Badang

In Malay Annals–style retellings, Badang begins life as a weak, small-statured labourer or slave. While working at a river or fishing site he captures a water spirit (called jembalang air / hantu air) that had been stealing his fish. He ties the spirit by its hair to a rock; the spirit begs mercy and offers a boon. The spirit says that to gain great strength Badang must swallow whatever it coughs up. The spirit then expels a bodily discharge—rendered in variants as vomit or, in sanitized retellings, two red gems (geliga)—which Badang swallows. After ingesting this, he acquires superhuman strength, is freed by his owner on the condition that he never boast and uses his strength to help others, and becomes hulubalang (court champion) to Raja Sri Rana Wicrama (Wikrama) of Singapura.

Sources emphasize Badang's exceptional strength rather than detailed visual description. Narratives state he was small and weakest among his peers before transformation and thereafter is portrayed through his capacity to lift, throw, and split massive stones and to move vessels single-handedly. The water spirit he captures is described in retellings as having eyes 'red as fire', long matted hair, and a long beard reaching the chest or waist.

Badang's acquired abilities are described across multiple accounts as superhuman physical strength. Specific episodes include: single-handedly moving a royal boat when many men could not; carrying villagers' goods in place of horses and carriages; falling onto and splitting a rock later named Batu Belah (the 'Split Stone'); lifting a large palace rock above his head and throwing it so it landed at the mouth of the Singapore River (linked in tradition to the Singapore Stone); and defeating or matching foreign champions in wrestling and strength contests (narrative opponents include champions from Kalinga/Java). Behaviorally, he serves as a loyal champion of the court and helper of common people after his release on condition of humility and public service.