Exploring Old Brunei: A Hostel Adventure

The Old Brunei Hostel, also known as the Asrama Kerajaan Brunei di Singapura (AKBS) or Tanglin Brunei Hostel, is an abandoned building in Singapore. It was built in 1958 to house an increasing number of students from Brunei who were studying in Singapore. The Bruneian government purchased the land and built the hostel to provide lodging, meals, laundry, textbooks, and allowances for the students. The hostel was in operation until the 1980s when Brunei stopped sending students to Singapore as their own education system had improved. The building has been abandoned since then and is currently owned by the Brunei Consulate. It is located in the affluent district of Tanglin, among huge bungalows and embassies. The Old Brunei Hostel is a popular spot for photographers and filmmakers due to its unique setting and has also gained a reputation for being haunted.

The Old Brunei Hostel's history

The Old Brunei Hostel, also known as the Tanglin Brunei Hostel, was constructed in the mid-1950s by the Bruneian government to accommodate the increasing number of Bruneian students studying in Singapore. The hostel was built on a piece of land purchased by the Bruneian government at Tanglin Hill.

In the early 1950s, Brunei lacked a recognised educational system due to a shortage of trained local teachers. As a result, the Bruneian government decided to send its brightest students overseas. Some of these students were sent to Singapore, residing around Jalan Haji Salam and Geylang.

Completed in 1958, the hostel became known as Asrama Kerajaan Brunei di Singapura (AKBS) or Tanglin (Hill) Brunei Hostel. The buildings were designed in a colonial style, with a multi-storey block added a few years later to accommodate the increasing number of students, as well as Bruneian government officials on training programs and some Malayan students. The hostel provided students with meals, laundry, textbooks, and allowances. It also served as a place to celebrate Bruneian festivals and holidays, such as Hari Raya and the Sultan's Birthday, and to play sports like badminton, hockey, sepak takraw, and table tennis.

By the 1980s, Brunei had developed its own secondary school education system, reducing the number of students sent overseas for secondary education. As a result, the Bruneian government decided to close the hostel in 1983, and it has remained abandoned ever since. Today, the property is still owned by the Brunei Consulate, but the buildings have fallen into disrepair and are now a favourite spot for urban explorers.

The building's current state

The Old Brunei Hostel, also known as the Tanglin Brunei Hostel, has been abandoned since the mid-1980s. The building is located in the affluent district of Tanglin Hill, where it sticks out among the surrounding mansions and bungalows. The hostel's current state is dilapidated and rundown, with broken fences, overgrown vegetation, and a generally unkempt appearance. The interior of the building is littered with debris, and some parts of the structure, such as the ceiling and floor tiles, are falling apart. The rooms that once housed students are now empty, with wardrobes left half-open, giving the impression that the occupants had only recently packed up and left. The building is also reportedly infested with mosquitoes and cockroaches.

The Old Brunei Hostel has become a popular location for photographers, filmmakers, and paranormal enthusiasts due to its eerie atmosphere and appearance. Some visitors have reported paranormal experiences, such as hearing raucous sounds of boys playing and women wailing. There have also been claims of feeling cold spots and sensing sinister forces within the area. The site is also rumoured to be a hideaway for drug users.

Despite its current state, the Old Brunei Hostel is still owned by the Brunei government and is under constant video surveillance. Caretakers employed by the government maintain the greenery around the building but do not seem to be carrying out any repairs to the structure itself. The future of the building is uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether it will be redeveloped or left to continue deteriorating.

The building's future

The Old Brunei Hostel, also known as the Asrama Kerajaan Brunei di Singapura (AKBS) or Tanglin (Hill) Brunei Hostel, has been abandoned since the mid-1980s. The building was once a dormitory for bright young students from Brunei to study in Singapore. It was in operation from 1958 until the 1980s, when Brunei stopped sending students to Singapore as its own education system had improved.

The future of the Old Brunei Hostel is uncertain. The building is currently owned by the Brunei Consulate, who have no evident plans for its development. Caretakers employed by the government maintain the greenery but do little to repair the structure, which is gradually falling apart. The building is popular with photographers and filmmakers, who are undeterred by the "No Trespassing" sign. However, the building is also reportedly a haunt for drug users, and there are concerns that it could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The building's use by photographers and filmmakers

The Old Brunei Hostel, now abandoned, has become a popular location for photographers and filmmakers. The building's unique architecture and state of disrepair offer a dramatically different setting from the high-rise and well-maintained buildings that are commonplace in the rest of Singapore.

Photographers are drawn to the site as it provides a change from the usual backdrops of the city. Local photographer and filmmaker Kwok Tuck Loong has experience shooting at the Old Brunei Hostel and is able to offer insight into why the location is so popular.

Filmmakers have also been drawn to the site, with one group shooting a kidnap scene for a short film there. The building's run-down state and secluded location make it an ideal spot for filming eerie scenes.

The Old Brunei Hostel is not without its risks, however. The building is gradually falling apart, and there have been reports of people being arrested for trespassing. Nature is also beginning to reclaim the site, with grass and vegetation overgrowing parts of the compound.

The building's reputation as a haunted site

The Old Brunei Hostel, or the Tanglin Hill Brunei Hostel, has developed a reputation as a haunted site. Despite there being no record of serious crimes or murders at thesection, the derelict building has become a favourite haunt for those interested in the paranormal.

The Old Brunei Hostel was built in 1958 to house the increasing number of Bruneian students studying in Singapore. The Bruneian government purchased the land in the exclusive neighbourhood of Tanglin Hill, where the rich and famous reside. The hostel provided lodging, meals, laundry, textbooks, and allowances for the students living within its rooms. It also served as a place to remind students of their Bruneian heritage, with national events such as Hari Raya, Maulidul Rasul, Israk Mikraj, and the Sultan's Birthday being celebrated at the hostel.

The hostel closed down in 1983 when Brunei developed its own elite secondary schools, and it has remained abandoned ever since. Over time, the building has fallen into disrepair and has become overgrown with nature. It is now fenced off and marked with "No Trespassing" signs, but that hasn't stopped adventurous souls from entering the premises, especially at night.

Some visitors to the Old Brunei Hostel have reported paranormalsection paranormal experiences, including feeling cold spots despite the warm climate, sensing a sinister force, and even spotting shadowy figures and orbs. One investigation claimed to have found evidence of a Pontianak or jinn living on the abandoned campus. There have also been reports of hearing raucous sounds of boys playing in the grass field and women wailing.

While there is no known history of traumatic events occurring at the Old Brunei Hostel, its current state, along with the reported paranormal experiences, has led to its reputation as a haunted site.

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