From Winner To Loser (从精英到失败)

You know, once upon a time, people who were able to work in MNC electronic firms in Penang Free Industrial Park were thought to be creams of the society and they were high and mighty. When you talk to them, their eyes would be looking upwards rather than looking at you. I am not about to put any more cynical remarks on these folks as their good time is over. What I am interested to tell you is a bizarre story about a senior manager, Mr. Tan.

During the beginning of millennium, an electronic firm with initial ‘I’ were expanding rapidly in Penang. The company built one factory building per year for a consecutive of a decade; and Mr. Tan was the person in charge of this rapid expansion. It was a local custom that prior to construction projects, a sumptuous offering session would be in order. However, since Mr. Tan is not local to Penang and he is not a believer in supernatural things; not only he scorned at the suggestion, he also forbade his fellow workers and contractors to set up any forms of worship at work site.

Now, Mr. Tan was a high-flyer in his company and he was pretty respected amongst his fellow workers. It was said that he was the ‘next in-line’ in the top company management…

Due to Mr. Tan’s very important position in the company, he was given a brand new company car to facilitate his position as the project manager of several construction projects. Just as everyone was jealous about Mr. Tan’s success, an unexpected incident happened:

During one of Mr. Tan’s site survey trips, he dropped by a petrol station to refill his tank. Suddenly his car caught fire unexpectedly with him trapped in his car. Although the station workers and passer-by tried to put off the fire, the fire was too fierce to be handled and fire brigade was called. When the fire was finally put under controlled, Mr. Tan’s brand new car was completely burnt to bare bone. Luckily this Mr. Tan was pulled out by a worker at the last minute. Though he was escaped unharmed, Mr. Tan did inhale much of the smoke and he was sent to hospital for observation.

Everyone thought Mr. Tan’s ordeal was over and he finally returned to his office. Though Mr. Tan seemed to quite himself in his work, everyone worked with him could feel that this Mr. Tan is not the Mr. Tan that he/she used to know. Many of his instructions to his fellow workers were quite harsh and plans were changed at the last minute. Consequently, many of the projects were delayed and underestimated. As I heard, this poor Mr. Tan was put in ‘cold storage’ until he left the company.

Please bear in mind, before the fire incident, Mr. Tan was a sharp and capable person and he could manage multiple projects at one time. No one knows for sure what caused Mr. Tan’s performance to drop dramatically. People who sat closed to Mr. Tan claimed that they felt Mr. Tan became dumbed and he always had his eyes fixed towards the space in front of him and self-talked in his office. He used to mummer: “I saw her… I saw her…”

I am not about to guess what happened to good old Mr. Tan but perhaps it was the fact that he didn’t made offerings to the Datuk spirits in his project sites?

Coincidentally, I came across Mr. Tan a year ago when I was having dinner with my business partner but he tried to avoid me by going out from the restaurant back door…

HK Fox Spirit Terror (香港狐仙事件)

This is the said photo of the fox image that appeared on the wall of Windsor House.

This shaking incident happened in 1981 at HK Haw Par Mansion. At that time there were many murals outside of the mansion and workers would wipe these murals every morning. On one night, thunders and lightings besieged the night sky emitting unusual light… and the next morning, the workers found there were 7 fox heads imprinted on the wall. So they employed a Taoist to seal the stone wall with yellow papers.

Later similar fox heads resurfaced on one of the walls of Windsor House. The strange incident attracted a large crowd which caused the company to close for the day. The security personnel used a piece of cloth to cover the marble wall; and the whole piece of the marble was removed at midnight thus ceasing the strange incident.

During that period, a restraint in Windsor House was the favourite place for parents to celebrate their babies’ full month celebration. Sadly, babies who celebrated in that restaurant would die of unnatural causes. Rumours had it that was the working of fox spirits. Amongst many rumours of that time, after a couple celebrated their baby’s full month celebration in that restaurant; a fox spirit with red eyes and sharp fangs appeared in the mother’s dream. It mentioned that since the couple didn’t pay it a respect, it would kill their baby instead. When the mother awakened from her dream, she found her child’s face had turned green and it has stopped breathing. The couple immediately sent the baby to the hospital but the baby was pronounced death on arrival. There are rumours said that the baby’s blood was sucked dry… There are still many stories of such incidents being told until today.

While some rumours also mentioned that the fox spirits were being sealed within the walls. At that time there was a Taoist subdued and bounded two of the fiercest fox spirits and released the rest. But when this story transmitted to Taiwan, the Taiwan people came out with their own version of fox spirit sequel … According to Taiwanese version, the Hong Kong fox spirits went to Taiwan to continue their spiritual practices. In Taiwanese version, a Taiwanese senior Taoist went to Hong Kong to bring the fox spirits to Yangming Mountain. It was said that up to a decade ago, there were indeed fox spirits in that mountain. But since the deceased of the senior Taoist, no one knows where the fox spirits went.

In another fox spirit related incident which also took the life of an innocent baby. As the story has it that a small fox spirit came to Hong Kong from the Northeast mountainous region of China. It sneaked into the children’s department of a supermarket and had fun with kid’s costumes and shoes. The next day, shop assistants found their merchandise were scattering all over the shop floor. They thought their shop was haunted so the boss invited a Taoist to perform exorcism ceremony. Perhaps the small fox spirit was angered by Taoist’s workings, it killed a baby in rage. Following that, a master sealed this fox spirit into the supermarket wall. This has caused the image of a fox to appear on the wall surface. Later a Taiwanese fox spirit that could transform into human form went to Hong Kong and hide the small fox spirit into its jade stone ring; and brought the small fox to Taiwan.

Following the spread of rumours in Hong Kong and Taiwan, fox spirit worships suddenly became prevalent in these two areas… It was said by worshipping, the worshipper would obtain the charm of the foxes and they would excel in their business and love affairs. Whatever case that might be, fox spirits in Hong Kong and Taiwan are no match to the fox spirit from Japan in beauty and wisdom that I can assure you.  

Banana Ghost Of Taiwan (民雄的香蕉鬼)

Taiwan is a place full of mysteries too apart from Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asia. However, such stories are rarely made available to non-Chinese readers.

My friend who used to stay in Minxiong Village (民雄乡), Jiayi County (嘉义县), Taiwan knew some local ghost stories and he is very kind as to share them with me:

The below is a story about a banana ghost.

In the beginning of 20^th century, there was a filthy rich businessman selling tobacco and liquors who owned a big mansion in the village.

This businessman employed may workers and maids to take care of his mansion. There were two wells in the backyard, one well specifically for the businessman and his family; while the other is meant for the workers to share.

To begin with, this businessman wasn’t any amicable soul, he treated his workers cruelly and when his workers grumbled, they would be tortured physically.

Legend has it that one day, one of his maids grumbled about having to work too much and for too long hours, the businessman asked someone to drag this poor maid to one of the well and pushed her down into the well and drowned. After that, this businessman had the well filled with soils so as to hide the body of the poor maid. Now another new well need to be dug as replacement. He subsequently announced to the outside world that the old well had to be abandoned due to lack of water supply. No one questioned his reason of course.

A year later, a banana tree grown from the well that hid the murdered maid’s body. At the same time, the businessman’s house started to be haunted. Right at midnight the moment when the maid was pushed into the well, a lady spirit could be seen raised from the well and wandered about in the backyard while weeping sorrowfully. Everyone in the house was very scared. So, one by one left the house until the businessman has no choice but to abandon his house too.

Another year passed, the banana tree was fully grown and the maid’s restless spirit possessed this banana tree and became the frightful banana ghost.

During midnight, sorrowful voice of this restless spirit could be heard emitting from this banana tree. The news of the haunting of the businessman’s house gradually spread to the villagers and that naturally attracted many spectators.

Gradually, the local government officials noticed the commotion around the haunted house, they sent solders to chase away the villagers but as soon as the soldiers left the place, the villagers congregated again.

The soldiers tried to chop down the banana tree but their axes were swayed aside until the axes chopped the soldiers’ own legs instead. So the local officials had to leave the banana tree alone until a new mayor took over. The new mayor asked some workers to dig out the remains under the well and had some Taoists performed a deliverance ritual in the hope that the restless spirit would rest in peace.

Indeed, after the soul is rested, the banana tree could be chopped down easily. Since then, there are no more hauntings.

There Are Truly Fox Spirits (确有狐仙)

I must say that there are indeed fox spirits around though I feel that the Chinese fox clans and the Japanese ones are quite distinct in temperament and status.

Whatever case that might be, fox spirits are normally inherited through bloodlines and not through purchases. You cannot purchase and keep a fox spirit by purchasing a Thai locket, a mustika pearl or by performing rituals as far as I know. Fox spirits are normally of free beings and they hate to be bounded by anything or anyone.

So far, I only came across an old man, Mr. Wang who lived in an old mansion off Taiping Road in Kuala Kangsar many years ago who indeed kept an heirloom male fox spirit brought from North-eastern China during WWII. If the old man is still alive; he would be 90 years old by now.

According to the old Mr. Wang, his ancestor was an army commander serving under Qing Emperor about some 400 years ago. He obtained this fox spirit when he was stationed in Northeast China commanding a troop of imperial army. Also that this fox spirit had saved his ancestors’ lives over the years. Every time when a mishap is about to occur, this fox spirit would appear in the form of an old man in its owners’ dreams to warn them.

Mr. Wang recalled that when he was young, about 10 years old; his parents were living in Guangzhou and they were quite rich and most furniture they used were antiques of that time. We can perhaps imagine if all those antiques were preserved until today… the value of these antiques must be skyrocketed during this time if put into auction in New York or London. But that was the good old memory of those days.

Back to the story, at that time; Wang’s father has a special room specifically for his heirloom fox spirit. No one except the father and servants who clean and made offerings to the spirit were allowed to enter the room. After Wang’s father passed away, he inherited this fox spirit and as instructed by his father; the room for the fox spirit should be always kept clean.

There should only be one table in the centre of the room with a tablet inscribed with the characters ‘胡大仙之位` (The place of Immortal Hu), a cup of tea, an incense burner and some flowers. A raw chicken egg was the only needed offerings on the 1^st and 15^th of every Lunar Month. Strangely speaking, on every egg change; the old egg would become emptied with outer shell intact. It was as if something has removed the egg contents leaving an empty shell.

A few weeks before the Japanese invaded China, Wang’s father had a dream where he was visited by Immortal Hu. This Immortal Hu advised Wang’s father to migrate to Southeast Asia as the war in China was imminent. So Wang`s family travelled first to Sandakan and then to Malaya and finally settled in Kuala Kangsar until when I was still staying in the royal town of Perak.

Before my parents moved to Taiping some 30 years ago; I paid Mr. Wang a visit and asked him of his Immortal Hu. According to old Mr. Wang, perhaps his days were numbered because just a few weeks ago, this Immortal Hu appeared in his dream and bided him farewell.

Unfortunately, I have not got any chances to revisit Mr. Wang after I have moved to Taiping though I do go pass his big house every time I go to Kuala Kangsar. Perhaps I wasn’t interested in fox spirits at that time… just fairly recently when I did stop by the mansion, it has changed ownership. The new owner has no ideas of Mr. Wang’s past and the whereabouts of his fox spirits. It is a little pity and disappointing to say so…

Meeting Japanese Fox Lady (日本狐女)

Japan to me, is still a mysterious place that yet to be explored…

Eric and I were on a business trip to Osaka from Penang airport where we met a very foxy Japanese lady who happened to return to Osaka coincidentally.

Since the lady needed some help in interpretation and that since we were on the same flight, we started to chat naturally.

That was a very attractive Japanese lady with a pair of soul catching eyes that reminded me of legendary Chinese fox spirits. Later this lady introduced herself as Yuko and she said she is a businesswoman involving in silks and related products.

Yuko kept silent for most part of the journey and I supposed she behaved just like a conservative Japanese lady: attractive yet keeps people at a distance.

Just before our plane landed in Tokyo airport, Yuko suddenly said to my pal, Eric:

“You need be very careful in coming month. There will be three car accidents waiting for you in due course…”

Eric certainly didn’t pay too much attention to the lady’s warning but he smiled politely and nodded his head.

Then Yuko said to me:

“You will get a nice Japanese lady and Japan welcomes you…”

Me too, nodded to Yuko with a smile but out of curiosity, I asked Yuko of how did she come out with such an information; but she just gave me a mysterious yet enchanting smile. Then Yuko said to both of us that when time comes; we shall know.

We parted at immigrations check points. I returned to Penang after done my business but Eric stayed on in Osaka to meet his wife, who is also a Japanese.

One month later, I received a long distance call from Eric and he told me that Yuko meant business as he had met with three car accidents in a role within one month’s time!

A week after Eric and I parted, he and his wife was riding in a small van heading towards the Mount Fuji. Suddenly a fox-like creature ran across the road in front of the van and the van skidded and hit a boulder. The van then made a triple summersaults and rested upside down. Luckily no one was seriously injured in that mishap.

After resting for two weeks, Eric thought of driving his wife’s car to a local supermarket to buy some rations. As Eric’s car approached a road junction and when he was turning his steering wheel towards right; the car steering wheel suddenly loosened and he could practically lift up the steering wheel. Consequently, the car rammed into a road divider…

Now Eric was a little scared of driving, so he called a cab to the airport but sadly speaking, the cab too involved in an accident on its way to the airport!

Interestingly speaking… the last incident happened on last day of the month.

Many years lapsed and I met this Japanese lady in quite an unexpected circumstance. Interesting too last night I had a dream of Yuko.

In my dream, Yuko was in a room full of beautiful silk. She was engrossed in painting her beautiful silk and her ledger was on a desk behind her. I opened the ledger and the record stated:

“Loss at first, 12 million dollars’ profit at the end in English…”

Perhaps I am not going to guess what the words meant and let the time to explain them.

Deep inside my heart, I believe Yuko is somehow related to foxes so I called her the ‘fox lady’; and Eric’s Japanese wife believes this too… But I don’t know if Yuko is a one-tailed fox lady or a nine-tailed fox lady… Hahaha…

The Ghosts Of Kampung 8 (第八村的鬼怪)

Villagers of Kampung 8 in Tengkera, Melaka are now haunted by apparitions of spirits since about 3 weeks ago.

It is reported by Harian Metro that people did come across with the apparitions of pontianak, pocong and also toyol.

There were various hauntings experienced by residents such as the sightings of pontianak flying near banana tree and naked kids believed to be toyols walking beside bushes in the evening.

A resident, Abdul Halim Abdullah, 39, said that the haunting of these spirits caused the villagers to think twice when venturing outside at night thus causing the village to be in dead silent.

“Before this, I can see kids playing even though it was around 6pm. However, now the parents demanded their kids to return early and shut their windows as early as 7pm in the fear of spiritual interferences.

“The presence of these spirits also caused the kids shy away from attending al-Quran study classes or tuitions at night.” Continued the resident when interviewed last night.

Added Abdul Halim that in the beginning of the appearances of pontianak and pocong, a few villagers claimed to have seen these spirits but the claims were dismissed by others as pranks done to scare local residents.

“Villagers are united to patrol at night with concentrated location involving the main entrance and exit of the village.”

“Since the patrolling, more and more villagers claimed to have seen these spirits to date. There were naked kids walking in the mid of the night. Such happenings are also become a norm.” Added the gentleman.

Abdul Halim elaborated further that an Indonesian worker claimed to have seen pocong entering the village and asked the villagers to call Islamic healers.

“A 63-year-old man was in trauma for nearly two weeks after claiming that spirits materialized as kids that slept beside his bed and in addition to that, a 52-year-old woman was startled by the shrieking of pontianak in her house.” He said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Halim’s mother-in-law said that last week pontianak disturbed her house when her youngest son returned from outside.

The incident happened at 3am and her son said he heard the sound of high power motorcycle but the sound just vanished for no apparent reasons.

“When my son entered into the house, he heard as if someone whispered at my bedroom window. Not long after that, my grandchild roamed aimlessly inside the house causing the whole household stayed awakened until morning,” she said.

According to Fatimah, in latest incident last night, her grandchild, Muhammad Wan Rafeeq Nur Haiqal Wan, 4, seen the creature in their neighbour’s yard.

“It was still early and Muhammad Wan Rafeeq suddenly bowed and said there are ‘momok’ (ghost) and we were quite worried by his action,” she said.

 To find out more about ghosts of Kampung Lapan, try below link or google search:

http://www.siakapkeli.my/2016/04/penduduk-di-tengkera-dakwa-dihantui.html 

The Revenge Of Loan Shark (大耳窿的报复)

A retired HK police officer told me about a bizarre case of the restless spirit of a loan shark who haunted his murderers until they were arrested and convicted. He wanted my opinion if it was indeed the spirit who sought revenge or it was merely the consciences of the murderers; or it was indeed the spirit who was behind the work… This case happened around 1996 and it is one of the murdered case that was convicted without physical evidence, i.e. the body of the loan shark was never recovered until today.

While this story is still fresh in my memory…

Somewhere in 1996, the sister of a loan shark visited a local police station to report a case of missing person. According to the lady, her brother; Mark has gone missing for months after a trip to mainland China. She suspected Mark has died because she dreamed of Mark’s spirit returned to her telling her to take care of their dad. In addition, the spirit also told his sister to look for a person named Mah.

The police officers certainly didn’t believe the lady but due to professionalism, they passed the bizarre case to CID nonetheless. A team was formed to look into the matter and investigators found Mark’s loan record in his bedroom. Interestingly speaking, amongst the list of borrowers; there was indeed a person named ‘Mah’. Mah was subsequently summoned to the police station for further investigation.

It was truly out of the CID’s expectation, Mah swiftly confessed of participated in the murdering of Mark, the loan shark. According to Mah, he together with other 3 pals murdered Mark because they couldn’t afford to repay their debts worth of around HKD300,000. It was out of their expectation that after the murder, Mark’s spirit haunted them almost every day. They saw the ghost in their drawers, bedroom, bathroom etc. until so much so that all of the four couldn’t sleep and subsequently lost their appetite. The gang tried to move to Macau to escape the haunt of restless ghost but Mark’s spirit continued its pursue until none of them dared to turn off the lights after dark. This condition continued until Mah was summoned for investigation…

Coincidentally, during the interrogation of Mah; his beeper beeped. It was Mah’s 3 other friends. So a trap was set and two of the three pals were successfully arrested during the first attempt leaving the last one at large for the time being. After a few days, the last person surrendered himself and he too confessed to the murder of Mark.

The problem now is that although the culprits were nabbed, but the body was never found. According to Mah’s statement, Mark’s body was chopped into a few pieces and thrown into land refilled area a month ago. Also according to the HK environmental team, Mark’s body was probably buried under hundreds of tons of trash if they were to exhume the remains. That would take a few hundreds of personnel to work 24x7 for 3 months or so; not to mention to waste millions of tax payers’ money… added to that it was virtually impossible to find Mark’s remains after all this time.

So the public prosecutor went on with the four’s testimonies and all of them were convicted; two were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Personally, I would like to think that it was the four persons’ consciences that caused them to physically ‘see’ Mark’s ghost. Perhaps the four have no intention to kill Mark and they felt awfully sorry for that mishap to have occurred. Should Mah and his pals just forget about the murder of Mark, then Mark’s apparition would not have materialize in front of the fellows. I would rather praise the police’s professionalism in tackling the case instead of attributing it to spiritual influences.

This is also a warning to all the loan sharks: perhaps you are bad enough to squeeze people’s hard earn money; people who owe your money can take your life too!