In Malay folklore, the Orang Minyak is a supernatural serial rapist that is hard to see and catch.
Etymology
Orang Minyak literally means oily man in Malay.
Description
The orang minyak of the 1960s was described as human, naked and covered with oil (supposedly to make it difficult to catch). However, there were also stories of the orang minyak where it was supposedly supernatural in origin, or invisible to non-virgins, or both.
Sightings
According to legend, in the 1960s the orang minyak lived around several Malaysian towns, where he raped young women. The mass panic has also led to unmarried women, typically in student dormitories, borrowing sweaty clothes to give the impression to the orang minyak that they are with a man. Other defences supposedly include biting its left thumb and covering it in batik. Reputed sightings of the orang minyak, or events later ascribed to it, have continued with reduced frequency into the 2000s.
In 2005, there have been cases of rapists covered in oil roaming around, armed with knives.
Theories
Some have speculated that the orang minyak is a regular criminal who uses black grease as a night-time camouflage. Due to the use of black grease, it makes the orang minyak hard to catch, as pursuers would not be able to hold on to him. However, in some encounters with the orang minyak, the situation is not explainable from a non-supernatural angle.
Art/Fiction
- According to the 1956 film Sumpah Orang Minyak (The Curse of the Oily Man) directed by and starring P. Ramlee, the orang minyak was a man who was cursed in an attempt to win back his love with magic. In this version, the devil offered to help the creature and give him powers of the black arts, but only if he worshipped him and raped 21 virgins within a week. In another version it is under control of an evil bomoh or witch doctor.
- Another movie called Orang Minyak based on Orang Minyak was produced in 2007 by Jamal Maarif and C.K. Karan.