The images you uploaded show Pudu Jail (or Penjara Pudu), one of Malaysia's most infamous and historical landmarks. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, it was built by the British colonial government between 1891 and 1895.
Today, most of the structure has been demolished, but it remains a significant part of Malaysian history due to its unique architecture, world-record murals, and dark stories.
1. Key Historical Highlights
The Design: The prison was famous for its "X" or butterfly shape (visible in your bottom-right photo), which was designed to allow wardens to see down multiple wings from a central point.
The Murals: In 1984, an inmate named Khong Yen Chong used over 2,000 liters of paint to create a tropical jungle scene on the outer walls. This was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest mural in the world at the time (384 meters).
Notable Inmates: It housed many notorious criminals, including the legendary gangster Botak Chin (executed in 1981) and Australians Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers (the first Westerners executed under Malaysia's drug laws in 1986).
Dark Times: During the Japanese Occupation (1942–1945), it was used as a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp for Allied soldiers.
2. The Site Today (2026)
If you visit the location today at the corner of Jalan Pudu and Jalan Hang Tuah, you won't see the massive prison complex anymore.
Demolition: Most of the prison was torn down between 2010 and 2012 to make way for urban development.
What Remains: Only the iconic main gate (shown in your top-right photo) and a small portion of the wall have been preserved as a heritage site.
Redevelopment: The site is now the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), which includes the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport. The historic gate now stands at the entrance of a modern fountain park adjacent to the mall.
3. Urban Legends
The prison was long rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Malaysia. After it closed in 1996, stories of ghost sightings, strange screams, and "cold spots" in the execution chambers became part of local folklore. Even as a modern shopping hub, many locals still associate the area with its "spooky" past.
Pudu Jail’s history is filled with stories of notorious criminals whose lives—and ends—became part of Malaysian lore. Here are the most famous stories from behind those walls:
1. Botak Chin: The "Robin Hood" Gangster
Wong Swee Chin, better known as Botak Chin, was arguably the most famous inmate in the prison's history.
The Legend: Despite his name (which means "Bald Chin"), he actually had a full head of hair. "Botak" was supposedly an acronym for Bantu Orang Tak Ada Kerja (Helping the Jobless). He was seen by some as a Robin Hood figure who shared his heist money with the poor.
The Reality: He was a violent gang leader who conducted daring armed robberies in the 1970s. After a massive shootout with police in 1976, he was captured and sent to Pudu.
The End: While in prison, he survived several attempts on his life by other inmates and even tried to kill himself. He was eventually hanged at Pudu Jail on June 11, 1981.
2. Jimmy Chua & the 6-Day Siege
In 1986, Pudu Jail was the site of a movie-like hostage crisis led by Jimmy Chua, a former Singaporean police officer turned criminal.
The Siege: During a routine medical check-up, Chua and five other inmates took a doctor and a laboratory technician hostage in the prison clinic. They used improvised shanks hidden in their shoes.
The Demands: For six days, the nation watched as Chua demanded a getaway car and a meeting with the Deputy Home Affairs Minister.
The Rescue: The standoff ended when police commandos stormed the clinic. Remarkably, the hostages were rescued unharmed. Jimmy Chua and his accomplices were eventually executed in 1989 for the kidnapping.
3. Barlow and Chambers: The First Westerners
The 1986 execution of Australians Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers became an international diplomatic incident.
The Crime: They were caught at Penang Airport with 141.9g of heroin. Under Malaysia's strict new drug laws (enacted in 1983), the death penalty was mandatory for that amount.
The Controversy: Their case sparked a massive outcry in Australia and the UK. Despite pleas for clemency from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Pope, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad stood firm, famously stating that drug traffickers should not expect mercy. They were hanged at Pudu on July 7, 1986.
4. Mona Fandey: The Witchcraft Killer
While she was actually executed at Kajang Prison in 2001, Mona Fandey spent significant time at Pudu Jail during her high-profile trial in the 1990s.
The Crime: A former pop singer turned "bomoh" (shaman), she and her husband murdered a state assemblyman during a "wealth ritual" that involved dismembering his body into 18 parts.
The Chill: She was famous for her calm demeanor and for constantly smiling at cameras during her trial. Her legendary final words, "Saya tidak akan mati" ("I will never die"), continue to fuel urban legends and ghost stories about the prison site today.
Comparison of Famous Inmates
| Inmate | Crime | Status | Known For |
| Botak Chin | Armed Robbery | Executed (1981) | Robin Hood persona, "Lucky" gangster. |
| Jimmy Chua | Murder / Hostage | Executed (1989) | Leading the 6-day Pudu hostage crisis. |
| Barlow & Chambers | Drug Trafficking | Executed (1986) | First Westerners executed under drug laws. |
| Mona Fandey | Ritual Murder | Executed (2001) | Supernatural claims and her constant smile. |
Pudu Jail’s "haunted" reputation and the clinical, grim reality of its execution process are deeply intertwined. The prison was often called one of the most haunted places in the world, largely because of the volume of death that occurred there over its 116-year history.
The "Haunted" Legacy
The supernatural stories surrounding Pudu Jail began almost the moment it opened and persisted long after it was demolished.
Built on a Graveyard: One of the most common reasons cited for the hauntings is that the British built the prison on top of an old Chinese cemetery. During construction, workers had to exhume over 500 graves.
The Cholera Curse: Shortly after opening in 1895, a massive cholera outbreak killed hundreds of inmates. It was later discovered that the prison's well water was being contaminated by decaying remains from the very graveyard it was built upon.
The "Ghost Officer": Many former wardens and guards reported seeing a "phantom officer" during night shifts. One famous account describes a guard saluting an officer walking down a corridor, only for the figure to vanish into thin air.
The "Heartbeat" Room: When the prison was briefly opened as a museum in the 1990s, visitors reported a small room that seemed to emit a low, rhythmic thumping sound, like a human heartbeat, despite being empty.
Phantom Screams: Locals and passersby frequently reported hearing blood-curdling screams and the sound of heavy chains rattling coming from the vacant Block D (the death row block) long after the prisoners had been moved.
The Execution Process: "The Long Drop"
Executions at Pudu Jail were carried out in Block D using the British "long-drop" hanging method. It was a highly secretive and strictly timed procedure.
The Final 24 Hours: Once a death warrant was signed, the prisoner was moved to a special cell. They were allowed a final meal of their choice (within a small budget) and a final visit from family.
The Timing: Executions almost always took place at dawn (around 5:30 AM to 6:00 AM) when the rest of the prison was at its quietest.
The Procedure:
The prisoner was led to the chamber, often flanked by religious officials (an Ustaz or priest).
A white hood was placed over their head, and they were positioned on a wooden trapdoor.
The "long-drop" was calculated based on the prisoner’s weight and height to ensure the neck broke instantly upon the drop, preventing a slow death by strangulation.
The Sound: Witnesses, including former judges and officials, described the sound of the trapdoor opening as a deafening "bang" that echoed through the entire block, followed by absolute silence.
The Final Wait: After the drop, the body was left hanging for approximately 30 minutes before a medical officer officially certified the death.
The Site Today
Even though the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) and LaLaport mall now occupy the land, urban explorers and some shoppers still claim to feel "heavy energy" or cold spots near the preserved main gate.
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9/1/2026: 1.37 a.m