Malaysia Tales & Weird News:

Malaysia Tales of Weird Events, Malaysia Legends & Fairytales. Read on if you dare...

Like other places, Malaysia also has its own legends, weird tales and 'fairy-tales'. Malaysian folklore was typically passed down from one generation to another by means of stories, usually in the form of songs or poetic verses. Some of these weird tales are considered true by the older generation and may be based on actually life events that have become exaggerated and distorted through time.
We've also included some weird news and Malaysia tales that has happened recently, like the Malaysian Bigfoot sightings and the man-eating snake. Read Malaysia tales and judge for yourself...

Malaysia Tales - Bujang Senang (The Giant White Crocodile)

Legendary giant white crocodile, nicknamed 'Bujang Senang,' that is said to have terrorised the Batang Lupar River in Sarawak, Borneo.
Said to be more than 20 feet in length.

A man claimed to have shot and killed Bujang Senang back in 1992, but others remarked that it was the wrong 'croc'.
This Malaysian-Borneo legend has been around for more than 50 years, with most tales having been heard from someone's great-grandfather or grand-uncle.

'bujang' means 'bachelor' in Malay language.
'senang' means 'easy' or 'leisurely'
Hence in this context, 'Bujang Senang' means 'leisurely bachelor'.

It is interesting to note that in Malay proverbs,
the term 'crocodile' or 'buaya' is given to randy or flirty men.

Malaysia Tales - Mawas (The Malaysian Bigfoot)

Said to be seen in the jungles of Tanjung Piai, Mersing, Kahang, Kota Tinggi and the Endau Rompin National Park (bordering Johor and Pahang). Recently, villagers claimed they saw Bigfoot in November 2005.
The search is still on-going to verify the sightings.
Bigfoot is called 'mawas' in Malay language.

Actually this is not the first time that the 'mawas' was spotted in Malaysia.
Local folks, especially from the older generation, would tell tales of encountering hairy humanoid-like creatures whilst hunting game or foraging for plants in the jungle.

Read our Interview with the Malaysia Bigfoot.

Read newpaper articles on the Malaysia Bigfoot.

Malaysia Tales - Orang Bunian (The Fairy Folks)

Villagers tell weird tales of the beautiful Fairy Folks who inhabit the local jungle. They look human, though with an unearthly quality to them. They have simple jobs and live in 'kampungs' or villages like normal people. The only difference is that their villages are 'invisible' or in another dimension.

Some jungle trekkers might mistakenly enter the 'Orang Bunian' village, and thus be lost to the outside world for a while, or even forever. Their villages are said to be reminiscence of the Malay past, with lifestyle, clothes and items reflecting an era before the 1900s.

Those who believe in these 'spirits of the jungle' might engage a local shaman or 'bomoh' to appease these Fairy Folks so that trekkers and visitors would not be disturbed when they enter a jungle.

There are many tales of trekkers seeing a beautiful woman suddenly emerge whilst they are deep in the jungle, only to disappear when they try to follow her. The 'Bunians' are said to be extremely mischievous, playing pranks on humans and sometimes 'kidnapping' people and bringing them back to their villages for a while.

Malaysia Tales - The Man-Eating Snake

This supposedly happened around 10 years ago in a National Park somewhere in Malaysia. As you can see from the photos below, the snake has swallowed something huge.

When they cut open the belly of the 10-metre serpent, they found the digested body of a 16-year old boy. Of course, THAT photo is not shown here as it's too gruesome for this website.

Malaysia Tales - Pontianak (The Malay Female Vampire)

There is a legend amongst the Malays of a female vampire or the pontianak that haunts lonely roads, cemeteries and jungles near villages.
She is supposed to be the spirit of a woman who had died traumatically during childbirth. She seeks revenge by drinking the blood of and killing her wrong-doers.
The pontianak is said to be dressed in a white gown, has a pale face, long flowing hair, blood-red eyes and fangs. She loves playing pranks on young men and hitch-hiking their bicycles, motorcycles or cars during night time.

A beautiful rendition of the malay Pontianak story is the Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam movie. Be sure to get the DVD of this movie if you happen to be in Malaysia.