THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

236 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
new KMM leadership. I found more fulfilment spending my time helping
others in real difficulty all over the island. I believe Ibrahim implicated
me in some brutal actions to cover up wrongdoings committed by him
and another KMM member.
Yusof Ishak
Yusof Ishak, my cousin and Editor of Utusan Melayu, was hauled in
from his office still wearing his tattered clothes after being subjected to
several shellings. When I came across Yusof detained at KMM House, I
told Ibrahim, “If Yusof has done something wrong, he should be given a
chance to explain himself before being punished. Wait till I return.”
Ibrahim did not heed my words. No one laid a finger on Yusof; he was
released a week later after signing a short statement to co-operate with
the new regime. But he looked lost and confused; it was Ibrahim’s way
of humiliating a business rival in the newspaper industry. Yusof’s brother
Aziz wrote in his memoirs: “After the British surrendered, KMM members
arrested my brother Yusof and several important Malays seen as pro-
British, including Captain N.M. Hashim and Captain Ali.”
I believe Ibrahim is claiming to have saved Yusof Ishak to prepare
the ground for his return to Singapore after having fled to Indonesia 31
years ago. He is lucky that both Captain N.M. Hashim and Yusof Ishak
are no longer alive; they might just arrest him upon arrival in Singapore
and have him declared persona non grata.
Police Inspector Hamzah of Kelantan
Arrested by Onan Haji Siraj and Ibrahim, he was locked up at KMM
House. KMM member Johar bin Kerong was ordered by Onan to shoot
Hamzah if he attempted escape.
When the war ended, Ibrahim and Onan fled to Indonesia, leaving
me to receive the first punch from Inspector Hamzah. According to CID
officer Jalaluddin Abu Bakar, whose life I had saved during the invasion
of Malaya, Hamzah wanted revenge against KMM members. I am not
surprised by his reaction; he had every reason to be vengeful. Inspector
Hamzah came to Kuala Lumpur to press charges, but was dissuaded by
other Malay Police Officers who reminded him that he owed much to
KMM. It was KMM member Abdul Kadir Adabi who had saved his
daughter (Datin Rahmah), then stranded in Johore when Hamzah moved
south to Singapore. Inspector Hamzah contained himself and the matter
died down. I am trying to obtain a sworn account of this meeting, but
have not been successful. 6