THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

276 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
may gain you two territories.” I was afraid something undesirable might
repeat itself in the twentieth century, jeopardising the future of the
Malays. From nine states, Malaya only had five left. Let us make sure
nothing happens to the five. With those thoughts in mind, I rushed to
Taiping to attend a very important meeting with Ustaz Abu Bakar Al-
Baqir, Hanif Sulaiman and several others whose names I cannot recall.
Hodosho Central in Taiping, July 1945
Hodosho was first located on 3 July 1945 at the Taiping Nurses Hostel,
but was later moved to the third floor of St George’s Institution. There
are many events I must narrate on the formation of Hodosho and KRIS.
I had argued with many Japanese Officers, including Major General
Umezu and Prof. Itagaki, about the matter. This was the meeting that Prof.
Itagaki recorded in great detail in Azia tono Taiwa. At the meeting, I had
questioned the purpose of setting up Hodosho, which was merely ‘a
reading room’ as time was running out. The Japanese had granted Burma
its independence in 1943, followed by the Philippines. Malaya had also
co-operated with the Japanese troops like Burma, but why was Malaya
not treated the same? I ended my small speech with, “Why not declare
Malaya’s Independence here and now? Instead of just talk, which is a
waste of precious time. We don’t have that much time!”
The Japanese Officers, including Major General Umezu, said they
could not possibly grant Malays Independence just like that. What would
others say if Malays gained Independence without a struggle? “Furthermore,
the Malays are not prepared to fight for Independence,” Major
General Umezu claimed. At this insult, I raised my voice and asked him
to retract the words ‘not prepared’. I invited them to study Malay history.
I reminded the Japanese that “You are lucky Admiral Perry only visited
your country to look around, or else, you too would have been colonised,
like us!” I continued, “It is our ancestors, the Malay ancestors, who sailed
up the Manila estuary and founded Manila. It was our ancestors who
sailed to Kyushu Island to open up settlements. That is why the Japanese
from Kyushu Island are not so fair and have body hairs like Malays. That
is why Kyushu Japanese are of my colour and have body hair like I do.”
Hearing my tone of voice, a Kyushu Japanese came forward with a
grin, saying “Ona agi” (the same), pointing to his skin. All the Japanese
in the room began to examine their arms and started to compare skin
tones. One of them walked to a bookcase and referred the matter to a
French volume and found my claim to be true. They then apologised,
“Gomen Kudasai” repeatedly. It was only then that Major General Umezu