Singapore—Our cosy little red dot, known for its modern skyline, rich culture, and most of all—unwavering security. But beneath this polished surface, lies a darker side—one filled with eerie tales and unexplained encounters. 

Ever walked past an old building and felt an unexplainable chill? Or felt the gaze of someone when no one is there? From abandoned bunkers to old HDBs and MRT stations, Singapore is home to numerous legends and stories that are sure to make you question the unknown. Are these simply just urban legends, or do they hold a deeper, more sinister truth waiting to be uncovered? 

Bishan MRT Station 

Due to it being located on the former burial site of the Peck San Theng, the Bishan MRT Station, among others like the Woodleigh MRT Station and Novena MRT Station, legend has it that at the old platforms of the station, (the current Northbound Platform), headless figures were seen around the haunting timings of the last train. Maintenance staff reported seeing coffin bearers in the tunnels between Bishan MRT station and Novena MRT station. Many reported sightings of headless figures walking around at-night, specifically the last train timings. A young man claimed to have witnessed a woman who was sitting opposite him calmly removing her head and placing it on her lap when he was on a train. Tales of headless figures aligning and boarding at the station are locally well-known.  

In response to calls and letters from light-night passengers claiming to witness headless ghosts and processions, the New Paper investigated these claims in October 1988, and so did the Straits Times in April 2005. Both reported no encounters of any ghosts.  

Yet, despite the investigations dismissing the claims, sightings of the headless figures persist to this day. Late-night commuters still whisper of eerie reflections in the train windows, funeral chants and more. And every so often, someone swears they’ve seen a lone figure at Bishan MRT, standing motionless on the platform… waiting for a train that never comes.  

So… what is the truth behind Bishan MRT Station?  

The Red Bridge of Singapore Polytechnic 

The bridge was not red originally. 

For those who take the MRT from Dover towards Clementi, you may see a red coloured bridge. The bridge is quite high up, located between 2 blocks in the School of Business of Singapore Polytechnic, and the bridge was on the 4^th-5^th level, making a steep valley-like drop down below both blocks.  

According to several sites and forums, the red bridge wasn’t painted crimson originally. One night, a distressed student went up a bridge, and after tying a rope to the railings on the top of the bridge and to her neck, tied a rope to her neck and jumped from the bridge.  

However, a strange thing happened. Her neck was severed from her body with the incredible force from her fall. Rumour has it that the blood stains on the bridge could not be washed away, and even if they succeeded, it would reappear soon after again. 

The bridge was said to have been painted red to cover up the bloodstains.  

Block 99 Bedok North Avenue 4

Lastly, the infamous Block 99 Bedok North Avenue 4. If you live in Bedok, this is just the story for you. Since the 1990s, many have heard of the haunting true suicide case that occurred in this block. Decades ago, an unhappily married wife living on the 25^th floor of Block 99 threw her three-year old son out of the window, and in a red Chinese wedding dress, jumped out herself. She left behind no suicide note, but wrote “It’s not over, darling” in Chinese on the wall with her own blood. 

After the suicide, no one wanted to buy that flat, the husband moved his mistress in and got married, and a few years later, they had a son.  

When his son turned three, the young toddler began to have an imaginary brother as a playmate. He would often start talking and laughing in his own room by himself. When the maid went to check, she found the boy smiling, eyes transfixed to the wall, saying “Kor Kor”, Chinese for “Big Brother”. This was brushed off by his parents as him imagining a friend. 

That same night, the boy cried loudly and told his parents that “Kor Kor” bullied him. Despite his father’s scoldings to not make things up, he refused to sleep in his room and slept with his parents in their room.  

However, loud banging of cupboards and the familiar cries of a child could be heard from the boy’s room. The parents told their son to stay in the room while they went to investigate but found nothing.  

When they returned to the bedroom, they were met with the sight of their son standing at the edge of the window. The grilles had been pried open and their son was standing there, waving goodbye to them. Smiling and laughing, their son said that he was going to “play Superman with Big Brother”, before he too, jumped to his death.  

Later, Chinese words were found scrawled in the master room. 

“This is for Mummy.” 

The police classified the case as unnatural death, and no foul play was suspected. For years, no one was willing to buy the unit. Yet, even when the flat stood empty, neighbours claim to hear the sound of a woman crying, and the laughter of a woman and a young boy emanating from the house. Till this day, this double-suicide case remains a mystery. 

These are just some of the strange folktales and myths of Singapore. With countless stories and intriguing places, our country is truly full of surprises. Whether you believe the supernatural or not, these tales of Singapore’s “haunted” places continue to intrigue and unsettle those of brave heart who dare to set foot in them. Some dismiss this as mere folklore, while some swear by their chilling encounters. 

But one thing is certain—these stories have stood the test of time, passed down from generation to generation, keeping the legend alive. 

So next time you pass by a dark stairway, an old hospital, a quiet road, or see someone in the dead of the night, take a moment to listen, and never let your guard down. You never know what the night might reveal.