Page 122 - Stories from our Grandparents

I During the times rice was available, we needed to queue for it.
was born in Singapore in 1936. I was only six years old when World
War II started. I can vividly remember the life that I had during the
World War II. I had a tough life during my childhood because of the
war. The Japanese made life difficult for everyone in Singapore. They
tortured the people without reason and had no mercy for them.
I lived in a place which is known as Kembangan today. I remember
seeing Japanese men entering houses and taking away young
ladies from their families. Even though I was only six years old,
I was aware that these Japanese were cruel. They would stab the
family members who refused to give the young ladies to them.
The Japanese also tortured the Caucasians by making them walk
barefooted for a long distance in a single file at ‘Wayang Satu’,
which is now known as Bukit Timah.
One day, my grandmother came home late. When we asked her why, she
told us that she was knocked on the head by the Japanese just because she
walked in front of them. Her head was bleeding. It was a scene that I could
never forget. Despite hating them, I worked for the Japanese. I was only nine
years old. My job was to dip a long metal rod in a solution. I did not actually
know what it was for but I believe it was to make bombs or weapons.
I remembered that we always had to walk with our hands on our heads
or we would get beaten up by the Japanese soldiers.
My family was deeply affected by the Japanese Occupation.
My dad sold opium to feed our family. To help my family with our
financial problems, my mom also worked as a senior clerk in an
opium company. It was very difficult to get food. My family and
I ate only tapioca most of the time. We made bee hoon by cutting
tapioca skin into thin pieces and frying it. There was rice but only
on rare occasions.
Mdm Latiffah Bte Abdullah
Born 1936
By Nuruddini Hidni Bte Khalid
64
Grandma Stories
Pasir Ris Secondary School
I usually followed my mother to queue for rice. Even after queuing for
a long time, we usually only received 3 kati of rice.
“Eventually, the Japanese finally left Singapore.
I remember that I heard people shouting for joy after
they heard the news. There was a radio broadcast
announcing that the Japanese had finally left
Singapore. A lot of people including myself, felt
very relieved when we heard about the news.”
I then moved to a kampong and its name was Lorong
Stangee. I remember some of the childhood games that
I played there. My friends and I would pick up cigarette
butts on the ground and peel the paper. We would crush
the paper and use it to shoot at each other. We played
with rubber bands and balls too.
A few years later, Singapore merged with Malaysia. My family was not
affected in any way. The merger caused racial riots. Although I was not a
part of any of them but I remember seeing the start of one. I was married
with 2 children then. I was very scared and worried for the safety of my
family. I was living at Lorong 9 in Geylang and the riot was at Lorong 12.
When the riot started, I grabbed my son and ran for our lives. “Kain ketat all
koyak” (means tight dress all torn). Even though my dress was torn, I did not
care because all I remember was that I had to run as fast as I could.
Then came 9th August 1965. “Merdeka!” That was all I heard that
was being shouted by everyone. I did not join in the rally but the
happy atmosphere could be felt everywhere. Singapore was finally
separated from Malaysia and became an independent country since.
For the next few years, I noticed fresh developments and new flats
were built to replace the kampong houses.
My name is Latiffah Bte Abdullah and this is my story. As much as I am
grateful for my life, I hope that none of my family members and future
Singapore generation will ever have to go through the hardship that I faced
during the World War II. May Singapore stay peaceful and prosperous for
generations to come.
Grandma Stories 65