9 Stars Tell Us Their Spookiest Ghost Stories For Hungry Ghost Festival

“Three years ago, my friend was filming a documentary about a master with supernatural abilities who goes around catching ghosts. I was curious so I followed the production team of over 10 people. We went to a factory in Kranji where the owner said every night, at a certain time, the lights would cut off automatically. He enlisted the help of this master ’cos he said the spirit would go to his office and disturb his workers. And he wanted the master to ‘cleanse’ the place. When we were got there, the master suddenly said, ‘Oh, it’s here.’ Then, a lady in our group shouted very loudly. Everyone looked over. I was the only one that turned in the opposite direction ’cos I’m very afraid of ghosts. All of them said that they saw this female figure with no legs flying out of the toilet window and then stretching out a hand to say ‘hi’ to them. The cameramen wanted to film it but there was an unexpected gust of wind that knocked the viewfinder out of focus. All the equipment also broke down. It’s so scary! After that, the master conducted this ceremony where he got everybody to chant some sutras to release the ghost’s soul from suffering.”

“This happened when I was in primary school. I watched a horror flick at an open air cinema and after that day, I started to see ‘things’. Everywhere I went, I kept seeing shadows next to me. When I slept, I would dream about a headless figure staring and pointing at me from a corner. I was constantly scared and tense. It went on for quite long and I decided to confide in my elder brother one day. He told me calmly that it was all in my mind and advised me not to think too much. The strange thing was that after our conversation, I stopped feeling or seeing supernatural stuff. However, I still don’t dare to watch horror films and would make my husband wait outside the bathroom for me if someone told me a ghost story!”

“I can feel if a place is unclean. Once, I was in Thailand with a girlfriend and we were in the hotel sleeping. In the middle of the night, I heard this woman talking and so I said to my friend, “Babe, why is the Thai woman next door talking so loudly?” And my friend replied, “Um, I don’t hear anything.” My friends all know that I can sense things, so both of us went, “Okay, good night!” and went to sleep.”

“This happened during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Back at Mediacorp’s old Caldecott Hill campus, I went to the toilet and hummed a tune to myself while doing my business. Then I heard someone in the next cubicle go, “Shh!” I came out and checked the cubicles but they were all empty... But I wasn’t scared lah. It’s the Seventh Month after all. If you’re easily spooked, [the spirits] might come and disturb you more!”

“One night in the army, I was going to bed when I heard someone rattling my padlock against my cupboard. It was so loud and it made me very annoyed, so I turned over to see who was disturbing me. To my surprise, there was no one there. So I went back to sleep and the rattling sound started again. I felt scared but I still turned around. I didn’t see anyone again but suddenly, I felt a pair of hands shaking me. I kid you not. I just froze. I couldn’t even bring myself to scream! It was so scary and I still remember it to this day.”

“About three years ago, I was on the drive time shift with Jean Danker on Class 95 FM. About 7.30pm, Jean was doing the traffic report. All of a sudden, we both heard a little girl’s voice saying “Hi, guys!” Jean stopped what she was doing immediately. We both looked up and there was nobody else in the studio. The voice couldn’t have come from outside ’cos the studio is soundproof. Afterwards, we went into the production studio and played back a recording of the show. And we could hear the little girl’s voice. Then Jean said, “Mike, I’ve never told you about this but I need to tell you now.” I said, “What?” She’s like, “There’s a ghost of a young girl ghost who lurks around [the old] Mediacorp [campus].” I’m not very superstitious. But I know what I heard. Jean wouldn’t go to the bathroom alone for a long time after that incident! (Laughs)”

“Many years ago I was with my then-three-year-old nephew in his parents’ house. It was about eight at night. We were sitting in the couch and he suddenly just looked up at a space above the window. Not outside the window but inside the house. His eyes were locked on one spot. Then he said loudly, “Why you scold me?” We were alone, yah? So I was like “Who are you talking to?” His eyes didn’t waver and he just kept staring. He said, “That black black thing flying.” My hair stood up and my blood ran cold. I probably looked like a ghost then (laughs). I then turned his head away and said a prayer. Luckily his family don’t live there anymore.”

“When I was filming Asia Bagus in on Caldecott Hill, there were Japanese producers who can ‘see ghosts’. They always said there were little kids playing at the front of the studio. They brought packets of milk to hang on a little corner of [the old] Studio 1, and we were always careful not to talk too loudly or disturb the milk when we were near. I also used to live in an apartment in Orchard Road and there was a very ‘naughty’ ghost. It looks like a black apparition, like those you see in Harry Potter. It sometimes turned the aircon off when I turned it on. I wasn’t afraid because I got used to it.”

“I used to be stationed at Changi Camp in NS. I was doing guard duty one night with my buddy, and was reading a book. I was right beside this glass divider, and just beyond that divider was a huge metal bomb shelter door. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone standing next to me on the other side of the glass. I thought it was my buddy getting up to go to the toilet. But when I looked, it was an old man staring at me. He looked pretty normal. But then he started walking through that metal bomb shelter door! I immediately abandoned my book and jumped into bed. Another time I was on a work trip to LA with [fellow Mutton] Justin [Ang] and our producer, and we decided to extend our trip by a night. We rented an Airbnb apartment. When we walked in the door, I could see a shadow standing in the hallway but it quickly disappeared. When we hung out in the living room, I kept hearing someone whispering, “Psst! Psst!” in my ear the whole night. In the morning, Justin heard the front door rattling as though somebody was trying to get in. He went to check, but there was nobody. But we didn’t bring it up to the host. I couldn’t tell him, “Hey, your apartment is haunted.” (Laughs). I’ve been able to see [spirits] since young. Each time I see them I’m scared, but I’ve learnt to ignore them. The older I get, the less I see them.”