THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

216 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
miles from Singora to Singapore in 70 days. Power with speed! Speed
with power!
While Japanese soldiers were jubilantly throwing their boshis into the
air and hugging each other, all inhibitions thrown to the wind, I went to
see the Malay soldiers under KMM’s care. Seeing they were all right, I
promised to get them released. I looked for Major Fujiwara. This smiling,
cool and calm Japanese Officer had not turned down any of my requests,
including difficult ones (for him and the Japanese Imperial Army), such
as the release of CID Officers who openly admitted to arresting Japanese
citizens, some of whom were now serving the F Kikan and the
Japanese Military Police (Kempeitai). Fujiwara had also not acted against
me for exposing to Lt Gen. Itagaki the revolting conduct of Japanese
soldiers in Ipoh.
But today, the day of sweet victory and mass jubilation, when I asked
him to release the Malay soldiers in our care, he was touchy. He said,
“Now, this matter is one that can only be handled by the High Command.
I cannot do much any more.” He pointed out that many Japanese soldiers
were killed at the hand of the Malay Regiment soldiers who “fought to
the last bullet as if the British were their father!”
It was true. When Japanese soldiers landed in Singapore, the men who
fought them to the death were Malay soldiers ordered to be rear guard
defence to ensure safe British retreat. (The British could no longer trust
Indian soldiers after Captain Mohan Singh and his followers became
turncoats in North Malaya.) It has been recorded that on 13 February,
the First Battalion of the Malay Regiment ferociously and stubbornly
battled the Japanese for 48 hours. A Japanese Lieutenant added fuel to
the fire when he reported an incident in Bukit Chandu. “We threatened
to pour petrol and set ablaze the undergrowth around a group of Malay
soldiers but they were stubborn until we were able to kill their leader.”
Looking back, I think he was talking about valiant Lt Adnan, whose
bravery is well recognised.
But I remained firm and kept insisting that they release Malay
soldiers into our care. I told Major Fujiwara, “You allow it or not, you
like it or not, I will let them go. They are borderline cases and should
receive due consideration. Furthermore, they fought under orders. You are
a soldier, you should know what orders are!”
At the end of the argument, the first we ever had, once again Fujiwara
agreed to my request, although this time, his consent came only after my
appeal was supported by his private secretary and by Chief Interpreter
Otaguro, for whom Fujiwara had great respect. This proved, yet again,
Major Fujiwara was a gentle, considerate and humane person. (For the