Bujang Senang: The White-Striped Marauder

Their bodies were thrown into the river, and legend says that the gods, angered by the injustice, cursed Simalungun and his wife. Simalungun’s spirit transformed into a colossal crocodile, marked with descendants of his enemies. His wife, transformed into a crocodile as well, followed by his shadow. Thus, the legend of Bujang Senang was born – a “Crocodile King” feared along the Batang Lupar River.

Over decades, Bujang Senang terrorized the river, attacking anyone who ventured too close. Stories tell of at least 14 victims. Its fame spread across Sarawak, a creature of nightmares and local lore

By the 1992s, villagers and authorities could no longer ignore the menace. Armed with spike bullets almost a handspan long, a team of police marksmen and local hunters cornered Bujang Senang. Hours of effort were required to finally kill the giant crocodile.

But the story doesn’t end there. While Simalungun’s spirit survived in Bujang Senang, his wife – also a massive crocodile was captured alive. Villagers brought her to safety, displaying her as proof of the legendary pair.

Even with Bujang Senang dead, some locals whispered that the true Bujang Senang was never caught, lurking somewhere deep in the river. The legend persisted, leaving both awe and fear in the hearts of the people.

In the 1994s, a taxi slowly drove toward Batang Lupar, Sarawak. The driver, a cheerful man, loved telling stories about the river. But the story that intrigued everyone most was that of Bujang Senang.

A passenger, a fair-skinned young man, listened quietly, only asking questions about the infamous crocodile.

“So, Bujang Senang..was really dead?”

“Yes, it was killed,” said the driver. “But not easily. Its skin was too thick for ordinary bullets.”

“How did they manage it then?”

“They used spike bullets, nearby a handspan long,” the driver explained. “Even then, it took hours to bring it down.”

The young man nodded but gazed toward the river. He revealed a black necklace with a fang-shaped pendant and spoke softly:

“Bujang Senang isn’t dead. The one they killed.. was his wife. And I.. am Bujang Senang.”

Without hesitation, he jumped into the river. Moments later, a massive white-striped tail surfaced for a brief moment before disappearing into the depths. The taxi driver’s heart raced, unsure if he had witnessed the legendary Bujang Senang himself.

As the passenger revealed his identity, the taxi driver felt a sudden chill. The passenger seat was suddenly filled with fine river sand, swirling as if moved by an invisible current. The driver froze, staring at the shifting grains. In that instant, the bills he received from the passenger crumbled into dry leaves, swept away by an unseen wind. The river outside shimmered, and a white-striped tail flicked across the surface before vanishing.