KOTA BHARU - About 2,000 residents in three villages in Kubang Kerian here have not been able to sleep well lately as more and more incidents of cash disappearing at night has started to occur.
Residents in Kampung Tok Kenali, Kampung Pulai and Kampung Polong here claimed that the disappearing money is believed to be the work of a toyol who sneaks into their houses at night.
Since last February until now, about 20 families in the three villages have claimed to have become victims of the toyol theft when their money disappeared in the blink of an eye. The highest amount ever lost in one go was RM10,000.
To prevent their money from getting swiped by the toyol, residents resorted to old wives’ tales by stapling or tying their banknotes together and crumpling the banknotes or storing them in the refrigerator.
A civil servant, Sudarwaty Abdul Rajab, 42, said she was one of the latest victims of the toyol when she lost RM500 in cash that kept in a bag last Friday.
“On the day of the incident, I withdrew RM1,000 from the bank to give to my parents. When I wanted to hand the money to them, I was surprised when there was only RM 500 in the bag.
"I suspect the money was stolen by a toyol because before this, the money in my son's piggy bank was also lost," she said when met at her house in Kampung Polong here yesterday.
According to Sudarwaty, after the story of toyol became more prevalent in the village, she started following the advice of the old people by tying up all banknotes and leaving them in a crumpled state.
"People say if the money is tied up and left crumpled, the toyol will not take it, but sometimes after withdrawing money from the bank, I forgot to do it," she said.
Meanwhile, a resident of Kampung Pulai who only wanted to be known as Fatimah, 40, claimed that the same incident actually happened about 10 years ago, but then the creature rarely appeared after that.
However, she said, the toyol involved reappeared this year and has been making a fuss lately.
“Previously, some residents claimed to have seen glimpses of a black furry creature in the early morning. Every time the creature was seen, there will be a case of the villagers' money being lost and stolen.
“There are various ways I do to avoid money being swiped, such as hiding it in the fridge, under a mattress or in a can, but it still disappears.
"After asking for the help of a ustaz to 'fence' our house so that it cannot be invaded by these creatures, with God's permission, our family is now safe from being the victim of the toyol theft," he said.
Meanwhile, Kota Bharu District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rahim Daud when contacted said, so far, his party has not received any reports from the victims regarding the incident.
“I advise residents who have lost money to make an immediate report to enable an investigation to be carried out.
"The police will also try to conduct more frequent patrols in the village areas that are said to be involved in the theft of this money," he said.
