What if… Ghosts From Malay Folklore Were People at Work?

By Danial Martinus  •  31 Oct 2025 in Features

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It’s spooky season. That means horror movie marathons and (adult) trick-or-treating. But of course, we all know that Southeast Asian ghosts are a level above all those omputeh ghouls. So we got curious about how traditional ghosts from Malay folklore might actually be like IRL, as your co-workers.

Because even ghosts need humanising… right? Plus, you can always come back to this article whenever you feel a tingling presence near you, just to calm the nerves.

Let us know if you know anyone like these “hantu” below.

1. Pontianak: The stunning co-worker who always knows how to get sh*t done, without expending much effort at all

She’s beautiful, intelligent, and kind of intimidating in the best way possible. She knows exactly what to do when problems arise, and she’s got this sort of confidence that only “perfect” people can pull off. She’s basically an all-rounder who’s good at everything.

In fact, she automatically boosts social media engagement by just appearing in a video. But if you piss her off, she’ll make you want to cower in a dark corner of the office. So, don’t.

2. Toyol: The overly comfortable (but extremely resourceful) intern

It makes sense that a toyol is most likely to be an intern. He’s young and always yearning to please his employer/master (for a price), though he tends to get a little too comfortable, too quickly.

He’s weirdly good at finding things, like your misplaced knick-knacks. But every time he walks by your desk, your locked drawer feels a little lighter every time you open it. Still, you keep him around because he’s oddly efficient, but you definitely don’t trust him around your wallet.

3. Pocong: The uptight, overdressed colleague who’s socially awkward

Always overdressed and perpetually stiff, this guy just screams “I’ve got a stick up my *ss.”

You’d think he’s like the pontianak in the sense that he’s always getting work done. But the problem is, he doesn’t have much to show for it, especially with that attitude. He tends to move awkwardly and always laughs at the wrong time. No one really knows what his job is, but he’s frequently spotted just lurking…

4. Langsuir: The emotionally intense project manager

You always hear her before you see her coming. She’s always got floral perfume on, and she’s stunning in an old Hollywood sense. She makes a great manager, making sure every deadline is met in the most efficient way possible.

But the thing is, she’s also emotionally manipulative. She likes to call other employees her “family” or “besties”, but if you cross her, she’ll tear you apart (emotionally) in front of everyone—simultaneously making an example of you and keeping everybody else in line.

5. Hantu Raya: The overachieving senior

He’s that one guy who seems to be doing everything, everywhere, all at once (hehe). He’s juggling multiple projects, attending what seems like an endless number of meetings, and somehow always over-delivering.

There are rumours swirling around the office that he’s got a twin or a supernatural “double” helping him get all this crazy amount of work done, but you shrug all that hearsay off ’cause ghosts don’t exist… right?

6. Penanggal: The one you only see in video conferences

You never really see her at the office. She’s one of those people who’d rather work from home, and more power to her, I guess. When you do see her, it’s usually in a video call, and she’s just a talking head.

Credit where it’s due: she’s always got perfect lighting and she never suffers from spotty Wi-Fi. But the problem is the fact that she’s always floating between different projects without getting that much work done. In other words, she does a lot of things, but there’s no substance or “body” to her work.

7. Orang Bunian: Neither here nor there, but always gets credited for the work somehow

Everyone knows of him, but they’ve never actually met the guy. People say he’s an important member of the team, but if you’re hoping to catch him in a meeting or in a group chat brainstorm, think again. He’s constantly MIA, especially during the most crucial moments.

Somehow, though, his name still winds up in the deck credits or byline. How? Everyone wants to know the answer to that question.

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