burned house
© STR/NIK ABDULLAH NIK OMAR
Six years ago, Zainab Sulaiman and her family claimed to have suffered from "paranormal activity", including mysterious fires at their home in Kampung Penambang Mas near Pantai Cahaya Bulan.

The phenomena lasted for several months, resulting in the former petty trader and her family suffering huge losses, including the destruction of their wooden house and other valuable properties. Though still unable to explain the things that were happening to her family, Zainab was glad when the occurrences stopped.

But the 80-year-old and her family are now suffering again, claiming that the paranormal activity began again last month. Zainab claimed unexplained fires again occurred, damaging her house and another belonging to her sister.

"The latest incident happened on Friday. I was at our rental homestay with my daughter Ropeah Zakaria, 50, and her three children, aged between 17 and 21, when suddenly five unexplained mysterious fires started to burn our clothes and prayer mats.

"Worried the fire would spread to the whole house, we immediately took some water and splashed the fires," she said. Zainab said, since the incident, they are having sleepless nights worrying that the fire will occur while everyone was asleep.

"Since last month, we have called all sorts of religious experts and even bomoh to help us but the mischievous spirits continue to disturb my family," she said.

Making the situation worse, she said, many neighbours seemed to be avoiding coming close to them and some even refused to rent their houses to her family.

"Since last month, we have to rent a homestay in the village because we could not find a house to rent. Many villagers refused to allow us to rent their homes as they are afraid of the mysterious fires might destroy the houses," said Zainab.