THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

Courageous Fighting Malay Men 229
the enemy was sighted he took a rifle from a wounded NCO and fired it coolly
until his trench was overrun.
He was seen to dodge several attempts to bayonet him, and how he escaped
death in that desperate encounter is not known. Twenty four hours later he made
contact with a number of officers and men of the Malay Regiment and of the
Malacca Volunteers at Farrer Park and there he was detained….
During my Farrer Park visit, I decided to say what I had to say to
Capt. Raja Aman Shah in view of his seniority and intelligent demeanour.
I informed him of the impending ‘hearts and minds’ investigations by a
team of Japanese officers, which would undoubtedly revolve around the
question of loyalty and attitude towards the new regime. When I told him
this, I caught a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Capt. Raja Aman Shah
listened attentively to my advice on how to answer questions posed by
the Japanese. It must be done with great care because the Japanese
harboured deep vengeance against Malay fighting men and were extremely
touchy. He nodded his head with a deep sense of responsibility and in
all seriousness.
Trying to Save the Courageous Captain Raja Aman Shah 1
As Capt. Raja Aman Shah was a friend whom I knew the Japanese
wanted very much to ‘meet’, as he had fought valiantly to the last weapon,
I took this opportunity to whisper to him my plan to help him escape the
next night. I told him I would come and get him out on the quiet. But
without a second thought, he refused my offer outright, unless everyone
with him would also be freed. I explained that it was my plan to help
some prisoners escape, but to help all of them escape was impossible.
He still declined my offer and said he didn’t have the heart to leave the
others. Perhaps, he also had no inkling that he, personally, was very high
on the Japanese wanted list. I tried to coax him by telling him that many
of his friends were already home with their families, but he maintained
his position. He again pleaded that I help all of them. I could only promise
to do what I could but I insisted, “You must get out first!” He replied
firmly, “I will only leave this place with my friends.” He was indeed a
very brave man.
What could I do? Ibrahim was already shouting at me to leave the
building with him after he and Lt Ariffin had a heated exchange of words.
Just as I was about to leave, Capt. Raja Aman Shah grabbed my hand to
tell me that the men were all hungry. Keeping my promise, two hours
later, I sent two huge crates of canned sardines almost unavailable at that
time. This episode, involving the Malay fighting men at Farrer Park, has