THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

150 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
After so many years of separation (1942-45), we then met again under
different circumstances. We were pitched together in one small lock-up in the
Ipoh (Central) Police Station, where we shared the little food that we had and
struck a spirit of camaraderie that I hope will not end until our dying days.
When the Field Security realised that we were birds of a feather (KMM + IIL
= bad trouble) we were immediately separated and the best we could do was to
exchange glances.
Now, dear brother Mus – you should have the satisfaction of knowing that
in my humble and considered opinion that you did your damnedest best to blaze
the trail for Malaya’s independence unlike Ibrahim Yaakub who was a mercenary
and fled to Indonesia leaving behind his followers to face the four years of
accumulated wrath of the British but not forgetting to carry away the millions
which he later claimed to be his and his alone because by acquiring the Economic
Degree it was possible for him to acquire wealth quickly, but we are not fools.
So dear Mus, this is where I sign off with Allah-Hu-Akbar (Allah is Great).
Yours very sincerely,
Hamzah A. Cunard
11 December 1975
2. Mustapha Hussain – Founding Member and Vice President
3. Hassan Haji Manan – Founding Member and Secretary I
Born in Selangor around 1910, Hassan completed Malay school before
entering a three-year teacher-training program at SITC together with
Ibrahim. He taught at Jalan Pasar Malay School in Kuala Lumpur and
lived in government quarters along the same road. He was probably of
Javanese origins. As founding member and Secretary I, his house acted
as our HQ; it was fondly referred to as the KMM Club. One typewriter
and a Gestetner machine were the only KMM assets. His wife Chik Mah
kindly prepared black coffee whenever we met. Hassan was diligent and
taciturn. When I was interviewed by CID Chief Mr L.M. Wynne on the
setting up of KMM branches, Hassan came along as Secretary I. We were
astonished how this white man knew about our movements. Every time
we took a step, we were called up to answer questions. 15
Several days before the Japanese invasion of Malaya, Hassan was
arrested and first detained at the Jalan Campbell Police lock-up in Kuala
Lumpur with other KMM members, but was later transferred to Singapore’s
Outram Road Prison, where Sutan Jenain was made cook. Released
just before the fall of Singapore, ex-detainees were taken to the Japanese
commandeered KMM House along Jalan Malcolm on 16 February 1942.
Sutan Jenain was again appointed cook, with FMS Volunteer Force
Captain Salleh bin Sulaiman, Inspector Hamzah of Kelantan and Ramli
bin Haji Tahir as voluntary assistant cooks.