Page 66 - Stories from our Grandparents

hirtless children running Mdm Ang Bah Ley Born 1948
around kampongs defined
the spirit of the 50s. At least By Javen Ng
Sthat was what I remembered ITE College East
growing up in Singapore in the 1950s.
I lived in an attap house in Yio Chu Kang. There were no water
pipes and we had to extract water from a well. The scarcity of
electricity in the home also meant “burning the midnight oil” was
a literal meaning. We would burn kerosene-soaked wicks and I
would worry every night that we ran the risk of being a fire hazard
and burning the house down!
Our youths nowadays are so privileged! Most of them need
only to focus on their studies.
“When I became a teenager, my parents forbade me to study
because they believed a girl’s place is in the home. I was
tasked to do house chores such as laundry, plant vegetables,
cook and look after a coup of chickens.”
At the age of 20, I decided to earn a living to support myself
and despite not having had an education, I managed to land
a job as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. After years of
dedication, I was promoted to restaurant manager.
Our family went through a rough patch after
the 1964 racial riots. My uncle, who worked
in a factory, was murdered by his colleague.
My family, especially my mother took it
the hardest. It was a time of unrest and
uncertainty, wrought with worry whenever we
left the house. The government imposed a
curfew, but it did not fully prevent violence.
If there was one thing I would like to impart
to the younger generation, it will be: treasure
and uphold our multi-racial peace.
8 Grandma Stories
y story is a rather interesting one, possibly a little controversial;
but when I think back, I lived through and experienced a
momentous and significant event in Singapore’s history.
MI was only 16 years old when it happened. It was the 21st
of July 1964. I remember being on a bus, on the way home from
the Islamic celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday when
suddenly, there were people throwing trash at the bus I was in.
“People were hurling trash, rocks, bottles; all sorts
of things. The din and commotion, coupled with
the rattling of sounds and terrified shrieks from the
passengers is something I will never forget.”
Later, this would come to be known as the infamous 1964 Racial
Riots. After this incident, the government issued a curfew and
various other measures to reduce the racial tensions on our island.
As you can imagine, as a teenager back then, our social lives were
seriously affected! Memory fails me as to the little details which
happened after that incident, but the shadow cast over our nation
after the Racial Riots was real and affected me personally.
My late husband was caught in the fervour and the perceived injustice
faced by our community. In fact, he even got into trouble with gang-related
activities because he wanted ‘revenge’ after listening to the sordid stories
and rumours that plagued Singapore in those days of heightened racial
tension. He was even caught by the police! Although he had never formally
joined or associated himself with any gang, because of that one incident,
every year the police would come by our house for a spot check.
Singapore has come a long way and I am glad that in my old age,
incidents like these are not something we need to worry about
anymore. We have peace, stability and harmony among all the
communities and it is very important that the younger generations
continue to keep it that way.
Mdm Jameah Bte Kastubi
By Diyana Shaihah Bte Ramdan Born 1948
ITE College East
Grandma Stories 9