THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

198 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
22
Saving Three Malay Police Officers 1
In January 1942, while talking with KMM Secretary M.N. Othman, a
Japanese officer burst into KMM House summoning me to the F Kikan
HQ for something extremely important. As my legs were in pain, I took
the car. Several Japanese officers were waiting for me at the large
bungalow, now the F Kikan HQ. My heart was thumping.
In a room upstairs, Onan Haji Siraj and several Japanese officers were
waiting anxiously. I saw Major Fujiwara sitting under a mosquito net 2 as
he was suffering from malaria. Just before entering the room, I saw a
plump Malay man with a bushy moustache standing outside. Inside were
two Malays, one a slender and very handsome man, the other a big-built,
fair-skinned man with the ramrod straight posture of either a police or
military officer. I recognised the second man, Jalaluddin Abu Bakar, as
he was from my wife’s hometown, Temoh.
As it turned out, the three Malays, all British Police Officers, had
been arrested by Onan in their homes and brought to the F Kikan HQ in
a car belonging to one of the three. The Japanese officers looked grim
while the three Malays were pale with unspeakable fear. As soon as I
entered the room, all eyes focused on me. Onan got up to pace the room,
with his teeth gnashing in anger. In my heart, I said, “What now? Who
else has he arrested?”
When Major Fujiwara ordered me to interrogate the three, I asked
KMM member Chikgu Mohd Isa Sulaiman to assist me by taking notes.
It was good that Major Fujiwara still remembered his promise to consult
me on all matters pertaining to Malay detainees. Luckier still, Major
Fujiwara continued to respect me as a Malay leader and referred all
matters to me, and not to Onan.
I started my questioning under the full observation of everyone in
the room. Whatever I did not want written, I signalled to Chikgu Mohd
Isa by nudging his foot under the table. To convince the Japanese officers,
I growled my questions harshly and rudely. I also snapped at the detainees
when they were slow in responding.