Page 119 - Stories from our Grandparents

y late grandmother told my father many stories about the past.
He would in turn share these stories with me. Now that I am
a grandmother, I want the future generations to know about “My family and I could not afford to buy
Mthe past. I am Salmah Binte Kasmani, and this is my story.
the food and ate things that we could
The year was 1964 when I was twenty-eight years old. That was a year get for free, such as the fruit named
before Singapore’s independence in 1965. I faced a lot of challenges Jambu. This made me very hungry most
and struggles back then.
of the time. I felt very scared as if my
On 21 July 1964, race riots took parents were not always there for me,
place and that day was Prophet as they had health problems.”
Muhammad’s birthday. I was so
scared and terrified but thankfully From that experience, I think Singapore have changed a lot from the past.
I had a family who help me to feel Now Singapore is a very modern country that is very safe and peaceful.
more safe such as my husband Singapore now has a lot of facilities and amenities that keep up with our
and parents. The race riots were digital world today. Singapore also changed in the way the Chinese, Malay,
between various Malays and Indian and other races treat each other. They are harmonious. Hence the
Chinese. I was very scared as a lot need for commemorating Racial Harmony day. Singapore has improved from
of people were injured and killed the past and now everyone has enough food and shelter.
as I looked out the window and
witnessed everything. I had to be very careful During Singapore’s past, I felt vulnerable and useless as I
Kenneth Chia Collection, when I was outdoors as due to the race riots. I was could not help my parents. Now i have studied hard so I can
courtesy of National told that the Chinese targeted the Malays and the get a job and support my parents. My parents can now rest
Archives of Singapore
Malays targeted the Chinese. Since I was a Malay, and get their own freedom, after all the hardship they went
I had to avoid the Chinese. Due to that intense through to support me.
situation, I often stayed indoors to be safe.
Now, I have my own family and they have given me a lot of support
I also had to struggle with a lack of food and I had nowhere to stay. My by taking care of the whole family. Often, I tell my children stories
family and I stayed in a shelter that provided basic services like water and about Singapore’s past. I believe that they need to know the struggles
electrical supply. I came from a poor family so we made full use of what we that I had to overcome and the importance of appreciating the
had and what we could get. I struggled with the amount of food my family stability that Singapore has today.
had as food prices increased greatly by 30% when the transport system
such as buses and trains was disrupted during the unrest, causing further
hardship for the others.

Mdm Salmah Binte Kasmani Born 1936

Grandma Stories
60 Grandma Stories By Shazana Bin Saifuddin 61
Pasir Ris Secondary School