BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • Trending

#BBCtrending: Malaysia's 'Bomoh' and the superstitious search for MH370

  • Published
    13 March 2014
Share page
About sharing
A Malaysian "Bomoh" holding two pieces of fruitImage source, The Star Online
BBC Trending
What's popular and why

A Malaysian shaman - or "Bomoh" - wielding coconuts and bamboo binoculars to locate missing flight MH370, has triggered a mixture of outrage and embarrassment from the country's social media users.

Bomoh Ibrahim Mat Zin was accompanied by several assistants on Wednesday at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and told reporters they aimed to "weaken the bad spirits so the rescuers can find the plane". On Monday he used a fish hook to similar effect. The word "bomoh" has now been tweeted more than 200,000 times, and the overwhelming sentiment appears to be shame. "It's so embarrassing to have 'Malaysia' and 'Bomoh' in the same sentence, external" tweeted one. "Stupid, shameful, external", and "ignorant, external", others tweeted back to BBC Trending. There is some confusion over whether the Bomoh's public displays were made at the request of the government itself. On Monday he claimed to have been invited, external by one of the country's top leaders, but on Wednesday he said he was working of his own volition, external.

Despite the outpouring on Twitter, former journalist and Malaysian cultural commentator Eddin Khoo says the events are not surprising, and "very much a problem of the cultural politics of Malaysia over the last 30 or 40 years". Islam - the country's main religion - had traditionally been interpreted in a mystical way, says Khoo, but in recent years that mysticism has started to be taken more literally. Lots of politicians use Bomohs in the hope of advancing their careers, he says, and shamanistic figures make regular appearances at times of national crisis.

On the other hand, many of the country's Muslims do not agree with the actions of the Bomoh. Today a Muslim NGO, Pertubuhan Ilmuan Malaysia, spoke out against his appearance. "These nonsensical rituals embarrass the Malaysian Muslims and seem to make a mockery of proper Islamic teachings," the group's leader told reporters, external.

Have you subscribed the BBC Trending podcast? You can do so here, external via iTunes or here

All our stories are at BBC.com/trending

Top stories

  • Trump says 'good prospect' of summit with Putin and Zelensky after envoy's Russia visit

    • Published
      4 hours ago
  • 'I live in a peaceful corner of Bristol. But the house next door is empty and full of rats'

    • Published
      3 hours ago
  • Rayner asks China to explain redacted embassy plans

    • Published
      1 hour ago

More to explore

  • 'I live in a peaceful corner of Bristol. But the house next door is empty and full of rats'

    Ann Devereaux stands beside the derelict property next door - a large building now overtaken by decay. Graffiti covers the walls, weeds and shrubs grow unchecked from cracks in the brickwork, and gaping holes expose the interior to the elements.
  • 'Labour's tax war' and 'banter off the menu'

    The headline on the front page of the Express reads: "Labour's tax war is harming the economy". The headline on the front page of the Telegraph reads: "Starmer's pledge on tax thrown into chaos".
  • I have complex PTSD but waiting list means I've only seen psychiatrist once in 10 years

    Amy
  • On Ukraine's front line, twisted wreckage shows sanctions haven't yet stopped Russia

    Dymtro Chubenko stands in front of a pile of Russian missile and drone parts
  • Oceangate's Titan whistleblower: 'People were sold a lie'

    David Lochridge in a submersible looking out at an underwater reef
  • Debt, delays & desperation - how Sheff Wed crisis impacts fans

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Sheffield Wednesday fan Gaz Robinson talks to the BBC
  • Carol Kirkwood: Why weather forecasters (like me) often appear to get it wrong

    Carol Kirkwood presents the weather forecast
  • Hiroshima: Ceremony marks 80th anniversary of atomic bombing

    Attendees offer flowers during the Peace Memorial Ceremony on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
  • Future Earth newsletter: Get exclusive insight on the latest climate news from Justin Rowlatt

    Future Earth promo
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    'Labour's tax war' and 'banter off the menu'

  2. 2

    Rayner asks China to explain redacted embassy plans

  3. 3

    'I live in a peaceful corner of Bristol. But the house next door is empty and full of rats'

  4. 4

    Bank of England expected to cut interest rates

  5. 5

    Trump says 'good prospect' of summit with Putin and Zelensky after envoy's Russia visit

  6. 6

    Badenoch reveals how she told on exam cheat as teenager

  7. 7

    More teens to get their choice of uni even if they miss their grades, says Ucas

  8. 8

    The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries

  9. 9

    Trump orders India tariff hike to 50% for buying Russian oil

  10. 10

    Five troops injured after soldier opens fire at Georgia military base

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Destination X

  • Your latest reality TV obsession has landed on iPlayer

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Rob Brydon welcomes you to Destination X

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Get on board and play along at home

    • Attribution
      Game
    Destination X Game
  • Where the X are they off to next?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.