As a young boy growing up in the 1960s, one of my favourite pastimes was searching and exploring haunted places. Some decades later, with the modernisation of our country, it is
surprising to find that there are still many places that are reputed to be haunted. In today’s article, we take a look at 5 of the most haunted places. Upper Peirce Reservoir Here’s a very quiet and peaceful park, which is also known as the central catchment area - the Upper Peirce Reservoir. This is one of many people’s favourite go-to place for a nice evening exercise and stroll. However, what you may not know is that the the road leading to the Upper Peirce Reservoir Park is rumoured to be haunted. There were sightings of ghostly white mist and shaky figures while driving along this road at night. Some couples who went there to 'paktor' claimed to have spotted white figures hanging amongst the trees, and their vehicles were being thrown with stones out of nowhere. The Peirce and MacRitchie Reservoirs were hard fought battle grounds during the invasion of Singapore in World War II, for control of water supply to the city. It would be inevitable that casualties from both sides (British and Japanese) were recorded in this area. Punggol Road Besides that, Punggol also has another haunted place - Punggol Road leading to the Punggol Jetty Point. During the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s, this area is where the infamous Sook Ching Massacre took place. According to history books, to prevent anti-Japanese elements from affecting the occupation of Singapore, about 400 Chinese Civilians were killed by Japanese soldiers and discarded into the sea or left to rot on the shore. In the 90s, some body parts, skeletons, a skull, and even a gold tooth were discovered by beachgoers and fishermen. Today, the jetty area houses the Punggol Settlement, a unique and breezy waterfront F&B establishment, and is connected to the rest of Punggol Town by the Waterway Park where you can enjoy outdoor and recreational facilities. Spooner Road Flats In 2019, the government announced plans to develop The Greater Southern Waterfront into a major gateway and location for urban living, with four green corridors that will run through the estate and serve as recreational spaces. There will also be HDB flats built in the area that will allow residents to enjoy the greenery right at their doorstep. It is hard to believe that this area is another of Singapore’s most haunted places. Hidden in a remote corner of Kampong Bahru are the Spooner Road flats, a two-block derelict housing that will be redeveloped sooner than later. This site was part of the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) that ran from Singapore to the northern part of Malaysia. Spooner Road was named after Charles Edwin Spooner, then the General Manager of the FMSR and the site was used to house Malaysian railway workers in the 1980s and subsequently converted to HDB rental flats providing temporary housing for low-income families while they seek permanent housing solutions. Many people have experienced supernatural encounters such as a female spirit crying and strange sightings. There were also rumours of several suicides and accidents that took place in this estate that contributed to it’s infamous reputation. In recent times, there are even videos uploaded onto the internet of such incidents (you can look for them online if you are brave enough). Bedok Reservoir Popular with walkers, joggers and water sports enthusiasts is the Bedok Reservoir Park, located in the eastern part of Singapore. In the middle of the park is the Bedok Reservoir where many people go to commit suicide. In 2011, there was a spate of suicides that took place within a 6 month period. During that period, 6 bodies including a mother and her 3-year-old son and the lower half of a young man’s body, were found in the reservoir. In early 2012, another man tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide and was subsequently arrested as the act of committing suicide is a criminal offence in Singapore. Not long after that incident, another body was found floating in the reservoir, yet another suicide case. Things got so bad that the then Member of Parliament of Aljunied GRC (where Bedok is grouped), invited 8 religious leaders to bless the areas. Little wonder this is known as one of the most haunted places in Singapore. Devil’s Bend We just had the F1 night race along the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the 13th time since the inaugural race in 2008, but not many people, especially the younger generation would know that between 1961 and 1973, the Singapore Grand Prix was held along Old Upper Thomson Road. The Old Upper Thomson Road circuit was 4865km long and had many challenging twists and bends such as Circus Hairpin, The Snakes, Long Loop and Devil’s Bend. Devil’s Bend is the most dangerous part of the circuit with a very sharp turn shaped like a letter V. This challenging part of the circuit located between The Snakes and Long Loop is a difficult navigator for racers, testing both their driving skills and reactions. In the history of the Singapore Grand Prix, a total of 7 lives including that of Lionel Chan, dubbed “the Speed King” were lost due to accidents. In 1973, the event was cancelled by the authorities, citing safety concerns. Since then, there have been many stories of drivers seeing ghostly figures and some experiencing dizziness when driving along this winding road. In 2008, there was a horrific accident that claimed the lives of 2 polytechnic students along the Devil’s Bend. So if you are looking for paranormal activity, you can check out the above places and roads - just be warned that it is not for the faint-hearted. Oh and remember to take extra care and keep within the speed limit when driving along Old Upper Thomson Road.
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