CHAPTER 5: THE WAR YEARS

In 1940, the Japanese attacked Malaya and father ( who was about 13 years old), had to stop schooling. Grandfather ceased going to the Malay kampongs to trade. They ran and hid in Semburong, thinking the Japanese would not go as far inland as there. Many stories have been told and written about life under the Japanese. It was terrifying time for many. My grandfather took up farming. The women dared not venture out of the house for fear of being taken by the Japanese.

Grandfather (taken in his sixties)

The Japanese Imperial Army ruled Malaya for 4 years. There was an underground resistance movement, mostly the communist. It was hard for my grandparents who were trying to eke out a living by farming. The resistance army (comprising mostly the communist) were harassing the Chinese families for food. They would sometimes kill members of a family for not complying with their demands for food. The Japanese introduced food rations and kept a close eye on the Chinese. They would kill members of any family whom they suspect to be helping the resistance army. To add to the people's hardship, there was a curfew imposed.

Grandfather would leave the house early in the morning (when the curfew was lifted) and go to the farm near the jungle fringe and return home just before the curfew. He and many of the farmers had to pass the Japanese guards who would frisk them for food and weapons. Of course they had to bow each time they meet any of the soldiers. If they failed to bow deep enough, they would be slapped. There were times the soldiers would harass them when they were working in the farms.

The Japanese imposed curfew so that they could control the movements of the people. There was once when grandfather missed the curfew and he had to spent the night in the farm. The next day the village chief reported him to the Japanese. No amount of bowing and apologies would appease  the soldiers. After slapping him, they gave him the 'water treatment'. A hose was forced into his throat and water was pumped in untill his belly bloated. Then they would stomp on the belly and repeat the process. It must have been a harrowing experience. After that he was jailed. Fortunately a Malay man bailed him out. His name was Selamat.

"How can I thank you enough?" my grandfather asked. " No need to thank , but if you have a daughter you can give her to me as a token of our friendship." Without thinking further, grandfather just said "Sure." At that time, grandmother was almost full term in her pregnancy. She soon gave birth to a baby girl. Selamat came to claim the baby but grandparents refused to give him the baby. Selamat was angry and threathened grandfather. Fearing reprisal for Selamat had strong connections with the Japanese, they reluctantly handed the baby to him. I' not sure how grandmother reacted to this, but I can only conjecture. She used to tell this story and added , " Your grandfather made loose promises to people." I guess this was her trump card whenever she had arguments with grandfather. Then there were times she would get angry with my mother and then said accusingly, " You get to keep your daughters!!" as if it were a crime. I don't know how my father reacted to the news that his baby sister was given away but my 2nd uncle wailed inconsolably when he found that his baby sister was given away.

After grandfather's water treatment, my father's hatred for the Japanese took another turn. before that, he was just concerned with survival and avoided getting into trouble with the Japanese. But now, he decided to do something to pay them back. he decided to join the MPAJA or Malayan People Anti Japanese Movement. He made preparations to go into the jungle. My grandparents entreated him not to join. After much tears and entreaties from them, he did not join the movement.

Grandmother in her seventies

The Japanese also rounded up many men and either sent them to work camps till the men die of exhaustion, disease and starvation, otherwise, they would  just execute the prisoners. Young men were the targets. One morning, a group of Japanese soldiers came to the village and began rounding up all the young men they could find. Father was among them rounded up. They were loaded in a truck and sent to Parit Raja. Grandfather was working in the farm, so he didn't know about it. Grandmother heard the news and she began to enquire the whereabouts of  the young men. She heard they were taken by the Japanese soldiers. Quickly, she ran to a friend who was working for a Japanese estate manager and appealed for help to release my father. She brought 2 chickens with her. Her friend appealed to the Japanese manager and on seeing the chickens, he agreed to help. (I guess chickens were a luxury even for the Japanese). In the evening, my father was released and came home. That is why grandmother always told us, 'Your father's life is worth 2 chickens." Kudos to her for her courage and quick action. Of course grandmother was grateful to this friend and later, after the war, arranged for 2nd uncle to marry this friend's daughter.