Figurine in bottle attracts visitors
PEKAN, Feb 23: Many curious visitors flocked to the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum today to look at a bottle with a small human-shaped figurine inside.
The bottle was found on the beach near Kuala Pahang yesterday evening and has been temporarily placed at the museum.
What sparked the interest were claims by locals that the figurine was probably a toyol (an evil spirit known in Malay folklore to serve its human master by stealing from others).
Some of the visitors waited at the museum entrance before it was opened at 8am.
Businessman Shaik Alaudin Mohd Ismail, 43, who came from Kuantan this morning after being informed about the object by a friend last night, said he just had to see what it was.
The museum, which normally received less than 100 visitors on weekends, was packed today.
There were at least 600 people vying to have a closer look at the figurine at any one time.
Nurul Hidayah Mohd Shahidani, 21, of Alor Akar, Kuantan, who came with her mother, said she was not sure whether there was anything special about the figurine after viewing it.
"We got to know about it after my grandfather, who lives here, called us last night saying that someone had found a toyol inside a bottle."
The figurine, which is slightly smaller than an adult’s fist, has its torso wrapped in black cloth tied with string and its eyes painted red.
Museum director Ahmad Farid Abdul Jalal said a group of fishermen found the figurine and handed it to the museum for safekeeping last night.
However, he said the figurine would be "returned" to the sea after a consultation with several local bomohs this afternoon.
"They claimed that the figurine was not a toyol but an object used in black magic which was probably thrown into the sea in a spiritual healing ritual."
Ahmad Farid added that the figurine was most likely washed ashore.