Page 67 - Stories from our Grandparents

hirtless children running Mdm Ang Bah Ley Born 1948 y story is a rather interesting one, possibly a little controversial;
around kampongs defined but when I think back, I lived through and experienced a
the spirit of the 50s. At least By Javen Ng momentous and significant event in Singapore’s history.
Sthat was what I remembered ITE College East MI was only 16 years old when it happened. It was the 21st
growing up in Singapore in the 1950s. of July 1964. I remember being on a bus, on the way home from
the Islamic celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday when
I lived in an attap house in Yio Chu Kang. There were no water suddenly, there were people throwing trash at the bus I was in.
pipes and we had to extract water from a well. The scarcity of
electricity in the home also meant “burning the midnight oil” was “People were hurling trash, rocks, bottles; all sorts
a literal meaning. We would burn kerosene-soaked wicks and I of things. The din and commotion, coupled with
would worry every night that we ran the risk of being a fire hazard the rattling of sounds and terrified shrieks from the
and burning the house down!
passengers is something I will never forget.”
Our youths nowadays are so privileged! Most of them need
only to focus on their studies. Later, this would come to be known as the infamous 1964 Racial
Riots. After this incident, the government issued a curfew and
“When I became a teenager, my parents forbade me to study various other measures to reduce the racial tensions on our island.
As you can imagine, as a teenager back then, our social lives were
because they believed a girl’s place is in the home. I was seriously affected! Memory fails me as to the little details which
tasked to do house chores such as laundry, plant vegetables, happened after that incident, but the shadow cast over our nation
cook and look after a coup of chickens.” after the Racial Riots was real and affected me personally.

At the age of 20, I decided to earn a living to support myself My late husband was caught in the fervour and the perceived injustice
and despite not having had an education, I managed to land faced by our community. In fact, he even got into trouble with gang-related
a job as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. After years of activities because he wanted ‘revenge’ after listening to the sordid stories
dedication, I was promoted to restaurant manager. and rumours that plagued Singapore in those days of heightened racial
tension. He was even caught by the police! Although he had never formally
Our family went through a rough patch after joined or associated himself with any gang, because of that one incident,
the 1964 racial riots. My uncle, who worked every year the police would come by our house for a spot check.
in a factory, was murdered by his colleague.
My family, especially my mother took it Singapore has come a long way and I am glad that in my old age,
the hardest. It was a time of unrest and incidents like these are not something we need to worry about
uncertainty, wrought with worry whenever we anymore. We have peace, stability and harmony among all the
left the house. The government imposed a communities and it is very important that the younger generations
curfew, but it did not fully prevent violence. continue to keep it that way.

If there was one thing I would like to impart
to the younger generation, it will be: treasure Mdm Jameah Bte Kastubi
and uphold our multi-racial peace.

By Diyana Shaihah Bte Ramdan Born 1948
ITE College East
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