KOTA KINABALU: A wandering spirit of a woman waiting for her lover. A ritual to feed a recently deceased person. These are some examples of stories about the beliefs of Sabah natives, dating back when animism was the way of life here.

       Some of the practices are still observed by many. Others have been adapted to suit changing times.

       A short selection of these stories have been compiled into a book titled Hauntings and Ghostly Whispers by local writer and former journalist Anna Vivienne, who hails from Inanam near here.

       She was inspired to write about it as she felt it would be a shame if these stories were not told.

       “I grew up listening to all sorts of folklore stories. We observed lots of dos and don’ts that are related to these beliefs.

       “For example, we always have to at least touch food or rice that have been cooked even if we don’t want to eat prior to leaving the house,” she said.

       Failure to do so might result in that person getting “nopuunan”, which means a person could have ill luck or get into an accident because he did not get to eat what he wanted or did not have a touch of food prior to leaving for another destination.

       This is a practice that almost all native Sabahans still adhere to, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, educated or not.

       She also spoke about a belief that if a type of bird called the Lokiu screams or makes a screeching noise before someone leaves or wants to do something, then that person should consider postponing his plans.

       Anna said it was believed that this bird was a harbinger of bad luck.

       Apparently, the person who ignores its “warning call” would face misfortune.

       Such tales were often passed down from generations and still accepted by many due to the subsequent truths that came from it, she claimed.

       She said there was a tale about a woman being seen at a decrepit bus stop, seemingly as though she was waiting for someone.

       According to the elders, the woman is known as Magagandad – the faithful ghost.

       “It doesn’t matter whether it is coincidence or a true reflection of the story, a memory of someone, or just a person’s imagination, they seem to have a connection and some truth to it,” said Anna, who expects to launch another book on Sabah’s folktales this year.

       A Dusun native, Gimpol Saki, 78, said he still observed many of these practices as he had grown up with it.

       Gimpol, who is from Kota Belud, cited some examples such as not making too much noise when going into the woods.

       He would also be cautious about the things he says there.

       Neither would he sweep the floor in the evening, or comb his hair or cut his fingernails at night.

       For Marcella Mijoh, 62, of Penampang, she spoke of how they would not immediately return home from a funeral.

       Instead, they would stop by somewhere like a petrol station or coffee shop to “drop off” whatever spirits that might follow, she said.

       “Another example is when you come home late around midnight. You must not enter your room immediately but instead sit outside for a few minutes to prevent ‘evil spirits’ from disturbing you,” she added.

       She said there were many other things that she had been told growing up, but did not really follow them as she was now guided by her religious faith.