TPZ S4 Episode 10 - Title : Unseen & Unspoken
Malaysia
Melaka has been declared a heritage city. This declaration made by UNESCO allows many of Melaka's attractions to be protected.
Being an old city, means having very old sites and buildings. Being such, these buildings have its own histories and backstories. One example is the Capital Theater. Built in the 30s and today a mere dilapidated ruins.
One of the oldest areas of the city is the district of Tranquiera – a Portuguese word for Tranquility. Today Tranqueira connects to a place called Klebang where you will find some of the oldest mansions.
Li Kim will explore one of these mansions named Nam Hoe with a local master. Built in 1927, the building has been emptied for over a decade. Even though it is left in ruins, this huge mansion is still one of the most beautiful in this area.
Melaka has been declared a heritage city. This declaration made by UNESCO allows many of Melaka's attractions to be protected.
Being an old city, means having very old sites and buildings. Being such, these buildings have its own histories and backstories. One example is the Capital Theater. Built in the 30s and today a mere dilapidated ruins.
One of the oldest areas of the city is the district of Tranquiera – a Portuguese word for Tranquility. Today Tranqueira connects to a place called Klebang where you will find some of the oldest mansions.
Li Kim will explore one of these mansions named Nam Hoe with a local master. Built in 1927, the building has been emptied for over a decade. Even though it is left in ruins, this huge mansion is still one of the most beautiful in this area.
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TVTranscript
00:00 I am standing here amidst graves which are centuries old.
00:06 Imagine how many tales, myths and legends have been told.
00:12 Welcome to Melaka and experience with me a different kind of charm.
00:18 This is Bukit Cina, one of the oldest and biggest Chinese cemeteries in Malaysia.
00:25 The hill dates back to about the middle 15th century.
00:30 It is said to have been a gift to the Chinese entourage
00:34 who accompanied the Chinese princess Hang Lee Po
00:37 who arrived in Melaka to marry the Sultan.
00:40 With time and since then, it has become the final resting place
00:45 of many Chinese residents and immigrants of old Melaka.
00:51 (Music)
00:55 (Music)
00:58 (Music)
01:01 (Laughter)
01:18 (Music)
01:25 (Applause)
01:28 Talking to anyone in Melaka whose families have lived here for many generations,
01:35 you would most probably learn of many haunting stories.
01:39 Everyone seems to have his or her own ghost story.
01:42 Dutch ghosts, Japanese ghosts, Malay hunters,
01:45 such a plethora of ghosts imaginable.
01:48 Imagine what this building can tell us about the old Melaka Sultanate
01:54 or what happened during the conquest of Melaka by the Portuguese
01:58 and then the Dutch, followed by the British and even the Japanese.
02:03 To gain more information about the extraordinary charm of Melaka,
02:09 I meet with Datuk Haji Kamis,
02:11 the General Manager of Melaka Museum Corporation or in short, PERSIM.
02:16 I am certain he will be able to tell us which buildings have their own ghostly secrets.
02:22 Datuk Haji Kamis, it's very good for you to take out time to sit here with me.
02:28 Can you give me some background as to how Melaka has gained this charming reputation
02:37 as a place that has keras energy?
02:39 The word keras literally means heart and also holds many meanings,
02:45 including what is seen and unseen.
02:47 Melaka also has a lot of colonial artefacts that were left behind from the time of the Portuguese
02:53 and this is how it received its keras energy.
02:56 Keras, as you asked, also means that these historical buildings
03:01 have what you can call spirit caretakers.
03:04 These are caretakers who we cannot see with our naked eyes,
03:08 but we can feel their presence as if they are watching us
03:12 and at times, even giving us inspiration and a sense of calm.
03:17 Maybe reminding us that they have left us with such a priceless heritage,
03:24 one that can attract tourists and show how they once lived
03:28 and an interesting attraction for all those who visit this place.
03:32 It also allows us to develop the tourism industry of Melaka.
03:37 Part of the heritage and culture and the charm is inclusive of this paranormal existence.
03:46 That means it is accepted that in all these old heritage buildings,
03:50 there are leaves behind history.
03:52 There is the presence of the unseen beings and it's accepted.
03:56 This belief exists in all cultures.
04:00 Once we believe in God, we also believe in the unseen.
04:05 For example, there are many old graves left behind by the Portuguese,
04:10 the Dutch, the English and also graves that have existed
04:14 since the days of the Melaka Sultanate.
04:17 And as Asians and Malaysians, these things are part of our lives,
04:23 the unseen for example.
04:25 We respect the spirits and these artefacts, the way we respect our elders.
04:32 These make us respect and want to protect these traditions
04:35 within the boundaries of our own beliefs.
04:38 From your knowledge and experience, what are the hot spots in Melaka?
04:46 Among the many hot spots in Melaka include the Steadheist building,
04:51 St. Paul's Church, the Melaka Sultanate Palace replica
04:55 and also various other places like the building near the Central Melaka Police Station.
05:02 We respect them and they respect us.
05:05 I have been working here for over 30 years in these kinds of buildings
05:11 and sometimes even on the night shift.
05:14 If you are scared, you will not enter the building
05:18 unless you enter with the right intention and ask for their permission before entering.
05:24 In this place for example, it's not unusual to be tested by something at night.
05:30 There are many artefacts here that host what we refer to as caretakers or penunggu.
05:37 We have been offered many old artefacts, like a keris for example.
05:43 Some of our staff, especially the women, when handling these artefacts, feel very restless
05:50 to the extent that we have to ask the donors to cleanse the artefacts before returning.
05:57 Just because you cannot control the caretaker spirit of the artefact in your own home,
06:02 don't bring it to us.
06:04 We have to protect our staff as well.
06:06 Every item or artefact has its own caretaker spirit,
06:11 especially items that are hundreds and thousands of years old.
06:15 Most of the museums and galleries are managed by the local government.
06:24 But there are some privately owned locations that hold their own history and secrets.
06:29 This building for example, used to be the beautiful Capitol Theatre,
06:34 a place where once the rich and the famous of Melaka would gather to watch movies or dance the night away.
06:41 In the evenings, if you close your eyes, you might hear the nostalgic strains of music and laughter
06:49 still lingering in the streets.
06:52 Sometimes, you can hear and even see them.
07:21 There are other interesting locations outside the central city of Melaka.
07:26 You can find ruins situated around the area of Tengkerah, Klebang and Tanjong Keling.
07:32 During the pre-war era, when Melaka was still a centre for commerce along the streets of Melaka,
07:40 millionaires made these areas their home, especially the Chinese merchants,
07:45 including the straight Chinese or the Peranakans,
07:48 who traded in textiles, tin, rubber and other highly valued commodities.
07:54 And as you can see, these rich families knew how to live the lifestyle of abundance and prosperity.
08:02 This is the interior of a typical wealthy merchant's mansion, built many decades ago.
08:12 Despite being told that nobody has stayed here for the past 20 years or more,
08:17 you can see that the condition of the house is kept very well.
08:21 I have visited many mansions, villas and places which have been abandoned for a long time.
08:28 I would say that this is the most well-maintained one indeed.
08:32 Therefore, we have to be respectful and not over-expose the house,
08:38 in fear of offending anyone, seen or unseen.
08:46 After witnessing so many deserted villas and mansions,
08:49 my research leads me to Nam Ho Villa specifically.
08:53 Although built in 1927, Nam Ho Villa's intriguing history began in the 1960s,
09:00 when it became the property of a very wealthy merchant, Mr Tay Boon Seng.
09:05 After his demise, this villa passed down the generations,
09:09 only to fall into a dissolute place of vices and spices.
09:14 From an entertainment venue for men, to a failed restaurant.
09:18 Leaving behind disturbing and negative energies,
09:22 Nam Ho Villa has since been left empty, only to be filled by cold disdain.
09:27 After understanding the unique charm of Melaka from a historical perspective,
09:38 I am most interested to learn more from Mr Georgie, an eminent universal master,
09:44 who helps and heals many people from all over the world.
09:48 I've heard that the people that you have helped have come from as far as the United States,
09:54 and of course, locally and also from China.
09:58 Can you explain to me how you have helped your clients or your friends?
10:05 My clients come from various backgrounds.
10:08 They come from laymen up to the VVIPs.
10:13 They come with all sorts of problems.
10:16 It can be a personal problem, a business problem, exorcism, feng shui.
10:23 And some of the ladies who are not able to bear babies,
10:28 they came for advice and after that they have babies.
10:31 And how I do it is actually through my master, Pong Kong,
10:35 able to restructure their reproduction system.
10:39 To check what are the chances, and whether it's because of the male or the man or the woman.
10:45 If it's only the woman, what are the problems from a spiritual point of view?
10:52 Then you also have to look at the medical point of view.
10:57 Why does Melaka seem to be popular about unseen friends?
11:02 And also, does this have anything to do with the Peranakan community and culture maybe?
11:09 If you move around in Melaka itself, every corner you go you'll see a cemetery.
11:14 And of course, with the old buildings surrounding and many wars being fought here,
11:20 many sacrifices have been made.
11:22 So there's also a lot of unsettled spirit around
11:26 who could not find their way out.
11:28 Have you used your gift and your abilities to help the unseen friends?
11:35 To help spirits or ghosts to settle down or go to a better place?
11:41 And of course, with the modern development that is so rapid,
11:45 they're not able to adjust.
11:47 They're not disabled but they're sending messages,
11:49 "I need help" or "I'm in trouble".
11:51 Then for me, when I go there, I will actually negotiate with them
11:56 and send them to a better place.
11:58 Over here.
12:09 Oh yeah, it's a face.
12:14 [Gunshot]
12:37 Right now, Georgie and I are standing in front of this beautiful villa,
12:42 known as Nam Ho Villa.
12:44 Many people have said it is very haunted
12:47 and some people say there's nothing in there.
12:50 Tonight, the Paranormal Zone is going to find out.
12:55 Over there.
13:00 You look inside there.
13:02 Over here.
13:03 Over here.
13:06 We are here.
13:08 Let's go back to the room.
13:12 As we were walking in, entering this room, there is a chill.
13:18 There is definitely a drop in temperature
13:23 and a heaviness that I'm experiencing in my chest
13:29 because they had come into this space.
13:31 [Screaming]
13:33 Over here.
13:41 They are like family.
13:48 Mmm.
13:49 Like family.
13:51 It's a whole family?
13:53 They seem a bit...
13:54 Over here, more of...
13:56 Younger?
13:57 The family.
13:58 The family, the children.
14:00 Mmm.
14:01 And the mother.
14:04 Oh.
14:05 Are they part of the family of the land protectors?
14:10 Yes, yes.
14:11 Or are they subsequent after that?
14:12 No, they are part of the group.
14:14 Part of the group. They are families.
14:16 Have they seen some really unpleasant or bad things that have come?
14:23 What they say is that they've been attacked
14:27 and some of them are killed over this time.
14:31 Killed?
14:32 Yes.
14:33 How? Murdered?
14:35 Man-slaughtered.
14:36 Man-slaughtered.
14:38 And from there onwards, their spirit doesn't rest in peace.
14:42 They've been over here and they don't want other people to occupy this area.
14:47 I have a recording.
14:51 Yep.
14:52 That is from my guru.
14:54 Normally, it is dedicated...
14:57 To harmonise them.
14:58 To the space and the beings present.
15:00 My guru, His Eminence Thiam Rinpoche, is a very highly attained high lama.
15:05 So I think his prayers would carry much more...
15:08 More value for them.
15:10 Yes.
15:11 Can I just play it at the front of the house
15:14 or do we need to go around the different locations?
15:17 You actually can play the place that you want to put the camera.
15:21 Over there, that will be fine.
15:23 Over there?
15:24 Will it reach them?
15:25 Yes, it will reach them.
15:27 Okay.
15:28 I've sent my students and friends here
15:41 to record, investigate and learn.
15:45 And perhaps myself to offer you something.
15:50 (Prayer)
15:53 The unseen beings are actually mentioning to us that they are grateful for the prayers.
16:13 And they need more prayers in order to harmonise them.
16:17 Upon a seeking request, they will actually show their appearance to the camera.
16:23 But we have to leave this place for about 20 to 25 minutes.
16:26 And by 10 o'clock, we should be able to come back.
16:29 So we'll leave the ghost meter and the cameras to this room?
16:33 Yes.
16:34 Alright.
16:35 Okay.
16:46 So now looking at the footage that was taken in the 20 minutes that we left the room,
16:52 there is a form that we see.
16:57 Over there.
16:58 It's white and it doesn't stay still.
17:01 But there's also some orbs flying in.
17:04 Right there?
17:05 Yes.
17:06 Oh wow.
17:07 It has a head.
17:09 Yes.
17:10 This one I can see more of a shape, a human shape that I can relate to.
17:15 There's another one over here.
17:16 Where?
17:17 On top.
17:18 Right here?
17:19 Yes.
17:20 For several occasions and different locations that we've been to,
17:27 we have had experiences where we feel a presence.
17:32 But this time, we have footage on camera as an investigator,
17:40 a person who is looking for information and knowledge for you.
17:49 This is good.
17:51 But I think that we will need to review more when we get back
17:56 so that we are able to perhaps enlarge what we are seeing to have a clearer view.
18:08 They have no tangible body.
18:09 They are basically a soul.
18:11 They are moving very fast.
18:12 Oh yeah, it's a face.
18:14 It was indeed very interesting to have Georgie come
18:23 and have a look at the footage again with me and really spot them out.
18:28 Georgie, can you explain something to me?
18:30 I find that these spirits never meet the human expectations.
18:36 What is their form?
18:38 Basically, the spirits, they actually don't have any tangible body.
18:43 And of course, as a human, we already expect everything to be three-dimensional.
18:49 Basically, they are four-dimensional.
18:51 And they move in the speed of light that you cannot capture them in your naked eye.
18:55 With the technology today, with high-resolution cameras,
18:59 we can capture them at the present moment when they are there.
19:02 They will take forms based on the environment that at the time is suitable
19:07 where they are standing or they are in the position.
19:10 How do you explain to those sceptics out there who say,
19:14 "You know what? They don't exist.
19:16 But yet, it's right there and the person next to them can see it,
19:21 but the sceptic cannot see it."
19:23 Is the sceptic correct?
19:24 From the sceptic's point of view, because they have not developed their senses,
19:29 either visual or by feeling, so they may not understand.
19:35 For those people who have developed, of course,
19:37 they have a different way of actually approaching.
19:40 And of course, people who are sceptic will say that these people are insane.
19:44 On that night at Nam Ho Villa, we had a lot of still camera pictures.
19:51 So this picture has covered many angles.
19:54 I see the image over here.
19:56 If you highlight it, you can actually see it.
19:59 Oh yeah, it's a face.
20:00 Over here.
20:03 Do you see anything?
20:05 Two figures.
20:06 A face and a head.
20:08 There is a skeletal kind of face with two big eyes.
20:13 It's not exactly human-like.
20:15 It's a skeleton.
20:16 It's more like a figure, a bone figure.
20:19 Another one up here.
20:23 Oh.
20:24 Based on the question I asked the spirits,
20:33 "How long have you been here?"
20:35 They told me it's almost 300 years ago.
20:38 And there was a small village here.
20:40 And it was attacked and most of the villagers were killed.
20:44 So that's why they are here today, because they can't cross over.
20:48 And they are all in different forms because they cover different periods in which they were there.
20:53 So you have children and then you have those very old ones which is like a skeleton.
20:57 And then you have those that don't really have a form.
21:01 Yeah, there are spirits that have been residing in this area.
21:05 For a very long time.
21:07 Yes.
21:08 Thank you.
21:11 It's actually impossible to demand that the unseen beings come to us, to our naked eye,
21:20 in the form we expect to see them.
21:23 The ability to see them, if you wish, I feel, is to have a certain level of acceptance and openness
21:32 so that you don't control what your eyes see.
21:35 And just let your eyes be free to observe and witness.
21:40 Like I always say, what we see may not be real and what is real, we may not see.
21:48 [Music]
21:51 [Music]
21:54 [Music]
21:57 [Music]
22:00 [Music]
22:02 [Music]
22:08 [Music]
22:13 [Music]
22:18 (music)
22:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]