The Malaysian Insight

LOOMING over the Batu Gajah countryside, Kellie’s Castle is an imposing brick structure to behold. It was built by Scotsman William Kellie Smith, who made his fortune in the rubber plantations of Malaysia.

The mansion featured a tower, hidden tunnels, claustrophobic spiral staircases built as escape routes and what could have been the country’s first elevator. But Smith never finished the castle. He contracted pneumonia on a trip back to Europe to collect his elevator and died in Lisbon, aged 56.

The castle was left to ruin before it was refurbished and opened to the public by the government. Some visit to see a piece of history while others come to find its possible supernatural inhabitants.

The Malaysian Insight was given a special after-dark tour of the castle by its current manager, Zamari Muhyi, who regaled us with spooky tales that he and guests have experienced.

After Smith’s death, his wife sold the estate and packed up her family to return to England. Despite sightings of apparitions believed to be Smith and his little girl, Helen, none of them died in Malaysia. So who really haunts Kellie’s Castle? – October 30, 2018.