Page 148 - Stories from our Grandparents

Mdm rasinah Binte Suri Born 1946

By Sherrifah Nurhuda Binte Syed
Hassan Alkadree
Temasek Polytechnic

ll my life I have only worked to feed my children, send them to “Then, she witnessed the turbulent period of pre-
school and pay for the house bills”, my maternal grandmother independence that happened on Prophet’s Muhammad
replied when I asked her about an interesting birthday. A group of Malays were having a parade and out of
“Aexperience that remains in her memory.
a sudden, the Chinese were triggered. This led to verbal wars
My grandmother, Rasinah Binte Suri, was born on 16 and other forms of violence. After that incident, the residents
August 1946. During her childhood days, she lived in were given an announcement through the radio and they were
a kampong and picked up the Chinese language as
she used to visit her father’s workplace often which informed that they were not allowed to leave the house at a
is owned by a Chinese businessman. The workplace particular timing as investigation was conducted.”
that was located at Cuscaden Road had a very big
garden with fruit trees. However, that place has now A year later when Lee Kuan Yew decided to part ways with Malaysia
been demolished and is replaced by bungalow and and gained independence, life in Singapore began settling down
condominium. harmoniously. Till today, riots are almost unheard of.

At the age of 12 my grandmother had to stop Listening to my grandmother’s life experiences made me
schooling and help her mother at work. Her married life realise she developed self-independence at such an early
then came at the age of 16 when she was match made with age, and how much Singapore has developed over the
her second cousin from the paternal side, my grandfather. years. I am grateful to have that freedom of life choices now,
The newlyweds moved to a two-room flat at Commonwealth although there is no escape from hardships. She taught me
Block 114. Her source of income came from working as a that nothing in life comes easy – either you work hard and
housekeeper with the British Army and selling traditional strive now or regret later.
Malay kuih, bite-sized snack or dessert, which
was very popular among the residents. A year
later, after working shifts between selling kuih and
housekeeping, my grandmother gave birth to her
first child. Her lifestyle remained the same until the
riot that happened in 1964.

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