An Englishman with graying hair and in the uniform of a senior officer of the Malaysian Police Force at at a table at a Rest House on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur one afternoon in June 1961. He sipped a glass of iced lemon tea as he waited anxiously for the arrival of a respected Malay gentleman to discuss a matter that was causing much public concern and to the police in particular. He was Superintendent Gordon Reeve and the man he was waiting to meet was Inche Hamzah Bakri, a well known bomoh.
Hamzah arrived fifteen minutes late, a puncture to tyre of his car being the cause. Reeve and Hamzah had known each other for many years. Hamzah had used his spiritual power to assist police in their investigations in cases of murder and other violent crimes. In the West he would have been wrongly described as a 'physic' because a bomoh's power were far greater. After the usual pleasantries were exchanged, Reeve produced a copy of the Daily News from his briefcase and held up the front page. The bold headlines said; THIRD BRUTAL MURDER IN THREE DAYS - Mystery Killings Baffle Police.
As usual when they met, they spoke in Malay although Inche Hamzah was quite conversation in English. 'I suppose you've already read this', Reeve said, his face grim. 'The news reports said the victims, all male Chinese, were 'brutally murdered'. It was the way I chose to described the deaths to the newspaper reporters without giving details. I did not wish to state how they were killed for a good reason'. 'What was the reason?' asked Hamzah.
Reeve sat back in his chair and the frown on his forehead deepened. 'It was because each victim bled to death after his genitals was torn from his body! I couldn't very well have told the newspaper reporters that, could I?' Reeve went on, 'But, I couldn't prevent the horrified families of the victims from telling others how the victims had died. There are rumors flying about that a White pontianak is the killer because of the similar injuries suffered by each victim. That is why I wished to meet you and request your help. Rumors say this White pontianak will kill again!'
'A White pontianak?' said Hamzah thoughtfully. Reeve said. 'I know it sound absurd'. Hamzah replied, 'Why do you say that? Is it because only Malay women who had died in childbirth could become pontianak? Besides males, aren't there European women vampires who are followers of the famous Count Dracula? There are also supposed to be 'werewolves' in the West. Certainly after all the years you have spent in this country you are aware of half human creatures known as harimau jadi-jadian or 'weretigers'? We are old friends so I can be frank with you. Let me say this; In the spirit world or 'other world' every spirit is equal. There is no distinction among races. There are no special 'European only' clubs or 'Asians only' clubs. The Almighty shows no favoritism for any particular race because we are all His children. We were all created by Him, like everything else on this planet. The only difference is that bad people go to hell and good people go to heaven.'
Reeve said with a frown, 'Well, yes... yes, of course.' 'Are there any clues?' asked Hamzah. 'Nothing', said Reeve. 'But, surely you might have your own suspicions?' Reeve was thoughtful for some time and said, 'I can only make a wild guess based on the rumors that a White pontianak is the killer. There may be some connection between the brutal rape and killing of an English rubber plantation manager's wife that took place in 1954 at a place not far from here. It happened during the Malayan Emergency.'
Note: The 'Malayan Emergency' began in 1948 against 'Communist Terrorists' (or 'CT') operating from the jungles throughout the country. The Communists had formed themselves into a 5,000 strong 'Malayan People's Anti British Army. Their objective was 'to free Malaya of British exploitation' and in the process, to kill European employed on rubber plantations and tin mines as well as their families. A large number of Europeans and Malaysians died in the 'terror war'. The production of rubber and tin that was largely controlled by British companies since the early 1900s halted with the Japanese Occupation of Malaya in 1941 and was resumed with the return of the British colonial government after the surrender of Japan in 1945. The 12 year 'Emergency' ended in 1960 with the surrender of the Communists to British and Malaysian forces. Malaya had been granted independence in 1957 after more than a century of British colonial rule and although independence saw matters of defense, security and administration being transferred to a newly elected Malaysian government, the British armed forces had stayed on in the country to assist the Malaysians in the war against the Communists.
Jack Brooks was 26 years old and his wife Molly, 24. They were childhood sweethearts in England and when Jack was offered a job on a rubber plantation in Selangor in 1954 they decided to get married. Few Europeans were attracted to such jobs since they were the main targets in the communists 'terror war'. But, being young and adventurous, Jack and Molly looked forward to an exciting sojourn in Malaya. They had managed to settle down to plantation life despite the presence of security forces, sandbag barriers, searchlights around the perimeter of their bungalow and travelling in an armoured vehicle with armed guards. They both had been instructed in the use of firearms. They kept in touch with events in the outside world by means of a short wave radio and listened to the BBC and Voice of America. about once every fortnight they would meet other rubber planters and their families at one of the many government run Rest Houses and looked forward to a monthly weekend in Kuala Lumpur.
There had been a few 'tree slashing' raids by the communists in remote parts of Jack's plantation, but nothing more serious. As Jack and Molly were returning to their bungalow in an armoured car one morning in June 1954 after a weekend in Kuala Lumpur they were ambushed. It was a well planned raid. A felled rubber tree lay across the narrow earth road leading to their bungalow, blocking the passage of their armoured vehicle. A grenade killed the driver and the guard sitting beside him. The locks of vehicle's rear doors were blast open by automatic rifle fire. The terrorists drag Jack and Molly from the vehicle. Jack was shot in the shoulder as he tried to escape with his wife. She was taken into the nearby jungle where she was gagged and her wrist and ankles bound. Molly was tied to a bamboo pole and carried deeper into the jungle.
Jack Brooks crawled to a security post to report the attack. A 'follow up' operation was launched by security forces. Eight days passed without any success. On the ninth day a tracker with security forces said he had come across six terrorists camping beside a river. Hopes of finding Molly Brooks were raised. A surprise night attack was made on the CT camp. After a fierce exchange of fire the terrorists escaped. Security forces found the body of Molly Brooks in a shallow grave. It was taken to Kuala Lumpur where an autopsy revealed she had died of torture and had been repeatedly raped.
Sometime later a communist 'captain' and some of his men took advantage of an amnesty offered by the Malaysian government and surrendered with their weapons to police at a town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The terms of the amnesty included a substantial sum of money and a chance for all surrendered terrorists to rejoin society under new identities so that there would be no chance of reprisals against them by the families of those who had been killed in the 'terror war'. Among the surrendered was a boy of fourteen who was a courier for a communist 'captain'. He told police he had witnessed the torture and gang rape of Molly Brooks by six men at a jungle camp after she and her husband were ambushed. He gave the names of the culprits, which included the 'captain'. When confronted with this evidence, the 'captain' admitted to the accusations against him and his men. However, under the terms of the amnesty their identities could not be revealed and no criminal charges were brought against them. Regretfully, the murderers were allowed to go free under the protection of their new identities that police kept in secret files.
Investigations by Superintendent Reeve into the mysterious murders had revealed that the three murder victims had belonged to the six man communist gang who had tortured, raped and killed Molly Brooks. What had further intrigued him were persistent rumors that a 'White pontianak' had been seen by at the scenes of the murders. Some people had described the pontianak as 'a young and pretty European woman with blonde hair'. Was the ghost of Molly Brooks taking her revenge and in the same gruesome manner that pontianaks were known to kill their male victims? Was it also going to kill the three other men involved in her rape and murder?
'How do you expect me to help in this matter?' Hamzah asked reeve, 'Do you hope that I could prevent the likely murders of the three other men who were guilty of raping and killing Mrs. Brooks?' 'Well... yes', said Reeve, 'You have to understand that although they are guilty of murder and rape, they have not been punished because...' Hamzah interrupted, 'It's because they took advantage of the amnesty that was offered by the government at the time. They automatically received a pardon for whatever murders and other crimes they may have committed while they were Communist Terrorists. But, Supposing an amnesty had not been offered? What would have happened to these men had they been captured by security forces?'
'I have no doubt they would have been charge in court and if found guilty, they would have received whatever punishment the court decided', said Reeve. 'in normal circumstances the six Communist Terrorists who had raped and tortured Mrs. Brooks to death would have been hanged?' asked Hamzah. 'Oh, definitely... if there had been no amnesty', said Reeve. 'Supposing I cannot do anything to stop this White pontianak from carrying out her plan to murder the three other guilty men?' 'Well, I suppose we would have to accept the fact... and leave it at that...', Reeve said with a shrug of his shoulders. Hamzah said, 'You mean that we would have to accept the fact that Mrs. Brooks's ghost had taken revenge on her murderers? I know your job is to administer the law. But, these laws apply only to the living, not the dead. How are you going to explain to your Commissioner the reason why these six men were murdered without having a single clue?'
Reeve was thoughtful. 'I am glad you realize I am placed in a very difficult situation. Could you imagine the reaction to all this in top level government circles?' Hamzah nodded his head. 'Will you please advise me what I should do?' asked Reeve. 'First, let me contact this so called White pontianak and find out whether it is a ghost of Mrs. Brooks or whether it is the spirit of somebody else. I shall have to go to the cemetery to visit her around midnight tonight. I shall let you know what I discover'. 'Would it be alright if I accompanied you?' asked Reeve. His request surprised Hamzah. 'I shall be conducting a spiritual investigation and not the kind of investigation that you are used to', he said with a smile. 'Do you think you could put up with it? I must warn you, it could be quite frightening'. 'I am aware of that. I promise I won't be a nuisance', said Reeve.
The two men mat at the gate of the Christian cemetery in Cheras shortly before midnight. The moon was playing a game of hide and seek behind black clouds, but there was sufficient light for them to see their way. 'To help find Mrs. Brooks's grave, I obtained its number from the registry', said Reeve. Hamzah said, 'That's alright. I know where her grave is located. Reeve wondered how Hamzah knew this, since there were thousands other graves. He was reminded of the fact that he was in the company of a bomoh who was familiar with the secrets of the 'other world'.
After walking for some time along the narrow paths between rows of graves, they halted. Hamzah pointed to a row of tombstones a short distance away and whispered, 'Mrs. Brooks's grave is over there. Please remain here.' Hamzah was about to walk away when he swung round suddenly. Standing a few paces away was a woman in a blood stained white dress. She had he back towards the two men. There was a wound at the back of her head and her blonde hair was soaked in blood. Reeve felt a sudden dryness grip his throat and he felt cold all over. 'May I know who you are, lady? Please turn around', said Hamzah politely in English.
'You may not like to see all of me... it's really quite shocking what they did to me', she said softly. She paused before she continued, 'You are here to find out about the three murders, aren't you?' Saying that, she turned around and faced them. Reeve shut his eyes at what he saw. He felt his knees go soft. Hamzah was momentarily startled by Molly Brooks' appearance but instantly regained his composure. Her face was bloody and swollen. Her left eye was missing and her entrails were hanging out. Suddenly she transformed herself into a young woman in a transparent white gown that revealed her shapely, naked body. She had a pretty face, her blonde hair falling to her shoulders. 'This is what I looked like before it happened. I looked much better than I do now, didn't I?' she said with a smile.
She looked at Reeve and said, 'The three other men who had raped and killed me are also dead! I killed them earlier tonight! They died in the same way as the others! I enjoyed listening to their agonizing screams!' She laughed, a strange, high pitched laugh that sent a shudder down Reeve's spine. He saw her eyes turn red. Her fingernails grew into long, black claws and her body transformed into that of a large bird with black feathers and a woman's hideous face! The next moment she looked her normal self again. She laughed and as she did she looked in the direction of a nearby tree. Sitting on a low branch was a young and beautiful Malay woman dressed in a baju kurong. 'Ah! There you are Salmah, my dearest friend1 Please join us!'
In an instant the young woman was standing beside Molly Brooks and she now looked even more beautiful in the bright moonlight. 'I met Salmah after they buried me in the jungle. My spirit was wondering about. I was lost. Salmah found me and cared for me!' she placed an arm lovingly around Salmah's shoulders. 'Salmah was raped and murdered too like I was but it happened more than a hundred years ago! Her killer was a wicked Malay prince and she died giving birth to his child! She killed him in the same way I killed those six men!' They both laughed and suddenly disappeared.
Early the following morning Hamzah and Reeve were sitting in the Rest House sipping coffee in silence. Reeve had found it difficult to believe what had taken place in the cemetery the night before. He also realized that if he had attempted to explain to the Commissioner of Police what he had experienced, he would be ridiculed even if he produced Hamzah as a witness. 'The Commissioner would think you are crazy if you told him what had happened at the cemetery last night and it would also be bad for my own reputation as a bomoh if the news leaked out', said Hamzah. 'that's exactly what I was thinking, too!' said Reeve.'what do you think I should do? six men have been murdered you know!' 'Do nothing!' said Hamzah. 'Nothing? I can't just do nothing about it!' 'It's better to do nothing that to do something that you would regret later on', said Hamzah.
'I don't understand', said Reeve. 'You cannot explain how the six men were killed and who killed them because you don't have any clues. Right? All you have a rumors that say they were murdered by a White pontianak and nobody is going to listen to you although you know after what took place last night confirmed that the rumors were absolutely true! So, my advice to you is, do nothing about it. The rumors would be forgotten in good time like everything else. As far as I concerned, I think the six men who were killed by the White pontianak got what they deserved, don't you?' 'Oh, yes! I agree! But what am I going to say in my report to the Commissioner?' asked Reeve. 'Why don't you write a normal and detailed investigative report without mentioning the rumors about the White pontianak, which the Commissioner would say is a lot of 'mumbo jumbo'. Concentrate instead on the usual police procedures taken in any murder investigation. And, don't forget to tell the newspaper reporters; 'Investigation are continuing'.
Hamzah sat back in his chair. 'That's all? asked Reeve. 'Yes. That's all. There are many murders that are unsolved. Right?' said Hamzah. Reeve thought for a while and said, 'Oh, yes... yes!' He suddenly realized that Hamzah had solved his problem in a simple and most efficient manner. He gabbed Hamzah's hand and shook it warmly. 'Thank you very much, my friend!' said Reeve. 'Don't mention it!' said Hamzah. 'I am happy I was of some help!'
Reeve was thoughtful. 'I am glad you realize I am placed in a very difficult situation. Could you imagine the reaction to all this in top level government circles?' Hamzah nodded his head. 'Will you please advise me what I should do?' asked Reeve. 'First, let me contact this so called White pontianak and find out whether it is a ghost of Mrs. Brooks or whether it is the spirit of somebody else. I shall have to go to the cemetery to visit her around midnight tonight. I shall let you know what I discover'. 'Would it be alright if I accompanied you?' asked Reeve. His request surprised Hamzah. 'I shall be conducting a spiritual investigation and not the kind of investigation that you are used to', he said with a smile. 'Do you think you could put up with it? I must warn you, it could be quite frightening'. 'I am aware of that. I promise I won't be a nuisance', said Reeve.
The two men mat at the gate of the Christian cemetery in Cheras shortly before midnight. The moon was playing a game of hide and seek behind black clouds, but there was sufficient light for them to see their way. 'To help find Mrs. Brooks's grave, I obtained its number from the registry', said Reeve. Hamzah said, 'That's alright. I know where her grave is located. Reeve wondered how Hamzah knew this, since there were thousands other graves. He was reminded of the fact that he was in the company of a bomoh who was familiar with the secrets of the 'other world'.
After walking for some time along the narrow paths between rows of graves, they halted. Hamzah pointed to a row of tombstones a short distance away and whispered, 'Mrs. Brooks's grave is over there. Please remain here.' Hamzah was about to walk away when he swung round suddenly. Standing a few paces away was a woman in a blood stained white dress. She had he back towards the two men. There was a wound at the back of her head and her blonde hair was soaked in blood. Reeve felt a sudden dryness grip his throat and he felt cold all over. 'May I know who you are, lady? Please turn around', said Hamzah politely in English.
'You may not like to see all of me... it's really quite shocking what they did to me', she said softly. She paused before she continued, 'You are here to find out about the three murders, aren't you?' Saying that, she turned around and faced them. Reeve shut his eyes at what he saw. He felt his knees go soft. Hamzah was momentarily startled by Molly Brooks' appearance but instantly regained his composure. Her face was bloody and swollen. Her left eye was missing and her entrails were hanging out. Suddenly she transformed herself into a young woman in a transparent white gown that revealed her shapely, naked body. She had a pretty face, her blonde hair falling to her shoulders. 'This is what I looked like before it happened. I looked much better than I do now, didn't I?' she said with a smile.
She looked at Reeve and said, 'The three other men who had raped and killed me are also dead! I killed them earlier tonight! They died in the same way as the others! I enjoyed listening to their agonizing screams!' She laughed, a strange, high pitched laugh that sent a shudder down Reeve's spine. He saw her eyes turn red. Her fingernails grew into long, black claws and her body transformed into that of a large bird with black feathers and a woman's hideous face! The next moment she looked her normal self again. She laughed and as she did she looked in the direction of a nearby tree. Sitting on a low branch was a young and beautiful Malay woman dressed in a baju kurong. 'Ah! There you are Salmah, my dearest friend1 Please join us!'
In an instant the young woman was standing beside Molly Brooks and she now looked even more beautiful in the bright moonlight. 'I met Salmah after they buried me in the jungle. My spirit was wondering about. I was lost. Salmah found me and cared for me!' she placed an arm lovingly around Salmah's shoulders. 'Salmah was raped and murdered too like I was but it happened more than a hundred years ago! Her killer was a wicked Malay prince and she died giving birth to his child! She killed him in the same way I killed those six men!' They both laughed and suddenly disappeared.
Early the following morning Hamzah and Reeve were sitting in the Rest House sipping coffee in silence. Reeve had found it difficult to believe what had taken place in the cemetery the night before. He also realized that if he had attempted to explain to the Commissioner of Police what he had experienced, he would be ridiculed even if he produced Hamzah as a witness. 'The Commissioner would think you are crazy if you told him what had happened at the cemetery last night and it would also be bad for my own reputation as a bomoh if the news leaked out', said Hamzah. 'that's exactly what I was thinking, too!' said Reeve.'what do you think I should do? six men have been murdered you know!' 'Do nothing!' said Hamzah. 'Nothing? I can't just do nothing about it!' 'It's better to do nothing that to do something that you would regret later on', said Hamzah.
'I don't understand', said Reeve. 'You cannot explain how the six men were killed and who killed them because you don't have any clues. Right? All you have a rumors that say they were murdered by a White pontianak and nobody is going to listen to you although you know after what took place last night confirmed that the rumors were absolutely true! So, my advice to you is, do nothing about it. The rumors would be forgotten in good time like everything else. As far as I concerned, I think the six men who were killed by the White pontianak got what they deserved, don't you?' 'Oh, yes! I agree! But what am I going to say in my report to the Commissioner?' asked Reeve. 'Why don't you write a normal and detailed investigative report without mentioning the rumors about the White pontianak, which the Commissioner would say is a lot of 'mumbo jumbo'. Concentrate instead on the usual police procedures taken in any murder investigation. And, don't forget to tell the newspaper reporters; 'Investigation are continuing'.
Hamzah sat back in his chair. 'That's all? asked Reeve. 'Yes. That's all. There are many murders that are unsolved. Right?' said Hamzah. Reeve thought for a while and said, 'Oh, yes... yes!' He suddenly realized that Hamzah had solved his problem in a simple and most efficient manner. He gabbed Hamzah's hand and shook it warmly. 'Thank you very much, my friend!' said Reeve. 'Don't mention it!' said Hamzah. 'I am happy I was of some help!'
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