#mythsbeliefs

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The most popular wreck-diving spots in Singapore are the Sister’s and St. John’s Islands, where there are believed to be a total of five vessels which sank separately about 50 years ago.     The sea near Raffles Lighthouse in the south is another haunt as it is said the authorities used to sink old and useless bumboats here.

[1988] “More Taking plunge for sunken wrecks” Straits Times, May 18, 1988, p. 5

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Myths and Beliefs

[prep-room text by the Asia Research Institute team]

The Malay community on St. John’s and Lazarus believed in the presence of the supernatural on the islands. Former islanders reported there being a number of haunted locations, many involving stories of beheadings and hangings committed by the Japanese during WWII.

For example, islanders claim that St. John’s is extremely haunted, saying that people have seen spirits at Jembatan Belah (‘cutting bridge’) where Japanese soldiers allegedly conducted post-mortems. Islanders also recall having seen headless Japanese soldiers marching around Bendera hill, and have walked along coconut trees that dropped fruits which they described as resembling human heads.

Traditional Malay folklore also has stories suggesting that the islands are haunted by spirits, as Jamelah remembers seeing ‘ghostly fireballs’ around the trees by the jetty on St. John’s.

Several former residents talk of encounters with the pontianak (a female vampiric spirit) described as having red eyes and long hair, along with other djinns. Jalil recounts his personal encounter with a spirit, and his cousin’s experience with a mischievous entity on St. John’s:

“There was one time my I was docking my sampan to shore. I saw that under the tree, there was a figure that had red eyes. My father told me to recite some religious verses, after which I did, then it disappeared. There were other stories, for example my cousin who went to swim in the sea. He said that there was something which brought him far adrift into the sea in the evening. He fought against the current of the low tide into the sea at roughly around 7pm to 8pm in the evening. The whole village went out to find him. However, at 4am the next morning, we found him at the back of the school. When he finally gained consciousness… he told us that there was something that told him to swim to the sea. So that is one mystery story that has not yet been solved till today”.

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It is difficult for the Orang Laut to understand the concept of protecting endangered species such as turtles. Apart from the flesh, the other parts of the turtle are also highly valued. Turtle shells are believed to possess supernatural qualities, and are carved into bangles, pendants and combs. Concerned for my safe journey through the archipelago, Suri and Boat, a sister and brother from Pulau Nanga, gave me a turtle-shell bangle. Boat explained why I should wear it for protection: 

Evil people can poison you by offering you food and drink spiked with poison. If you wear this bangle and hold a glass of beverage spiked with poison, this bangle will crack immediately to warn you of the impending danger. 

Although turtles are prized items for the Orang Laut, they will always release and return to the sea a turtle whose shell is inscribed with a person’s name. The inscription on the turtle’s shell serves as a sign of someone else’s claim on the turtle. It would be dosa (‘sinful’) for anyone else to kill such a turtle, and misfortune would befall them. 

Chou, C. (2009). The Orang Suku Laut of Riau, Indonesia: the inalienable gift of territory. Routledge.