THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

224 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
other food, which enabled us to survive at the Istana Kampung Gelam until he
(Enchik Mustapha) was able to arrange for us to return to our homes in
Peninsula Malaya. We are highly indebted to him for his invaluable services.
P/S: Enchik Mustapha is now detained in Batu Gajah Prison.
After my release, I shed many tears as I read a copy of Chikgu Abu
Samah’s letter sent to my father. Of the hundreds I have helped, only one
was brave enough to write to the British authorities to speak the truth. I
am sorry to have lost this invaluable document for it contributed to my
conditional release from prison before being re-arrested and brought to
Kuala Lumpur for another round of interrogations. I did not know of this
letter at the time but I remember that as I was walking out of the prison,
the FSS Officer looked at me with less hatred in his blue eyes. He had
apparently received a copy of Chikgu Abu Samah’s letter.
Istana Kampung Gelam
KMM member Chikgu Junid and I found many clothes (especially of little
girls) and hundreds of garden tools, bags of seeds and fertilisers in the
Jalan Malcolm house now converted as KMM House. Chikgu Junid and
I hauled the clothes to Istana Kampung Gelam for distribution to the
children of Malay soldiers taking shelter there. Kind Tengku Hussein
continued to receive Malay soldiers and officers into his palace. One of
them, now Lt Col Taib bin Jais, former ADC to the King of Malaysia,
related his bitter experience in Singapore in an article entitled ‘Lt Taib
Returned from the Warfront’ in Berita Harian, 28 July 1977:
Notes
After sustaining injuries to his leg, Lt Taib hobbled to Istana Kampung Gelam
where many soldiers and Officers were taking shelter. Some hurt, others looked
lifeless. Several doctors were seen treating the injured. It goes without saying
that they have all discarded their uniforms. Lt Taib was also treated. It was only
then he realised how painful his injury was. No more sounds of shelling in
Singapore. Only silence and sadness. A few days later, Lt Taib caught a glimpse
of a man he had met while camping in Port Dickson, Mustapha Hussain.
“You want to return home?” Mustapha asked.
Lt Taib nodded his head enthusiastically. He knew Mustapha could help as
Mustapha was a KMM member. Mustapha wrote a short note for Lt Taib.
Armed with the note, Lt Taib went to the (Singapore) Railway Station. That
letter was worth its weight in gold. Two Japanese soldiers guarding the station’s
main gate let Lt Taib pass through after reading the letter.
1. Daughter Insun’s note: My father kept this palmful of Singapore soil in a cigarette tin
for 45 years till his death in 1987. My mother unwittingly threw it away after his death.