Residents in areas near the Penang border were left alarmed after reports of a “pocong” sighting circulated online, only for the supposed ghost to be unmasked as a young man staging a prank.
The figure, resembling a shrouded corpse from regional folklore, had reportedly frightened villagers in Parit Buntar and Nibong Tebal over the past two weeks. Stories of the apparition spread quickly, prompting some locals to avoid going out at night.
The mystery was unravelled when a social media influencer investigating the alleged paranormal activity encountered the white-clad figure at the side of a road. In video footage shared online, the influencer is seen running towards the “pocong”, which responded by hopping away in a manner commonly associated with the folklore character.
However, the chase was short-lived. When confronted, the figure stopped and revealed himself to be a man in his 20s wrapped in a white sheet. He apologised for the disturbance, explaining that his intention had been to frighten his friends rather than the wider public.
“Sorry, bro, I wanted to prank my friends, not prank you,” he said in the video.
It is understood that the man had been dropped off at the location by another friend as part of the prank. Following the incident, he was referred to the local village residents’ committee.
Police have confirmed that no official report has been lodged in relation to the matter.
The influencer who exposed the hoax later cautioned against such stunts, warning that pretending to be a ghost in public spaces could lead to unintended consequences and potentially place those involved in danger.
