THE KINARUT MANSION

Deep in the jungles of Sabah, near the town of Kinarut, lie the skeletal remains of the Kinarut Mansion (locally known as Rumah Besar Kinarut). Once a symbol of colonial opulence, it is now one of Malaysia’s most notorious "haunted" landmarks.

The History: A Failed Empire

Built between 1910 and 1914, the mansion was a rare Greco-Roman style manor in North Borneo. It was commissioned by W.F.C. Asimont, the German manager of the Kinarut Rubber Estate.

• The Design: It featured 45 doors, 152 windows, and 42 massive chandeliers. It was built by an Indian architect using hundreds of Javanese laborers.
• The Fall: Asimont died in 1919 in Surabaya. Following his death, the rubber trade declined, and the British North Borneo Chartered Company demolished the house in 1923 for reasons that remain somewhat mysterious.
• The Rediscovery: The jungle reclaimed the site until the 1990s, when ruins were rediscovered by forestry workers. It was gazetted as a historical site in 1994.

The Hauntings: What Lurks in the Ruins?

The mansion's reputation for the supernatural stems from both its tragic decay and local folklore.

Entity	Description & Sightings
Hantu Tinggi	The "Tall Ghost." Locals report a figure so tall its head is lost in the clouds, often disguised as one of the towering trees surrounding the ruins.
The Pontianak	A vengeful female spirit. Visitors have reported hearing high-pitched wailing and smelling the sudden, cloying scent of jasmine (a traditional warning sign).
The "Follower"	Many paranormal investigators and media crews have reported the sensation of being followed or watched intensely while walking the 200-meter avenue of crumbling columns.
Apparitions	Fast-moving shadows and "white figures" are frequently sighted darting between the remaining stone pillars at dusk.

Visiting Today

The ruins consist mainly of stone staircases leading to nowhere and weathered Greco-Roman columns. While it is a gazetted historical site, the atmosphere remains heavy and eerie due to the encroaching secondary forest.

• Location: Near Kinarut, about 30 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, close to the Police Training Centre (PULAPOL).
• Vibe: It is a favorite spot for "Urbex" (urban exploration) and "Dark Tourism."

Note: If you visit, locals often advise staying respectful and avoiding "clowning around," as the site is believed by many to be inhabited by Orang Bunian (hidden spirits) or guardians of the forest.

Google Gemini Ai

27 January 2026: 8.11 p.m