If you are
a Malaysian driver used to do night travels which ply between two isolated
locations, then you would probably have a fair share of ghostly experiences; or
at least some ghost stories to tell. Most of my Malay friends who travelled at
night have one kind of eerie experience or another.
Old road
that led from Kuala Kangsar to Lenggong in Hulu Perak was dimly lit and street
lights were far and between. Many drivers who drove at the dead of the night
would have a taboo as not to look at the rear mirror no matter what happened.
Pak Ali was
my old neighbor when I stayed in Talang, Kuala Kangsar. He was a taxi driver
and he frequently travelled from Kuala Kangsar to Lenggong at night fetching
his old customer who was a businessman in Lenggong. He usually returned to rest
early in the morning after dropping his customer. That was when I stepped out
of my house to school. When he was free, Pak Ali too would give me a lift and
told me many strange tales along the way. In Malay, a ride is called ‘tumpang’.
According
to Pak Ali, he always sees a white figure under a banyan tree just off the
junction of the road heading to Lenggong. At first, Pak Ali thought he was presbyopia
due to aging. But after many encounters, he has somehow grown accustomed to the
sighting.
This was
one of those nights that Pak Ali has an unforgettable ‘tumpang’ (ride) from the
other side. As usual, Pak Ali drove from his house to Lenggong just pass
midnight alone. When he arrived at the junction where he used to see the white
figure, suddenly his taxi halted right in front of the banyan tree. No matter
how many he tried, the engine just wouldn’t start.
Just as
when Pak Ali continuously restarting his taxi, suddenly he heard his left rear
door opened and a breeze of wind coupled with the smell of perfume entered his
taxi. Strangely speaking, right at the time when his taxi door slammed closed;
the taxi engine restarted.
Instinctively,
Pak Ali turned his head and to his surprised he saw a very beautiful lady in
white sitting at the back seat. Though surprised, Pak Ali politely told the
lady that his taxi wasn’t for hired. But the lady pleaded that she would get
off just before the junction turning to Lenggong. Since it was pretty late
then, the good hearted Pak Ali thought it would be awful to let the lady alone
out there in the wilderness. Who knows what would happen if she came across
some bad folks? So, Pak Ali didn’t say second words and continued his journey.
As usual,
Pak Ali would start to strike a conversation with his passengers, but no matter
what he said, the lady just kept silent. After some round of chatting alone,
Pak Ali suddenly stopped talking and it was a dead silent in the taxi. At this
point, Pak Ali inadvertently stared into his rear mirror. To his horror, the
reflection in the mirror showed that his hitchhiker wasn’t look like near
anything human! The ‘creature’ has long straight hairs, a half decayed face
with eye balls popping out and fangs protruding out from mouth with missing
lips…
It was
indeed a ‘culture shock’ for Pak Ali and instinctively he turned his back but
to his surprised, the beautiful lady in white still sitting politely in the backseat
while smiling. The lady finally opened her mouth and said:
“Aku cantik
tak?” (Am I pretty?)
Pak Ali
thought he was hallucinating and again he turned forward and quickly caught a
glimpse of the mirror reflection, and the ugly demonic creature was still in
the backseat!
Though Pak
Ali wasn’t a superstitious person, he at once recalled that the lady was some
sort of demonic spirits. So, he just kept silent and continued his journey
towards Lenggong.
Right
before the taxi was to turn at the junction to Lenggong, Pak Ali heard a sweet
voice and said:
“Ada turun.
Terima kasih!” (I am getting off. Thank you!)
The taxi
automatically halted and the backdoor opened and then slammed. As before, the
taxi engine can be restarted and Pak Ali drove on without turning back.
According
to Pak Ali, since the incident; he has a few similar experiences at the same
locations until he finally retired to be a taxi drive. That is the strangest
tale I have heard from Pak Ali. I have a few more tales of strange hitchhikers
to share in future too… So whatever you do, please don't look back at night! You are warned!!
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