Here is the article which first appeared in Metro Harian and translated in The Star.
Pagan rituals thrive in Terengganu
WATER from bathing dead people and cloth used as shrouds to cover bodies are being sought by the kin of departed persons allegedly to appease their longing for the loved ones who have gone to the hereafter, Metro Harian reported.
Pagan rituals thrive in Terengganu
WATER from bathing dead people and cloth used as shrouds to cover bodies are being sought by the kin of departed persons allegedly to appease their longing for the loved ones who have gone to the hereafter, Metro Harian reported.
In what appears to be a growing delusion in Terengganu, the families reportedly also use the contaminated water to purportedly cleanse their children of badi mayat, a condition of feeling cursed on seeing a corpse.
The water is also consumed as air penerang hati, to soothe or enlighten a confused or ignorant person and purportedly also to cure drug addiction.
In interviews with several people who have had years of experience in bathing corpses, the paper found that grieving families also sought pieces of the kain kafan(shroud) and, in some extreme cases, the hand gloves worn by the those who had bathed the corpse, including flushing out the bowels of the dead person, for various deviant reasons.
Indong Awang, 66, from Kampung Kubang Jela, near Kuala Terengganu, who had been bathing dead bodies for 17 years, said there were people who believe the water used to wash the corpses also serve as an antidote against AIDS.
“This pagan belief started a long time ago and continues to this day, making it difficult for us,” she said, adding that families become furious when their request is rejected and went ahead to do it all themselves.
Mat Jusoh Ali, 61, who has been bathing corpses for the past 42 years, said he had people asking for the kain meruam (cloth glove) that is already soiled, which they believed had healing effects for a variety of ailments, including AIDS.
The water is also consumed as air penerang hati, to soothe or enlighten a confused or ignorant person and purportedly also to cure drug addiction.
In interviews with several people who have had years of experience in bathing corpses, the paper found that grieving families also sought pieces of the kain kafan(shroud) and, in some extreme cases, the hand gloves worn by the those who had bathed the corpse, including flushing out the bowels of the dead person, for various deviant reasons.
Indong Awang, 66, from Kampung Kubang Jela, near Kuala Terengganu, who had been bathing dead bodies for 17 years, said there were people who believe the water used to wash the corpses also serve as an antidote against AIDS.
“This pagan belief started a long time ago and continues to this day, making it difficult for us,” she said, adding that families become furious when their request is rejected and went ahead to do it all themselves.
Mat Jusoh Ali, 61, who has been bathing corpses for the past 42 years, said he had people asking for the kain meruam (cloth glove) that is already soiled, which they believed had healing effects for a variety of ailments, including AIDS.
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