Japanese Occupation- Dato' Param.pdf - Malaysian Paediatric ...

her about this sad ending. She said “My father’s wish all his life was to be able to reunite with the family
that cared for him when he was a young lonely boy, serving on the Japanese army in Malaya. He
managed to live long enough to fulfil this wish. He died in peace. Your family will always be part of our
family. Sayonara Aunti”We were all deeply moved to hear this sad end to a friendship that spanned
over 40 years. Sayonara Awoyagi san.)
The Japanese atrocities committed in Penang has been a topic of frequent discussion. The Policing by
their Kempeitai was some what equivalent to the German Gestapo. The Penang Shimbun, the local
paper, produced by the Japanese, kept us informed (a doctored version) of the world news. The head of
the Kempeitai was Suzuki. He was short, podgy, with a thick mustache. He used to travel in his fast
speed boat, standing behind, holding on with one hand to the flag pole and the other hand on his sword.
The story goes that he could make the trip from Prai (where he was stationed) to Penang in 8 minutes.
When we were on the beach, we often saw his boat racing across the sea, Japanese flag flapping in the
breeze, and this arrogant monster, with a smirk on his plebeian face, standing behind the boat. His
speciality was ‘head chopping.’
One Sunday afternoon, my brother came rushing in very excited-Suzuki was going to chop off the
head of two Chinese prisoners who were caught stealing food from the Japanese Camp. It was to be at
the field, by the side of the beach, near the BRC Club. My father immediately decided to go , and both
he and my brother rushed through their lunch. In the mean time, I got myself ready and was standing by
the door. My brother took one look at me and said “We are not taking him”. My father patted me on the
head and pacified me ”You are too young”. They then rushed off. I went to my room and cried my heart
out-always too young. I am tired of being a ‘thambi’.
Some 3 hours later they came back to relate the story, both so excited that they had witnessed a
beheading.(My brother didn’t tell us until much later, he was scared, and had stood far away).My father
had squeezed himself to the front, and had a clear view o f the execution. The prisoners were first given
a spade each, and ordered to dig their own graves. Suzuki stood around ,with his hand on his sword,
watching, as the other Japanese soldiers organised the execution. When the graves were ready, the
crime committed by the prisoners was read out to them. The prisoners were then directed to get on
their knees, with their hands tied behind their back, heads down facing the grave. Suzuki stood gloating
, looked around, to make sure everybody was watching, unsheathed his Samurai sword, lifted it up,
brandishing it around for effect, and then with both his hands gripping tightly on the handle, and with a
mighty cry, “Banzai” wielded the glittering sword, and with one blow, chopped off the head of the first
prisoner. Blood gushed out of the bare neck like a fountain. He the kicked the body into the grave. The
crowd suddenly went very quiet. A soldier then stepped forward to wipe his bloody sword with a rag. He
then strutted to the other prisoner, who was on his knees, in tears, and begging for his life. With aplomb
and arrogance, he then went on to chop the other prisoner’s head. He then turned to the crowd and
told them “This is what happens if you steal from the Japanese.” “Wakarimasuka, Wakarimasuka ” “Do
you understand. Do you understand”. A soldier wiped the blood from his sword. He then put it back
into the sheath, took one last look at the petrified crowd, and with a wry smile on his face, got into his
motorcar and was driven away. The shocked crowd slowly dispersed. They were informed that the 2
heads would be displayed at the main Butterworth Junction. We all sat transfixed, listening to this
horrific story. My father who was always very practical said “We must all go and see the heads this
evening”.