THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

Drafting a Constitution for Malaya 281
trying to chase after a mighty eagle. We knew it to be a sign of Japanese
imminent surrender, and we despaired that Malaya was not yet Independent.
Under the grey shadow of the aircraft, Ibrahim said dejectedly,
“I expect the Japanese to surrender soon. Come with me. Let us flee to
Indonesia.” I replied, “If you want to escape, do so. I prefer to be here.”
We spoke some more and I added, “Ibrahim, you must continue with our
fight from Indonesia.” His last words to me were, “If there are questions,
say that I am a responsible person.” I promised Ibrahim that I would be
responsible for KMM members even if I were ‘burnt to ash’. We then
shook hands. Ibrahim walked briskly towards his car with me walking
limply to my old hut. We have not met since.
Ibrahim left me thinking it would be a short separation. I was left
alone to face three groups of enemies: Force 136 Malay guerrillas under
a British Officer whom I knew were active in the Batu Kurau district,
the Bintang Tiga (Three Stars or communist-led) guerrillas who were
beginning to reveal their deadly claws, and finally, British troops who
would return soon. Among the three, which one would kill me first?
In Azia tono Taiwa, Prof. Itagaki narrated that after the Japanese
surrender was made public on 15 August, he broke the news to Ibrahim
who was travelling with him in a car to Kuala Lumpur. Ibrahim then asked
Itagaki, “Please ask Somubucho (Chief Military Officer) in Singapore to
provide me with a plane. I want to escape to Java.” The request was made
on 15 August before the KRIS Congress was convened. In fact, Ibrahim
was en route to Kuala Lumpur for the Congress. This confirms that
Ibrahim had plans to migrate to Indonesia before the KRIS Congress,
which incidentally could not be held. This is contradictory to his claim
that it was the KRIS Congress that proposed his departure to Indonesia.
Ibrahim’s Departure for Indonesia
I have narrated matters related to KRIS till the 13th of August, such as
proclamation plans, the KRIS Congress and other matters to be discussed
in Kuala Lumpur on 15 August. I was too sick to go to Kuala Lumpur.
Travelling in a timber lorry day in and day out from my farm to Taiping
shook my nerves very badly. Climbing three flights of stairs aggravated
my condition, the same three flights that kept me from meeting Soekarno.
I would like to quote Ibrahim’s explanation as well as that of Lt Osman
Daim, 14 his secretary on that trip, on the KRIS Congress. According to
his letter dated 20 May 1975, Ibrahim claimed:
But how sad and threatened I felt when on 15.8.1945, I heard the Japanese had
surrendered, our independence proclamation thwarted. We, who gathered in