THE LEGEND OF THE DRAGON OF TASIK CHINI, PAHANG

The "Dragon of Lake Chini" (or Naga Seri Gumum) is one of Malaysia's most enduring and captivating mysteries. Located in Pahang, Tasik Chini is the country's second-largest natural freshwater lake, and its folklore blends ancient tribal myths with whispers of a lost civilization.

Here is a breakdown of the legends, sightings, and the history behind the mystery.

1. The Legend of the Dragon

According to the folklore of the Jakun people (the local Orang Asli tribe), the lake was not always there.

• The Forbidden Stick: The legend tells of a group of Jakun people clearing land for crops. An old woman appeared, claiming the land was hers, and planted her walking stick in the ground, warning them never to pull it out.
• The Gushing Blood: Later, the people were alerted by a barking dog to a "log" at the edge of the clearing. When they struck it with their dibble sticks, blood spurted out.
• The Flood: In the ensuing panic, someone knocked over the old woman's walking stick. Water gushed from the hole, flooding the valley for years to create the lake. The "log" they had wounded was revealed to be a dragon named Naga Seri Gumum, who became the guardian of the lake.

2. The Lost Khmer City

The mystery deepens with the theory that a sunken Khmer city lies at the bottom of the lake.

• Archaeological Clues: Divers and historians have found pieces of ancient porcelain and pottery in the area.
• The Pyramids: There are seven "pyramid-like" hills surrounding the lake. While geologists suggest they are natural, local legend claims they were part of an ancient empire from the 12th century when the Khmer Empire extended into the Malay Peninsula.
• The Guardian: Many believe the dragon isn't just a monster but a protector of the sunken city’s treasures.

3. Real-World Sightings

While often called the "Loch Ness Monster of Malaysia," there have been documented reports that fueled the mystery:

• 1959 Sighting: Arthur Potter, a British engineer, reported seeing a dragon-like creature in the lake. His account was so detailed it earned him the local nickname "Dragonwick."
• 1980s Sightings: Several villagers and a tour boat driver claimed to have seen a creature "as thick as a drum barrel" swimming in the water.
• The "Dragon Movie": The legend was so popular that in 1966, a Malay film titled Naga Tasek Chini was made, cementing the creature in national pop culture.

4. Scientific Explanations

Modern skeptics and scientists offer more "earthly" explanations for what people might be seeing:

• Giant Pythons: Reticulated pythons in the region can grow to immense sizes. A large python swimming with its head above water could easily be mistaken for a "naga."
• Large Catfish or Fish: Some believe the sightings are actually of giant freshwater fish, like the Ikan Tapah (Wallago attu), which can reach lengths of nearly 2 meters.
• Rotting Logs: The lake is filled with submerged timber; gas releases can sometimes cause old logs to bob or move suddenly on the surface.

The Mystery Today

Today, the real mystery of Lake Chini is its survival. The lake has faced significant ecological challenges due to mining and logging, which once threatened the blooming of its famous Sacred Lotus flowers. Conservation efforts are now underway to restore the lake to its former mystical glory.

ARTHUR POTTER SIGHTING

The 1959 sighting by Arthur Potter is the most frequently cited modern account of the "Dragon of Lake Chini." It transformed the ancient legend of Naga Seri Gumum into a contemporary cryptid mystery.

According to documented accounts:

The Encounter

• The Date: May 1959.
• The Witnesses: Arthur Potter, a British engineer, was not alone during the event. He was accompanied by his clerk, Baharuddin, and two laborers named Lajan and Malik.
• The Sighting: While on a boat at night, the group reported hearing a "creaking" sound. A large, dragon-like creature emerged from the water and reportedly peered into their boat. Potter described the creature as having glowing red eyes.

The Action Taken

According to some reports of the encounter, Potter was so startled by the creature's proximity that he fired several shots at it. The creature was spooked by the gunfire and swam away at high speed, disappearing into the depths of the lake.

The Aftermath

• The Nickname: Following the incident, Arthur Potter became widely known by the nickname "Dragonwick."
• Legacy: His account is often compared to sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, sparking decades of curiosity from researchers, explorers (such as Stewart Wavell in the 1960s), and tourists.

ARCHAELOGICAL SEARCH

The legend of the "sunken city" at Lake Chini is a captivating mix of history and folklore that suggests the lake was once the site of an ancient Khmer settlement, predating its current form as a body of water.

The Historical Theory

Archaeologists and historians have long speculated that a Khmer city existed in the area between the 12th and 15th centuries, during an era when the Khmer Empire's influence extended deep into the Malay Peninsula.

• The "7 Pyramids": In 2007, national interest was piqued by seven "pyramid-like" hills near the lake. While they look like natural formations to the untrained eye, some researchers believe they are man-made structures—possibly temples or fortifications—that have been reclaimed by the jungle and soil over centuries.
• Khmer Linguistic Links: Linguists have noted that the local Jakun (Orang Asli) language contains words with Khmer roots. Even the name "Chini" is thought to be derived from a Khmer word for "monkey" or "place of monkeys."

The 1998 Expedition

The most significant formal search took place in 1998, led by Professor Datuk Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

• Findings: The team discovered shards of porcelain and pottery in the surrounding area, which were dated back to the peak of the Khmer Empire.
• The Setback: During the expedition, the team attempted to drain a small section of the lake to inspect a "rocky base" believed to be a man-made wall. However, the mud and sediment collapsed before they could clear it. Due to a lack of funding and the extreme difficulty of excavating a swampy, sediment-heavy lake bed, the project was eventually halted.

The Legend of the Fall

Folklore provides a "magical" explanation for how the city sank. Local Jakun legend tells of an old woman who planted a walking stick to mark her land. When a group of men accidentally uprooted it, water gushed from the hole for years, flooding the city and creating the 12 interconnected lakes of Tasik Chini.

Today, it is said that when the water is clear and the level is low, one can occasionally see the tips of ancient walls and trees beneath the surface. While modern technology like LiDAR (which found "lost cities" in Cambodia) has not yet been fully deployed at Lake Chini, the site remains one of Malaysia's greatest archaeological "what-ifs."

Further Readings:

1. Juice online: Lost Khmer City or Alien Civilisation? Exploring The Mystery of Pahang's 7 Pyramids.
2. Camdodian Information Centre: Lost City of Khmer Empire - Tasik Chini

 Google Gemini AI

22 January 2026: 10.42 a.m