THANKS to Hollywood, Malaysians are now familiar with vampires and werewolves. But many of us are vague about those ghostly apparitions in our own backyard.

The Malaysian Book of the Undead hopes to help clear up some misconceptions about the local spirits and ghosts. Compiled by Malacca-born Danny Lim, this makes a useful reference on those spiritual legends that exist in our culture, including those of the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli communities.

Priced at RM20, the book will be officially launched on Halloween Day this Friday and will be available in major bookstores next month.

"The book is written from a fun perspective," says Lim, adding that he tried not to make it too academic so as not to intimidate readers. "Some of us may not believe in the supernatural world but we are always curious about it."

Though this is his first book, 32-year-old Lim is an established freelance photojournalist with his works having appeared both locally and internationally in publications such as The Far Eastern Economic Review, The Smithsonian Institute, Vogue (Italy), theSun, The Edge as well as websites such as The Nut Graph, The Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini.

He is also the winner of the best documentary at the 2005 Malaysian Video Awards and runner-up for best short film at the Malaysian Freedom Film Fest for his short documentary video, 18, and the regional Sopa (Society of Publishers in Asia) award for one of his feature photographs. 

Some are surprised that a credible photojournalist like him would do a book on the supernatural.

"I did it because it is so different from my usual work," he says. "It is like a distraction [for me] as well as [something] fun. I do not take myself too seriously."

However, he says this was not an easy book to compile. "As a journalist, I must get enough sources to satisfy me. Sometimes, there is more than one interpretation of one particular ghost."

Lim has to remind himself not to be too rigid on the interpretation, to be less of a journalist and have fun in completing the book.

Yet some believe a book like this will only encourage more people to believe in the supernatural.

"I do not think I am advocating a belief of the supernatural," says Lim. "It is just like saying if I write a book on crime, it meant I am for crime.

"The belief in the supernatural in our society has been there long before I did this book. I am simply recording what is already in society."

Toyol

Matahari Books, a publishing company under director Amir Muhammad, is now working on a Malay translation of this book to be called Kamus Pengetahuan Hantu Malaysia.

The translated version by Ahmad Kamal Abu Bakar, with drawings by Mohd Kadir in keeping with the fun image, is set for release in December.

Some unusual spirits

Pontianak

Hungry ghost

WHILE we are familiar with the pontianak, toyol and hungry ghosts, here are some not-so-common spirits featured in The Malaysian Book of the Undead.

» Hantu Bunyi-Bunyian

Ghosts that are only heard but not seen. They like to confuse people in the jungle. In Malay folklore, they could marry humans and even bear invisible children. Marriage with such a ghost can grant the human spouse magical powers.

» Hantu Gerasi

A gigantic ghost accompanied by its spectral hounds, believed by the Ibans, to have a voracious appetite, especially for human beings. When hungry, the ghost is said to bring sickness. Whenever an Iban village experiences an epidemic of sorts, a special hut will be erected and food offered to appease it.

» Hantu Balung Bidai
An evil spirit that lives in water, resembles a mat and with a mouth at each corner. It wraps itself around victims and drown them.

» Hantu Langut
This hunter ghost with a dog’s head on a human body originates from Pahang. It tells of a father and son who went hunting with their dog in tow. A leech bit the father’s foot. He sliced it in two but was amazed to see the leech reattach itself and become whole again. The father thought if his own head were cut off, it could be reattached with leech blood. He asked his son to do it but alas, the head rolled into a crevice in the rocks. Panic-stricken, the son cut off the dog’s head, fixing it on his father’s body, and smearing it with leech blood. The father was revived but was so ashamed of his appearance that he remained in the depths of the jungle as the Hantu Langut.

» Mohini Pisasu
A seductive female ghost in Indian folklore, this temptress dressed in white with anklets roams the night seducing unsuspecting bachelors. She leads them into the jungle and kills them.

» Vellaisamy
This male counterpart of the Mohini Pisasu is fond of occupying the bodies of young female virgins who begin to display male behaviour like smoking cigarette. The Vellaisamy-possessed girls can finish a cigarette in a single, long drag without any smoke coming out of their mouths.