11:30pm, returning to KL and feeling sick after. 

Another dashcam clip from October shows someone driving it at dusk from KL to Jempol and asking, "Does anyone know stories about this road?"

If you want to drive it

Locals don't say 'don't go' — they say 'don't go at night alone' and 'don't go in rain'.

• Go daylight; 3pm-6pm is best for light.
• Make sure you have full fuel, good brakes, and offline maps downloaded.
• Go with a convoy / another car — most stories are from solo riders.
• If you feel uneasy, locals say keep moving, don't look in the side mirror too long, and don't stop

It's beautiful in the daytime — tight forest, mist, classic Touge road — which is exactly why it feels so different at night.

Have you been through it before, or are you planning a night ride through?

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

26 October 2026: 11:25 p.m.

URBAN LEGEND: R&R BUKIT BESI, TERENGGANU

That R&R in the photo is the famous one – Hentian Sebelah Bukit Besi, LPT2 Jerangau – Talong. The one that everyone whispers about when they drive Terengganu at night.

Is it really haunted? 

No official record, but it is one of the most storied R&Rs on LPT2 along with R&R Perasing. And my first photo captures exactly why - it's isolated, surrounded by thick forest, foggy hills, and almost no traffic after midnight.

Here are the stories people keep sharing:

1. Why this spot feels creepy to begin with

Bukit Besi itself is a former ghost town. It was once the biggest iron mine in Southeast Asia, then abandoned in the 70s. The old mining town, Tasik Puteri, tunnels and chimneys are still there. So the whole area already has that "left behind" energy before you even add the highway.

2. The common stories at R&R Bukit Besi / Perasing cluster

LPT2 drivers often mix up Bukit Besi and Perasing because they are close and both very secluded. The stories overlap:

• "Sweet blood" / extra passenger: The most viral blog story from this stretch – a driver stopped to pray at the surau at night; an old lady warned him his blood is "manis" and told him to leave quickly with two girls heading to Melaka. On the way, cars in front and behind kept high-beaming him. When he arrived in Temerloh, people saw something on his car roof. Similar versions say the car feels heavy, like carrying extra weight.
• Lady in white on the roof / pondok: Another version from the east coast R&Rs says a woman in white is seen sitting on the rest hut roof looking towards the hill, then appears again further down the road. People call it pontianak.
• Empty but not empty surau and toilets: My second photo shows it in the day – very quiet, old design, few people. At night drivers report hearing scratching, footsteps in the toilet, or seeing people staring in the surau.

This whole LPT2 is known for a high number of night accidents, so, like Karak Highway, the accident rate itself fuels the rumours about the road being haunted.

3. So, is it true?

If you ask locals, JKR, or the PLUS/LPT2 concessionaire, there's no documented case. What makes it feel true is very explainable: 

• Geography: The stretch Jerangau - Bukit Besi is hilly and foggy, like in your first image, with sudden mist and wildlife (elephants cross LPT2 – there was even a report of a wild elephant collision recently).
• Isolation: Unlike PLUS North-South, LPT2 R&Rs can be really empty at 2-4am. Your brain fills the silence.
• Fatigue: Long, dark, straight road + heavy food = microsleep and pareidolia.

Most drivers who use it daily – lorry drivers and Terengganu-KL commuters – will tell you they stop there all the time with no issue; just don't stop too long alone at 3am.

If you're driving that way: 

• Stop before 11pm if you can, or use the bigger R&Rs like Perasing or Paka, which have petrol stations.
• Don't park at the far dark end; keep your car visible
• Pray/doa, travel in convoy if late, and if you feel really uneasy – just move to the next stop

You passed through it? 

My daytime photo looks calm, but that nighttime sign photo posted is exactly the vibe everyone talks about.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

26 OCTOBER 2026: 8:34 P.M.

HANTU BANGKIT - KISAH DARI SARAWAK

HANTU BANGKIT

Hantu Bangkit (juga dikenali secara meluas sebagai Hantu Kayong atau Boyan Kayong adalah salah satu lagenda bandar dan kisah cerita rakyat mistik yang paling terkenal di Sarawak. Ia dikaitkan dengan penduduk asal Kampung Boyan dan Kampung Gersik di Kuching yang datangnya dari Pulau Boyan, Kabupaten Gresik di Jawa Timur. 

Terdapat juga versi yang mengatakan bahawa istilah 'Kayong' berasal dari bahasa Melanau di bahagian Matu Daro. 

Maksud Hantu Bangkit boleh berbeza mengikut daerah, suku kaum dan cerita yang diwarisi turun temurun. Kalau di Semenanjung ianya adalah lebih kurang seperti Pocong.

Ia menyebabkan histeria yang ketara di beberapa buah kampung dan bandar (termasuk sebahagian dari Mukah, Pulau Bruit, dan Kuching) pada akhir 1980-an dan awal 1990-an. Hantu Bangkit terkenal di Kuching pada era 70an dan 80an. 

Malah pernah diceritakan bahawa Masyarakat Melayu lama di Sarawak dulu dikatakan amat berhati-hati memilih menantu kerana adanya kepercayaan bahawa Hantu Bangkit adalah 'sumpah keturunan' (Lagenda 7 lelaki & Pokok gergasi).Wallahu alam.

Kampung Boyan

Kampung Gersik

Asal Usul Lagenda: Sumpahan Tanah Kayong

Menurut cerita rakyat, asal-usulnya berpunca dari sebuah kampung purba di Tanah Kayong di Kalimantan, sebuah Kerajaan Melayu lama di Sukadana, Tanjung PUra, Simpang Matan dan Kayong.:

• Pokok Gergasi: Sebatang pokok gergasi menghalang cahaya matahari daripada sampai ke sebuah kampung.
• Sumpahan: Tujuh orang lelaki yang kuat tampil untuk menebang pokok gergasi itu. Sebelum tumbang, satu suara ghaib dari pokok itu memberi amaran bahawa sesiapa yang menebangnya akan disumpah — mereka dan keturunan mereka selama tujuh generasi akan bangkit dari kematian.
• Keingkaran: Lelaki-lelaki itu mengabaikan amaran tersebut, menebang pokok itu, dan tidak lama selepas itu, lelaki ketujuh mati secara tidak dijangka. Malam itu, dia bangkit dari kuburnya dan pulang ke rumah.

Bagaimana Lagenda Ini Menjelma Dalam Kepercayaan Tempatan

1. Si Mati Yang Bangkit: Mitos ini menetapkan bahawa apabila seorang keturunan dari susur galur ini meninggal dunia, mereka tidak berehat dengan aman di dalam kubur mereka. Sebaliknya, mereka "bangkit" pada waktu malam dan kembali ke rumah lama mereka atau menziarahi saudara-mara sehingga 7 hingga 44 malam.

2. Tanda-Tanda Khusus:

• Makanan Baki: Cerita rakyat menyatakan bahawa jika Hantu Bangkit memasuki sebuah rumah, ia akan memakan sebarang makanan yang tertinggal. Menjelang pagi, makanan itu akan serta-merta rosak, menjadi masam, atau dipenuhi ulat.
• Jejak Tanah Kubur: Saudara-mara sering terjaga dan mendapati tanah kubur yang masih segar tertinggal di atas lantai, tangga, atau ambang pintu.

3.Ritual Pencegahan Tradisional: Untuk mengelakkan si mati daripada bangkit, cerita rakyat tempatan menyebut ritual pengebumian tradisional yang khusus — seperti mencucuk jarum emas (jarum emas) di bawah ibu jari kaki si mati atau mengikat jari kaki dengan ketat untuk mematahkan sumpahan sebelum pengebumian.

KISAH HANTU BANGKIT DI SIBU

Sibu, Bahagian Ketiga Sarawak dibahagiakan kepada 3 daerah, iaitu Sibu, Kanowit dan Selangau. Terletak di pertemuan Sungai Rejang dan Sungai Igan, ianya menjadi pintu masuk hub perdagangan penting bagi kawasan dan bandar-bandar pendalaman seperti Song, Kapit dan Kanowit. 

Sibu — dan khususnya kampung-kampung di sepanjang Sungai Rejang — memegang tempat yang sangat istimewa dalam sejarah lagenda Hantu Bangkit (atau Boyan Kayong).

Dalam sejarah lisan tempatan, lagenda mistik roh orang mati bangkit semula ini bermula dan dikesan lebih awal di daerah Sibu sekitar era 1950an, sementara mitos itu tersebar luas di kawasan pesisir pantai seperti Mukah dan Pulau Bruit pada akhir 1980-an dan 1990-an, ramai penduduk tempatan menunjuk Sibu sebagai salah satu lokasi terawal di mana panik besar-besaran dan penampakan yang mengelilingi Hantu Bangkit mula mendapat perhatian pada era tersebut.

1. Hubungan Sibu & Sungai Rejang

Bertugas di atas Bot Ronda Tentera Laut, saya betul-betul berada di tengah-tengah pengangkutan sungai dan kehidupan komuniti di rantau ini. Dalam tempoh itu, khabar angin dan pelbagai kisah merebak dengan cepat melalui komuniti sungai, samada dari Masyarakat Melayu, Iban, Melanau dan sebagainya.

Banyak kisah-kisah yang saya dapat dari penduduk tempatan, juga dari rakan-rakan seperjuangan saya dari kalangan orang tempatan Sarawak (Iban, Melayu, Melanau dsb).

Sebagai orang Semenanjung, tentulah nama hantu-hantu seperti Koklir (Pontianak), Balan-balan (Penanggal), Antu Buyu, Indai Bilai dan sebagainya adalah asing bagi saya ketika itu. Sepanjang berkhidmat di Sarawak, baru saya dengar nama-nama ini.

• Kampung-Kampung di Pinggir Sungai (Kampung Seberang/Kampung Melayu Sibu): Kisah-kisah muncul dari kampung-kampung tradisional Melanau dan Melayu yang terletak di sepanjang tebing Sungai Rejang (seperti Kampung Datu, Kampung Hilir, Lanang dan kawasan sekitarnya).
• Kisah Pengebumian Sibu: Salah satu kisah setempat yang paling terkenal mendakwa bahawa fenomena itu sampai ke Sibu apabila seorang ahli keluarga yang dipercayai membawa sumpahan "Tanah Kayong" meninggal dunia. Penduduk berbisik bahawa langkah berjaga-jaga yang betul (seperti ikatan ritual tradisional atau jarum emas) tidak dilakukan sebelum pengebumian, menyebabkan si mati "bangkit" selepas senja dan berjalan kembali ke arah rumah keluarganya berhampiran sungai.

2. Ronda Malam & Suasana Panik 1980-an

Bagi sesiapa yang bertugas di atas bot ronda di sepanjang Sungai Rejang pada tahun 1980-an, suasana di kampung-kampung sungai di sekitarnya adalah berbeza apabila cerita-cerita seram Hantu Bangkit tersebar:

• Lampu Minyak Tanah di Sepanjang Tebing Air: Penduduk kampung sangat takut akan kegelapan. Kampung-kampung di sepanjang tebing sungai akan memastikan lampu minyak tanah yang terang (lampu minyak tanah) sentiasa menyala di jeti, beranda, dan laluan pejalan kaki kayu sehingga lewat malam untuk menghalau entiti tersebut.
• Perintah Berkurung Awal: Sungai, yang biasanya sibuk dengan bot-bot kecil (sampan) dan aktiviti petang, akan menjadi sunyi sepi sejurus selepas Maghrib (senja). Pintu-pintu dikunci awal, tiada makanan lebihan dibiarkan tidak bertutup, kerana dipercayai Hantu Bangkit akan memasuki rumah untuk memakan makanan lebihan, meninggalkan makanan yang rosak dan tanah kubur di atas lantai kayu.
• Penampakan di Jeti dan Tebing Sungai: Pengemudi bot dan pengawal malam di sepanjang Jeti Sungai di Sibu sering bertukar-tukar cerita tentang melihat susuk pucat berkain kafan berdiri senyap di tepi jeti kayu persendirian atau berjalan di sepanjang tebing sungai sebelum hilang ke dalam kegelapan.

3. Mengapa Ia Meninggalkan Kesan Yang Mendalam

Pada tahun 1980-an, laluan sungai seperti Sungai Rejang adalah nadi utama untuk perdagangan, rondaan, dan perjalanan di tengah Sarawak. Kabus tebal di atas Sungai Rejang pada jam 2:00 atau 3:00 pagi, digabungkan dengan tebing sungai hutan yang tebal dan pinggir kampung yang gelap, mewujudkan suasana di mana lagenda Hantu Bangkit mudah merebak.

Walaupun setakat sumber-sumber yang saya temui, tidak ada bukti kukuh yang mengesahkan kewujudan hantu Bangkit ini. Namun ianya menarik juga dikaji sebagai warisan cerita lisan dan adalah sebahagian daripada sejarah sosial masyarakat tempatan. 

Namun ada sebuah laman mengisahkan tentang Hantu Bangkit ini pernah tersiar di akhbar Berita Harian:

• 2 Mei 1959 :merakamkan kisah penduduk Kampung Kimanis di Papar, Borneo Utara yang dilanda ketakutan akibat hantu Bangkit ini. 
• 12 November 1961 : Hantu Bangkit mengamok di Kampung.

Namun pencarian di Internet, tidak saya temui keratan akhbar itu, mungkin kalau rajin kena pergi Arkib Negara.  Saya pernah sampai di Kimanis di dalam perjalanan untuk tugasan di Kota Kinabalu menuju ke Keningau di Sabah. Semasa seminggu di sana, tak pernah pula saya dengar cerita Hantu Bangkit ini, mungkin sebab sudah terlalu lama dan generasi baru pun mungkin tidak pernah mendengar kisah ini. 

Antara pekan-pekan pinggiran Sungai yang pernah menjadi tempat persinggah kami untuk beristirehat suatu ketika dahulu. 

Sebagai seorang yang pernah bertugas di bumi tercinta, Bumi Kenyalang ini, saya amat menghormati adat dan kepercayaan masyarakat setempat. 

Banyak tempat yang saya telah jelajahi berhampiran Sibu termasuk beberapa kampung berhampiran Kem tempat saya tinggal (KD Sri Rejang) seperti Kampung Nangka, Kampung Hilir, Kampung Bandung, Kg. Nyabor dan beberapa pekan di sepanjang Sungai Rejang yang menjadi destinasi persinggahan untuk beristirehat seperti Song, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Sarikei, Binatang (sekarang Bintangor), Durin, Kuala Rejang, Kuala Paloh dan sebagainya. 

Satu perkara penting: legenda yang mengaitkan Hantu Bangkit dengan keturunan Boyan Kayong tidak boleh dianggap sebagai bukti bahawa mana-mana keluarga atau keturunan tertentu mempunyai kaitan dengan perkara ghaib.

References:

1. Makkal Osai: Boyan Kayong.
2. Wattpad: Hantu Bangkit di Sarawak. 
3. I Love Borneo: Lagenda Hantu Kayong di Sarawak, Ketahui Mitos Sumpahan Hantu Bangkit Orang Boyan. 
4. Abdul Razak Mahmud : Koklir, Chindaku & Balan-Balan. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

26 Oktober 2026: 4:30 p.m.

R&R PERASING : UNTOLD STORY

The Rest and Relax (R&R) Perasing—located along the East Coast Expressway (LPT) near Kemaman, Terengganu—has long held a reputation in Malaysian urban legend lore as one of the spookiest pit stops on the highway network.

The "untold" or lesser-discussed layers of the R&R Perceiving phenomena involve a mix of isolated late-night trucker folklore, eerie structural isolation, and the real-world impact that viral ghost stories have on the local community.

1. The Lorry Driver and the "Scratching" Incident

One of the most widely circulated catalysts for the area's haunted reputation involved a long-haul lorry driver who shared his terrifying ordeal on social media, racking up millions of views.

• The Encounter: The driver recounted running into trouble with his vehicle while driving late at night along the stretch. He pulled over near the vicinity of Perasing without completely turning off his engine.
• The "Untold" Dread: Drivers traversing this stretch late at night frequently report an oppressive, heavy atmosphere. Because the LPT cuts through vast expanses of dense, untouched secondary jungle and swampy terrain, drivers often report hearing inexplicable scratching sounds on their vehicle chassis, strange unearthly thuds on cargo containers, or eerie shadows darting past the high-beam headlights when no other vehicles are in sight.

2. The Isolated Architecture and the Restroom Encounter

Because R&R Perasing sits in a deeply remote stretch of the highway surrounded by thick, dark foliage, its atmosphere changes drastically after midnight.

• Visitor Accounts: Travellers who have stopped there during graveyard shifts often share unsettling experiences—such as a widely shared account by a late-night traveller who visited the massive, echoing public restrooms.
• The Faceless Figure: Visitors have reported eerie encounters with figures standing completely motionless by the sinks who either lack reflections or refuse to turn around, leaving travellers with a lingering sense of dread long after they drive away. The sheer size and structural emptiness of the R&R during off-peak hours amplify these psychological and supernatural fears.

3. The Other Side of the Story: The Plight of Local Vendors

While internet folklore loves a good ghost story, the real untold story of R&R Perasing belongs to the local business owners and traders operating there.

• Economic Fallout from Viral Myths: Following viral TikTok and Facebook spooky stories, public perception took a heavy toll. Many motorists began bypassing R&R Perasing entirely after dark, fearing supernatural encounters.
• The Vendors' Plea: Local shop owners have frequently expressed frustration, pointing out that businesses had already struggled to recover from the economic downturns of previous years, only to be hit by waves of paranormal tourism or avoidance. Long-time operators note that in their years of working late shifts at the R&R, natural hazards like fatigue, dark highway stretches, and stray wildlife are the actual dangers, while the ghost stories often unfairly paint a livelihood-supporting public space as an abandoned ghost town.
• Normal Operations vs. Perception: Despite the spooky reputation propagated online, long-time vendors emphasise that the R&R remains structurally operational, and they have worked there for years without experiencing anything supernatural. However, traffic remains noticeably sparse during late-night hours compared to other busier highway stops because travellers easily internalise the myths.
• Active Status: The facilities and select vendors remain open to travellers passing through the LPT2 route, particularly serving daytime drivers and motorists needing a break from fatigue, even though local business advocates frequently urge the public to separate online fiction from the livelihood of real-world workers.

Summary

Whether R&R Perasing is genuinely plagued by restless spirits or simply a victim of the eerie isolation that comes with driving through Malaysia's deep interior jungles at 3:00 AM, it remains a staple of highway mythology. For drivers, it serves as a reminder to combat micro-sleep and driver fatigue—which often conjures up the most terrifying "apparitions" of all.

My experience during my stop at this rest area was perfectly fine. The experience at R&R Perasing can vary greatly from person to person. While many recount chilling tales and eerie encounters, others find it to be just another rest stop along the highway.

For those who have had a pleasant visit, the well-maintained facilities and the availability of local snacks can make for a refreshing break. The quiet ambiance, especially during the day, allows for a peaceful respite from the long drive.

It's important to remember that while urban legends can add a layer of intrigue, they don't define the reality of the place. Many visitors appreciate the opportunity to stretch their legs, grab a bite, and recharge before continuing their journey.

Ultimately, whether one encounters ghostly tales or simply enjoys a moment of rest, R&R Perasing remains a unique stop on the Malaysian highway, showcasing the diverse experiences of travellers.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

26 October 2026: 1:35 a.m.

R&R GURUN : WOMAN IN RED KEBAYA

This is one of the most famous PLUS highway ghost stories in Kedah - the Woman in Red Kebaya at R&R Gurun. Top 10 of the most haunted R&R in Malaysia. 

R&R Gurun is on the North-South Expressway near Gurun, Kedah. The legend is that a woman in a red kebaya with long black hair appears at the rest stop late at night, by the roadside, or even next to cars.

The story that went viral recently was told in the series 都市灵异档案 – episode '吉打 Gurun R&R':

"A family was driving home after visiting relatives and stopped at Gurun R&R around 5 AM. A woman named Lina took a selfie by their car - at the time, no one was behind her.

After they left the R&R, weird things started: 

• Their young child in the back seat cried non-stop.
• The car felt unusually heavy, like it was dragging, even though they had just refuelled.
• They stopped to check the tyres; nothing wrong

At the next stop, a man passing their car saw a woman with long hair in a red kebaya walk past their car into the darkness and disappear.

When they got home and Lina checked the selfie, the same woman in red was standing right behind her shoulder in the photo - someone who was definitely not there when it was taken."

The episode ends with the classic Malaysian highway horror question: if she got off at the second stop, when 

Why people believe it

1. Red kebaya = Pontianak trope. In Malay folklore, a woman who died in red is said to come back as a vengeful spirit. Your feed is full of this imagery right now – ghostly figures in red in jungle/highway settings.
2. R&R is a liminal space. Malaysian drivers share a lot of stories about R&R Bagan, Gurun, and Tapah – places where people stop tired at 2-5am. The comments on that image talk about "kisah seram macam ni memang biasa berlaku di waktu senja" and personal sightings near the Gurun highway.
3. The selfie trope. The "only saw her in the photo afterwards" is very common now for Gurun. It makes the story spread fast on Facebook Reels and TikTok.

Locals say, 'Don't stare, don't honk at a lone woman in red by the highway at night, and if your child suddenly cries or your car feels heavy after an R&R stop, read some doa and keep driving to the next bright, crowded R&R.'

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

25 October 2026: 1:27 a.m.

JALAN BUKIT 7, KUALA LIPIS

Jalan Bukit 7 / Bukit Tujuh is the OG haunted road for people from Pahang to Kelantan.

It's not in KL. It's the old Federal Route 8 (FT8)—the 7 hills between Kuala Lipis, Pahang, and Merapoh/Gua Musang, Kelantan—before the new highway existed.

What is Bukit 7?

Imagine one road that has to climb 7 separate hills in the jungle, one after another — Bukit 1, Bukit 2... until Bukit 7. Steep, winding, secluded, no phone line, and totally dark at night

The old road was built during the British colonial era, around the 1880s, and used even during Japanese occupation. The new highway—Lebuhraya CSR/LTU—was built 2012-2018 precisely because the old road was too dangerous and had too many fatal accidents.

A lot of people know it because of a major crash in 2003 involving an express bus, plus constant lorrie accidents. That's why you see the big yellow sign now: AWAS! KAWASAN KEMALANGAN.

Why people say it's haunted?

It's the classic Malaysian formula — lonely + fog + accident history = creepy.

The stories that keep going viral on TikTok/Threads are almost the same pattern:

1. Got disturbed on the hills: One viral story from a Kelantan driver—he drove late, around 11:40pm-12am. At Bukit 3-4, he heard something thump on the roof, then a very strong foul smell like blood, and then his car couldn't brake properly going down Bukit. 7. Had to drop to gear 1 to survive. After that, he stopped in Bandar Lipis to "get rid of negative aura" because his body became weak.

2. The woman in white: Most storytellers say don't stop for anyone at night. The common story is a woman in a wet white shirt standing at the curve, especially around Bukit 3 and Bukit 4. Truck drivers tell of seeing her, then the cabin becomes hot and smells of incense, and the truck loses power uphill.

3. Why it was abandoned: Locals themselves say “that old road is haunted and dangerous” — dark, dangerous, and ‘dimakan hantu’. That's why even locals avoid it after Maghrib and why the government built the CSR highway right next to it as a bypass. The old 7-hill road is now mostly empty.

One creator summarised it well: The aerial photo shows both roads side-by-side — the left is Jalan Bukit Tujuh Lama with the 7 hairpins, and the right is the modern CSR highway that most people use now.

If you want to go, 

• It's 2.5-3 hours to Kuala Lumpur. People from KL usually go via Karak Highway -> Mempaga -> Lipis -> Merapoh.
• Daytime is actually beautiful — dense jungle, misty mountains, very Instagrammable.
• Night driving is not recommended — not because of hantu, but because of no lights, sharp drops, and the lorry still using the old road to avoid tolls. If you do, go convoy and don't stop.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

25 October 2026: 12:58 a.m.