From Kuala Lumpur to a kampung in Singapore (2E6 Shi Jie's grandmother)

Interviewer

1. Name: Sie Shi Jie
2. Date of Interview: 16/7/06

I interviewed my grandmother, Mdm Ho Chow Har, who survived World War II and is now living a comfortable life in Singapore, at the age of eighty. She is now a Christian and goes to church every Sunday.

My grandmother was the eldest among the nine siblings in her family.

Some names of her siblings and their birthday:

2^nd Sister: Ho Kum Yoke (F) 27^th December 1928

3^rd Brother: Ho Han Lum (M) 27^th December 1929

6^th Sister: Ho Kum Chuong (F) 16^th Jun 1933.

9^th Sister: Ho Kum Sim (F) 2^nd Oct 1948

My grandmother was born in Malaysia and spent half of her life living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My grandfather met my grandmother through an arranged marriage by their parents. She came over to Singapore after the 1969 Racial Riots, and obtained her Singapore Citizenship soon after.

My grandmother completed six years of primary school, at a Chinese school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In those days, students would often be caned by the teachers or principals for not doing homework and the parents would never complain. Some of the school activities were harmonica lessons, choir and table tennis.

Being the eldest child in the family, my grandmother not only helped out in the family’s housework, took care of her younger siblings, but she also helped to earn some money by selling home-cooked food in the neighborhood. She was an obedient, helpful and well-brought up girl.

In the past, there were not many games. The children usually made their own toys or played with whatever they could find in the neighborhood.

The most common games were five stones and paper dolls for the girls. Her whole family would visit the nearby Taoist temple to watch the “wayang”. (Staged shows of Chinese history or legends)

In the past, there were rules of courtship. Dating wasn’t permitted without a third party around. Couples would usually have to bring young children or their friends along during courtship. My grandmother told me that when she was young, the adults would bring her around, get her a packet of nuts, and she would have to sit beside the couple and wait till they were ready to go home. (This practice is called “chaperoning”).

During World War Two, my grandmother, was a young teenager.

During the war, life was unbearable. Many civilians would run away to the countryside, my grandmother’s family had to stay behind, as the family was too big.

Before their neighbors left the city, they gave some food supplies to my grandmother’s family. Over the days, the food supplies became limited and the family starved for days. The civilians were scared that they would not survive the war, but they were more frightened of the thought that the Japanese soldiers would capture, torture them or kill them. During that time, there wasn’t any school, and there were frequent air raids. During the air raids, my grandmother’s family would hide under the beds in their house. Soldiers might come to their house any time. Young ladies had to hide from the young Japanese troops as the Japanese would often rape then kill young ladies. On an occasion, some Japanese troops barged into their house. At the sight of my grandmother and her siblings, they did not capture, rape or kill any of them. Instead, they prayed to the many Taoist statues in the house which may have look similar to their Japanese gods, and gave sweets to the younger siblings and then hurried out, pretending they never saw the family. It was the Taoist statues that had saved their lives!

During the Racial Riots, the Malay race was against the Chinese race.

Due to the frequent fights, there was a shortage of both food and medicine. People would also run away to the countryside just like in World War Two, trying to avoid the chaos that could happen. During that time, it was a chaotic situation and people would often loot essential items like canned food, from the stores.

Police would always be spotted, trying to maintain law and order.  Everyone would have a coupon for food rationing. There was also a restriction in the time to go out(curfew). On one occasion, some Malays had burnt down the houses of poor Chinese villagers, my grandparents offered a handful of them lodging and took care of the injured. As a food source, plants like sweet potatoes and tapioca were planted. On many days, Malays would often throw bricks and stones into my grandparents’ house. Below their house, there would often be fights between the Malays and the Chinese.

My grandparents decided to come over to Singapore soon after the 1969 Racial Riots. They lived in a cluster of zinc-roofed, attap houses “ kampong” at Pasir Ris, where my grandfather’s family was staying nearby.

My grandmother’s interests in her youth were taking photographs, swimming and sewing. For relaxation, she would watch movies, shop at the night market, swim or take walks in the park. For trips or vacations, my grandparents liked to visit Cameron Highlands or Port Dickson (Seaside). During her free time, she would go with her friends to the community centre to watch television, or for picnics at the seaside. Occasionally, when her friends had a party, she would usually be invited. Everyone would have to bring a dish of home-cooked food. In those kampong days, when a neighbor was getting married, she would help in the decorations, cooking and making of robes or dresses for them. During neighbour’s funerals, she would also help out by cooking, making clothes and washing plates. My grandmother told me people were much closer to each other in those kampong days. I think my grandmother misses those good old days, when everyone was just like a big family.