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Tag: Japan

  • Daniel Goh: Syonan Gallery Controversy A Good Exercise In Appreciating History

    Daniel Goh: Syonan Gallery Controversy A Good Exercise In Appreciating History

    Excellent resolution to the controversy. Both the inappropriate “Syonan” and the pretentious “Gallery” dropped. I think we would have been poorer without this controversy, so all’s well that ends well. I am reminded of what Shanice Lishan Foh said in the comments of my previous post on the misnaming, “hey this make us all think about our history”. I can’t agree more.

    Shanice Lishan Foh: Finally more people are looking at the Old Ford factory! How many years have gone by and we have forgotten about this place ?

    Tell your kids :
    We were name Syonan-to during the Japanese occupation because the Japanese name us like trophies… those 3 years 8 months were painful….

    The British surrendered to Japanese forces on 15th February 1942 at the Old Ford factory…..we were helpless…

    Are we going to let someone name us differently again ? NO !!
    We will defend our country and homes ourselves !
    Majulah Singapore !

    *it is thought-provoking…
    I read many comments… I was at 1st thinking why such an insensitive name ? Someone is going to be hurt real bad…
    and then someone said about the crooked letter ” O ” in the syonan signage , hey this make us all think about our history….

     

    Source: Daniel Goh 吴佩松

  • Here’s What Lee Kuan Yew Did When WW2 Hit Singapore 75 Years Ago

    Here’s What Lee Kuan Yew Did When WW2 Hit Singapore 75 Years Ago

    February 15 is the day when the British surrender to the invading Japanese forces in Singapore, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of one of the darkest period in our island nation’s history — the Japanese Occupation (1942 to 1945).

    Many of S’pore’s past leaders, such as Lee Kuan Yew and David Marshall, were young men during that period. They experienced the hardships, felt the hunger brought on during that period, and lived through the uncertainties with some narrow escapes.

    Following our previous story on what these founding fathers did at the outbreak of war,  let’s now take a look at some of their experiences during the Occupation.

    1. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister (1959 to 1990): He had a lucky break as he escaped theSook Ching massacre.

    Lee was 18 years old when the Japanese Occupation of Singapore began.

    Source: NAS

     

    Recording his Japanese Occupation experience in his memoirs, The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Lee wrote that a few days into the Occupation, the Japanese carried out the Sook Ching operation to cleanse the local Chinese population of anti-Japanese elements. He reported to Jalan Besar stadium together with his family friend and helper, Koh Teong Koo, for registration and screening. He narrowly escaped being one of the many Chinese rounded to be massacred in the operation.

    “Soon after the Japanese soldiers left my house, word went around that all Chinese had to go to a registration centre at the Jalan Besar stadium for examination. I saw my neighbour and his family leave and decided it would be wiser for me to go also, for if I were later caught at home the Japanese military police, the Kempeitai, would punish me. So I headed for Jalan Besar with Teong Koo.

    As it turned out, his cubicle in his coolie-keng, the dormitory he shared with other rickshaw pullers, was within the perimeter enclosed by barbed wire. Tens of thousands of Chinese families were packed into this small area. All exit points were manned by the Kempeitai. There were several civilians with them, locals or Taiwanese. I was told later that many of them were hooded, though I do not remember noticing any.

    “After spending a night in Teong Koo’s cubicle, I decided to check out through the exit point, but instead of allowing me to pass, the soldier on duty signalled me to join a group of young Chinese. I felt instinctively that this was ominous, so I asked for permission to return to the cubicle to collect my belongings.

    He gave it. I went back and lay low in Teong Koo’s cubicle for another day and a half. Then I tried the same exit again. This time, for some inexplicable reason, I got through the checkpoint. I was given a “chop” on my left upper arm and on the front of my shirt with a rubber stamp. The kanji or Chinese character jian, meaning “examined”, printed on me in indelible ink, was proof that I was cleared. I walked home with Teong Koo, greatly relieved.”

     

    Images of Sook Ching screening centres, taken at the Syonan Gallery.
    Images of Sook Ching screening centres, taken at the Syonan Gallery.

     

    Source: Extracted from http://mothership.sg

  • Aman Samat: Lt Adnan Saidi – Pejuang Bumi Tercinta

    Aman Samat: Lt Adnan Saidi – Pejuang Bumi Tercinta

    Leftenan Adnan b Saidi – Al Fateha

    14 Februari
    gugur seorang pahlawan sejati
    Leftenan Adnan bin Saidi
    demi mempertahankan ibu pertiwi
    dari serangan Jepun bertubi-tubi
    Bukit Chandu tempat terjadi

    biar putih tulang jangan putih mata
    menjadi pegangan semua anggota
    titisan darah terakhir dengan rela
    walau bekalan peluru hampir tiada
    menentang musuh dengan waspada
    meneruskan perjuangan walaupun cedera
    inilah pertempuran paling sengit di Singapura

    sedarlah rakyat Singapura sekelian
    keberanian ketaatan Leftenan Adnan
    tidak ada pada diri pejuang sekarang
    bukan kerana wang atau kedudukan
    demi negara jiwa dikorbankan
    wajar beliau diagungkan
    diingati zaman ke zaman
    dikenang setiap tahunan
    menjadi ikutan generasi akan datang

    Leftenan Adnan Saidi
    kau sentiasa lekat di hati

    Aman Samat
    13 February 2017

     

     

    Source: Aman Samat

  • Do You Know The Men Who Gave Their Lives During The Battle For Singapore

    Do You Know The Men Who Gave Their Lives During The Battle For Singapore

    As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore.

    THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BATTLE OF SINGAPORE

    “The ruse having failed the Japanese, about two hours later, staged a determined attack in overwhelming strength. Although the defenders fought bitterly with grenade and automatic weapons they were unable to hold the hill. Many of the men and all the officers ( except Second-Lieutenant Abbas ) died in the close and at times hand-to-hand fighting which developed.

    A number of the captured survivor were massacred by the Japanese. Lt. Adnan who, along with his brother officers, fought gallantly in this action was shot down and bayonetted by the enemy. His body was then hung upside down from a nearby tree; no one was allowed to cut it down for burial.

    All the other Company posts having been overrun, Lieutenant Abbas – the only surviving officer – tried to save the remnants of his platoon from virtual extinction. The Japanese were outflanking and closing in from the front and the wide drain of burning oil at the rear blocked his retreat. He and four of his surviving men fought their way to the drain and leapt through the wall of flame. Two fell into the blazing oil and were pulled out badly burnt. The remainder including Lt. Abbas eventually reached Battalion Headquarters where the grim fate of ‘C’ Company was made known.”

    – From ‘History of The Malay Regiment’ by Dol Ramli*, published in Singapore, 1955.

    *Tan Sri Dol Ramli was born at Dunlop Street and grew up in Tasek Utara ( Farrer Park ). He received his early education at the Kampong Gelam Malay School before admission to the Raffles Institution and later at the Raffles College. The book above was based on his academic research whilst he was at the University Malaya ( Singapore ). He is regarded as the Father of Malaysian Broadcasting.

     

    Source: Khir Johari

  • Hariss Harun To Leave JDT For Loan-Stint In Portugal Or Japan

    Hariss Harun To Leave JDT For Loan-Stint In Portugal Or Japan

    Singapore national football star Hariss Harun is set for a loan-stint to Portugal or Japan, it was revealed on Wednesday (Dec 14).

    In a move that is aimed at developing the talented 26-year-old midfielder, Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) revealed in a Facebook post that sending the Lions vice-captain abroad “is the best arrangement for the club”.

    “Hariss Harun is a good and disciplined player. He means a lot to the club and we will send him out to a Portuguese or Japanese club on a year-long loan,” said JDT’s head coach Mario Gomez. “I’m sure at his current age, his playing ability will improve if he’s given a chance to play at a higher level.”

    The Argentinian tactician added: “He will be a valuable asset for the club in the future when he returns from the overseas club.”

    Hariss, 26, is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the region. A tireless box-to-box player who is tough in the tackle and a fine passer, he is the youngest ever in Singapore history to make his full national team debut in 2007 at the age of 16 years and 217 days.

    One of JDT’s highest-paid players with a reported salary of US$30,000 (S$42,700) a month, his two-year contract ends next year.

    Hariss has enjoyed great success since joining JDT on November 2013, quickly becoming a fan favourite with his tireless running and wholehearted performances.

    He helped JDT win three league titles on the trot (2014 to 2016), the Malaysian FA Cup the past season, as well as the prestigious AFC Cup last year. In 2013, he had also won the Malaysian Super League with the now defunct Singapore side LionsXII.

    However, he could not replicate his club form for the Singapore national team, as the Lions failed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the past two editions of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

    Before he joined JDT, Hariss was on the verge of accepting a contract offer from Portuguese Primeira Liga side, Rio Ave in July 2013.

    The deal was brokered by renowned agent Jorge Mendes – the representative of four-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo – and supported by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim. However, talks broke down reportedly over Hariss’ National Service commitments and salary issues.

    If Hariss moves to Portugal, he will be following the likes of Fandi Ahmad, V Sundramoorthy and Daniel Bennett as Lions who played professional football in Europe.

    Former Singapore international R. Sasikumar reckons that Hariss is now in “the best situation” to play overseas, and described the move as “win-win” for the midfielder.

    “JDT is sending him out on loan, so that means that he still has a club to return to when his loan ends,” explained the registered player agent who helped to bring former English Premier League player Jermaine Pennant to  S.League club Tampines Rovers this year.

    “So Hariss is not taking a huge risk and throwing everything out of the window in going overseas to play.

    “He will go there with peace of mind, and can focus fully on making the most of this opportunty, improving as a player. trying to get into the squad, and then into the first team. And then he will return to JDT a much better player. It’s a dream move, a win-win for everyone.”

    Sasikumar also believes that Hariss will do well in Portugal if that is where he is heading.

    “The Portuguese league is not the Premier League, or La Liga or the Bundesliga, and I think Hariss is not far off the standard of play in Portugal. If Frederic Mendy can score goals regularly there, then Hariss can definitely play there.”

    Mendy was a former striker for Etoile FC and Home United in the S.League, scoring 62 goals in 87 games in his two seasons in Singapore before moving to Portugal to play for clubs like Estoril, Moreirense and Uniao Medeira.

    “Hariss is a good pro and his head is screwed on right,” said Sasikumar. “He’s a bit more experienced now, he has tasted what it is like to be a professional player playing in a foreign club with his stint at JDT, and now he is getting a possible second shot at playing in a higher league, either in Portugal or Japan.

    “He’s going to make the most of it.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com