The Japanese Invasion 
When the Japanese invaded Malaya on 5th December l942, I was only three years old. I remember my mother recalling the hard time she had to go into hiding inside the ‘Big drain’ near her uncle’s house, whenever they heard a warning siren, to escape the invading Japanese soldiers.
My mother used to refer to this place as ‘Kampung Sina Dua’. Now this placed is renamed Jalan Telipot.
But by the time the Japanese left in l945, I was already 6 years old. I have already started my Koran and religious classes in the local mosque. In those days all religious activities were held at the local mosque. I also remember the time when a Japanese airplane was shot down by the British as it was flying over Kota Bharu.
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I remember following a group of adults, going over to Lorong Che Majid, which was not far from my house to watch a gory sight. I was looking on the top of a coconut tree. I saw a Japanese soldiers’ cap dangling on the top of a coconut tree. The coconut tree looked like it had just been strike by lightening. With all the leaves gone leaving only the dangling cap.
I also saw burning pieces of metal wreckage scattered all over the place. The plane had crashed on top of one of the houses in the vicinity. It was still burning when we reached the crash site. Luckily only half of the house was affected and nobody in the house was injured in the incident. But I was told that there was one eye socked belonging to the Japanese soldier still stuck to one of the coconut tree. We watched at a distance and were not allowed to go near.
Other than that incident, I do not remember much about the Japanese. But I did remember my mother use to sing Japanese songs and I use to listen to Japanese songs being sung in the school nearby. By the way our house was only about 30 meters away from the school.
My grandmother used to tell me that the Japanese soldiers had once came to my grandmother’s house, and she had to plead with them not to take her ‘blanket’, because she was hiding something under the blanket. She was hiding my mother. The Japanese left without disturbing or taking away her blanket. Now, 50 years after gaining independent, so many stories had been told. Stories of the cruelty of the Japanese took centre stage. We now hear how people had been taken away by the Japanese at gunpoint to build railway lines into Burma and how women were made to become sex slaves. There were evidences of the Japanese brutalities in old buildings where people were beheaded for the slightest mistakes or disobedience to their commands. In those days few would dare to talk about it. They were too embarrassed or too scared to break their silence lest they be branded Rebellious or anti-establishment.
So, they all suffered in silence. Very few would dare to break the silence. Some were even afraid to talk about it.
66 years later everybody wants to talk about it.
The mass media is becoming such a big hit with the masses that everybody wanted to share their experiences. Their stories had been documented, exposed and broadcast over the media so extensively that, it is hard to think that such dreadful incidents could be tolerated for so long.
This is what we call freedom of expression. Only in a full democratic country like ours can such freedom be enjoyed by its citizens. We are not afraid of any repercussions from the authorities. We are in control of our own destiny. We can make decision based on our own agendas, our needs and our aspirations.
Pre-merdeka, only a handful of people can make it to the top, be it in the civil service or in the corporate sector. There were too few opportunities then.
Now our economic sector is booming. Healthcare became our priorities. Eradication of poverty became our focus. Equal opportunities in our educational systems became our agenda. Universal recognitions and achievements became our aspirations and determinations.
One nation for all is the vision of our leaders and every citizen should be proud of this beloved country of ours. This country is ours for keep. No one should ever be allowed to disturb this peace and harmony that we have so lovingly guarded with sweat and blood from our ancestors. They fought so bravely with all their spirits and determination.
Children born in this age are so lucky. We should all be thankful to all our past leaders for their contribution in bringing us to where we are today. MERDEKA!
When the Japanese invaded Malaya on 5th December l942, I was only three years old. I remember my mother recalling the hard time she had to go into hiding inside the ‘Big drain’ near her uncle’s house, whenever they heard a warning siren, to escape the invading Japanese soldiers.My mother used to refer to this place as ‘Kampung Sina Dua’. Now this placed is renamed Jalan Telipot.
But by the time the Japanese left in l945, I was already 6 years old. I have already started my Koran and religious classes in the local mosque. In those days all religious activities were held at the local mosque. I also remember the time when a Japanese airplane was shot down by the British as it was flying over Kota Bharu.
.
I remember following a group of adults, going over to Lorong Che Majid, which was not far from my house to watch a gory sight. I was looking on the top of a coconut tree. I saw a Japanese soldiers’ cap dangling on the top of a coconut tree. The coconut tree looked like it had just been strike by lightening. With all the leaves gone leaving only the dangling cap.
I also saw burning pieces of metal wreckage scattered all over the place. The plane had crashed on top of one of the houses in the vicinity. It was still burning when we reached the crash site. Luckily only half of the house was affected and nobody in the house was injured in the incident. But I was told that there was one eye socked belonging to the Japanese soldier still stuck to one of the coconut tree. We watched at a distance and were not allowed to go near.
Other than that incident, I do not remember much about the Japanese. But I did remember my mother use to sing Japanese songs and I use to listen to Japanese songs being sung in the school nearby. By the way our house was only about 30 meters away from the school.
My grandmother used to tell me that the Japanese soldiers had once came to my grandmother’s house, and she had to plead with them not to take her ‘blanket’, because she was hiding something under the blanket. She was hiding my mother. The Japanese left without disturbing or taking away her blanket. Now, 50 years after gaining independent, so many stories had been told. Stories of the cruelty of the Japanese took centre stage. We now hear how people had been taken away by the Japanese at gunpoint to build railway lines into Burma and how women were made to become sex slaves. There were evidences of the Japanese brutalities in old buildings where people were beheaded for the slightest mistakes or disobedience to their commands. In those days few would dare to talk about it. They were too embarrassed or too scared to break their silence lest they be branded Rebellious or anti-establishment.
So, they all suffered in silence. Very few would dare to break the silence. Some were even afraid to talk about it.
66 years later everybody wants to talk about it.
The mass media is becoming such a big hit with the masses that everybody wanted to share their experiences. Their stories had been documented, exposed and broadcast over the media so extensively that, it is hard to think that such dreadful incidents could be tolerated for so long.
This is what we call freedom of expression. Only in a full democratic country like ours can such freedom be enjoyed by its citizens. We are not afraid of any repercussions from the authorities. We are in control of our own destiny. We can make decision based on our own agendas, our needs and our aspirations.
Pre-merdeka, only a handful of people can make it to the top, be it in the civil service or in the corporate sector. There were too few opportunities then.
Now our economic sector is booming. Healthcare became our priorities. Eradication of poverty became our focus. Equal opportunities in our educational systems became our agenda. Universal recognitions and achievements became our aspirations and determinations.
One nation for all is the vision of our leaders and every citizen should be proud of this beloved country of ours. This country is ours for keep. No one should ever be allowed to disturb this peace and harmony that we have so lovingly guarded with sweat and blood from our ancestors. They fought so bravely with all their spirits and determination.
Children born in this age are so lucky. We should all be thankful to all our past leaders for their contribution in bringing us to where we are today. MERDEKA!
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