My Longkang

I read on quachee’s blog on a contest for bloggers - the theme is love for the country. I would like to share that many of the younger generation take it for granted that our country is an independent nation. Appreciate it or not – our country is free of the yoke of colonization.

Many have forgotten our country was once ruled by among others the British and the Japanese. We have to love our country for it is all we have. Try bringing your passport to other countries and start applying for PR and you will find it is a next to impossible task for most Malaysians.

Today I have recycled a long ago story to share with you a story about how it was during the Japanese occupation for one individual, Ah San. He loved the country. His best friends were literally Singh, Omar and Bakar. They were the young generation during the independence struggle era. He never failed to exercise his right to vote until his health and old age failed him..

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This is Ah San’s tale :During the second world war, he and his family were in dire financial straits. His father had to pay the Japanese Army a huge sum of money, as did most of the other businessmen. What was left over was in the end acquisitioned by the Japanese Army.

To make a living, the sister a very young girl at that time woke up very early, made curry puffs and walked over to Burmah Road to sell. There were many rich people living there once. Some were sympathetic and bought from her. She was advised many times not to sell by the people there but she had no choice. After it got too dangerous for the girl to go out and sell curry puffs, Ah San’s father came to his senses, stopped his grieving and started being practical. To earn money, the family home became a gambling den . The patrons came at all hours of the day and played with packs of rectangular cards. He tried to explain the game to me but I couldn’t understand the basics but it was a little similar to chiki played by housewives in the 70s. For every set, the family would collect a certain amount as tips.

The family’s apparent survival had a jolt one day. Two Japanese soldiers barged into the house one day. Luckily there were no patrons at that time. They were wearing bayonets, standing erect and brandishing swords.

What did they Want?

They wanted a son from every family to be enrolled in a special Japanese school. Ah San was overjoyed as it meant to him a chance to have at least a square meal every day. The father and mother were overcome with grief. Ah San was especially glad he would have a chance to get some education. Amid wails and hysterics he left the family home with the soldiers and outside the home were many boys of different ages¦.some very timid and scared. As if they were on death row.

To read more:
http://www.mylongkang.com/2006/11/30/world-war-2-part-2/
http://www.mylongkang.com/2006/11/30/world-war-2-part-3/