I was looking up for info on Rokuro-Kubi [a japanese mythical creature, normal human by day, telescopic neck by night] and came across a different monster, Nuke-Kubi [normal human by day, blood-sucking-detachable-flying heads by night]. Naturally, I was reminded of a similar kind of ghost in Malay culture. The Nuke-Kubi heads detach cleanly from their neck, i.e. only their heads fly around looking for a bite. The Malay ghost I was reminded of was a bit different, in a sense that in doesn’t detach cleanly like the Nuke-Kubi do.

Instead, it ‘unplugs’ itself from the body, and it will have its heart and lungs still attached, dangling from the head as it flies in search of food. In case you don’t know, it’s called a Hantu Penanggal [literally meaning a Detacher], where the ghost would literally tanggal [detach, in Malay] its head and some organs from its body and fly around the village. It took me quite a while to recall the name, so I asked our friendly DJ for help. However, I managed to remember the name before he got a chance to reply.

Still, an amusing conversation took place;

Redzuan DJCS: yo
Me: nah, i was js wondering if you’re familiar with malay ghosts
Me: i wanted to ask a name, but now i just remembered, haha
Redzuan DJCS: ohhh..
Redzuan DJCS: langsuir… hantu raya… pocong…
Me: actually i was looking for the name penanggal
Me: haha
Redzuan DJCS: otherwise known as the Blind Tok Mudim…
Redzuan DJCS: :D
Me: har?
Me: tok mudim buta?
Me: apa kaitan dengan…oh.

For those who are unfamiliar,… back when there weren’t that many clinics in Malaya, a Tok Mudim is a man who circumcises young boys. Now THAT is one Penanggal I would definitely not want to meet.