THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

364 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
API to be a bigger threat than the MNP. Sensing trouble, I took steps to
prolong MNP’s life. I contacted an officer and Hashim ‘Misai’, both with
the CID, to provide a greater insight into MNP from the British perspective.
I even made an appointment for Dr Burhanuddin to meet with
the CID. When Dr Burhanuddin asked, “What are you up to?” I explained,
“A CID jeep will be here soon. Just go with them. I guarantee you will
come home. Just explain that MNP is a legitimate body with a constitution
and is run along UN-approved outlines. Even if there were MNP
members who disappeared into the jungle, those were individual cases,
and should not reflect on the party.”
As Dr Burhanuddin climbed into the CID jeep that took him to the
Jalan Campbell Police Station, my neighbours muttered in Minang dialect,
“Today, one is being hauled. Tomorrow, the other one will go too.” But
Dr Burhanuddin returned to my stall within two hours. MNP was allowed
to function a little while longer, long enough for it to meet in Singapore
where it was recommended that the MNP struggle be continued by our
friends in Indonesia.
Proclamation of Independent Malaya to the United Nations
I found that Ibrahim Yaakub, who was supposed to advance Malaya’s
Independence struggle from Indonesia with the money provided to him,
did nothing except become richer. So, in 1948, with friends like Sidin
Amin and Jalil, we mailed Malaya’s Independence proclamation to the
UN and 68 member nations, to replace the declaration which should have
taken place on 17 August 1945 had the Japanese not surrendered. Had
India not declared its independence several times before the momentous
day arrived? The postage was collected from leftist friends living in
Kampung Baru. One of them, an active API member, now (1976) in the
National Front, joined us, but prefers to remain anonymous.
Secret Note from Ibrahim Yaakub
Again, I was almost a victim. Old friends were beginning to contact me.
My stall was being watched by two to four Special Branch policemen
who came in as customers, either at my stall, or next door. A CID officer
once tried to grab a note from my hand, but I managed to throw it into
my lit charcoal stove. One night, Kuala Lumpur CID Chief Mr Stafford
(I think that was his name) visited my stall. He asked me to describe my
‘attitude’ towards the British. I pointed to two white men, Charley Bone
and Georgi, who were seen playing with my young children, “Please
observe and make your own conclusions as to whether I hate whites.