THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

The First Malay Nationalists 163
domiciled in Colorado, United States, and Ibrahim Yaakub, or Drs Iskandar Kamel,
in Indonesia.
Mustapha Hussain is still alive, but is not well... I feel someone like Enchik
Mustapha Hussain, who has contributed a great deal to the people and the nation,
should be bestowed with some token of appreciation by the authorities who know
‘how to distinguish a diamond from glass’.
17. A Riwayat Kinta excerpt:
In the confusion and turmoil of war, it was said that the Japanese senior officers
had commandeered Ipoh’s St Michael’s Institution. Many people went to receive
them and seemed glad to welcome the fellow Asians. The Orang Besar Jajahan Kinta
(Kinta District Chieftain) Che Wan and his friends, some with J.P. titles, also went.
Dato’ Panglima Kinta introduced himself as the Orang Besar Jajahan Kinta to
the Military Officer through a Japanese translator. The translator asked if there was
anyone among them holding important positions in associations or clubs. Advisors
to the Dato’ gestured their answer. So, the Dato’ said, Ipoh Malays had no associations.
I intervened, “How can you say the Malays in Ipoh have no association. You
yourself are President of the Kinta Malay Club.” He was stunned.
The translator asked again, “The Chief (Japanese Officer) wants to know who is
a club member?”
I moved forward and said, “I am Secretary of the Perak Malay Youth Association.”
While I was saying that, a young Malay in khaki shorts, short-sleeved shirt, and
tousled hair came forward. He showed a small notebook he was carrying. The
translator ordered everyone to return home and to come again another day.
The Malay youth was brought upstairs. “Oh, Onan,” I said when I recalled that
he was the son of Haji Siraj. His father, an engine driver at Isis Cinema, was a friend.
It was like a dream. We members of the Perak Malay Youth Association committee
were safe with God’s grace and were able to get together. The others, Enchik Zakaria
Modal, Haji Mohamad Azhari together with us, were busy telling one another our
personal experiences. The one not there was our Treasurer, Enchik Nahar bin Manan,
brother-in-law to Onan. Nahar had been arrested by the British.
The British troops had fled. The Japanese military had arrived. Some said the
British fled for only a short while, perhaps three years. They would return. All kinds
of speculations were heard.