The End Of World War Two. Guerilla warfare and Communist Insurgency

The two atomic bombs dropped by the Americans over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hastened the collapse of the Japanese war spirit and precipitated a surrender on 14th August 1945.

Everyday Pow Nee and his sister Pow Nyong were in the kampung from dawn till dusk, helping their faithful gardener, Ah Yu Pak and the workers building their house. Pow Nyong made daily visits to the orphanage to feed the pigs and poultry. It was only then in early September 1945 that Pow Nee’s entire family were able to move into their new house, a nice and strong building with attap roof, comprising three bedrooms, a sitting room and a kitchen cum dining room. A bathroom with water-tap was adjacent to the house. There was no electricity at that time. The house was blessed by Rev. Father Teng. Later the local authority gave the house address as No. 1404, Kampung Bharu, B.M. The whole family was so contented and happy. They even moved all their pigs and chicken to their new home in the kampung too!

During the occupation period, the anti-Japanese Forces were being hurriedly trained in the jungle, along the Malayan-Thai border, by the British Officers. One Officer was the Butterworth Senior District, Mr Davis, who was brought back from India in a submarine. The guerillas were supplied with arms and equipment by the British Forces from overseas to sabotage and harass the Japanese army. They were also trained for the counter-attack on the Japanese. My father recalled that no one could have lived to witness the liberation, had there been a counter-attack because the Japanese already decided to mobilise all the local people to be in the front-line to face the Allied Forces. “Thank the dear Lord,” he says, that Japan surrendered on 14th August 1945.

The anti-Japanese Forces marched out of the jungle in early September 1945. They were hunting for agents of the Japanese and collaborators. Many were caught, tied up, whipped and dragged along the streets of B.M.; many of those caught begged for mercy but nothing could be done for them. They were taken away in lorries and were not seen again.

World War II ended. The guerillas were expected to surrender their arms and return to civilian life. However they were disappointed with the British authorities regarding the terms and conditions offered by the British. They returned to the jungle with all their arms and equipment to defy the British.

In October 1945, Sir Harold MacMichael was sent by the British Government to secure the agreement of the Malay Rulers for the Malayan Union Proposals, whereby they relinquish their sovereignty and give Malayan citizenship to all who had been born ivin the peninsula or those who had lived there for at least the previous ten years.

The Malays were violently opposed to the proposals of the Malayan Union which led to the formation of a mass pan-Malayan political party UMNO led by Dato Onn bin Jaafar. The proposals of the Malayan Union were rejected. A new Federation of Malaya was established on 1st February 1948.

In June of 1948, Malaya was soon plunged into an even graven crisis. The guerillas, now a Communist party, led by Chin Peng rose in armed revolt. The Emergency had begun. Chin Peng immediately introduced a wave of terror. They attacked mines, estates and villages without mercy. They claimed to fight for the independence of Malaya. The suppression of the rising was the most difficult task. Sir Henry Gurney, the High Commissioner of Malaya, was shot dead in Frasers Hill. The Communist Insurgents had hoped that by way of terrorism, by atrocities mainly against civilians, they hoped to achieve victory.

British Air Force bombed the Communist hideouts. Supporters of Communists were arrested and some were banished. Situations deteriorated and the police and military could not contain the uprising.

1945 – 1952 Resettlement Schemes

Re-settlement schemes were enforced by Lt. Gen. Biggs. People in villages and kampungs were re-settled in New Villages, behind wire. Very little time was given to the people to be evacuated. Military trucks transported these people with theoir belongings to the New Villages. And they were given some subsidies to begin a new life. The re-settlers felt very bitter and angry with the authorities for depriving them of a decent living and means of livelihood.

Very few of these people understood the purpose of re-settlement which was to cut-off or deprive the Communists their means of supply. A very strict control over the movement of food, medicine and clothing etc. was imposed in and out of the New Villages, under the penalty of long term imprisonment.

Villages in “black” area took their meals at community cooking centres because no foodstuffs were allowed to be kept in the house. People were in rea dilemma. “Death by the Communists for refusing to support them, and imprisonment by the authorities for cooperating with the Communists!” Many oppressed and frustrated victims then fled into the jungle. In such miserable situations, the presence of the M.C.A., Malayan Chinese Association was indeed timely.

1949 – The Birth of M.C.A.

M.C.A. was established in 1949 by Sir Tan Cheng Lock and Mr Leong Yew Koh. It was then a welfare organization to help the New Villages build schools, clinics, and to give welfare aid to the needy villagers. My father became a member of the M.C.A. In Penang, five New Villages were created. They were all in Province Wellesley:

Berapit New Village, B.M.

Sungei Lembu New Village, B.M.

Machang Buboh new Village, B.M.

Permatang Tinggi New Village, B.M.

Jawi New Village, Sungai Bakap.

With the authority’s approval for fund raising, the M.C.A organized sales of lottery tickets. The response was very good and encouraging. The turning point in the horror of the jungle came with the appointment of Sir Gerald Templer in January 1952 to replace the murdered Sir Henry Gurney, the then High Commissioner of Malaya in Frasers Hill. The most significant change in the mental attitude of the people brought about a new universal demand for national independence.

To defeat the Communists, Sir Gerald Templer realized that it was not enough to pour more soldiers into the jungle, but also to win the hearts and minds of the Malayan people. He accepted completely the feeling of the great mass of non-Communists in the peninsula and kept within Constitutional bounds their desire for merdeka. The possibility of achieving the goal was first realised perhaps in 1952 when UMNO-MCA Alliance won a clear majority for the first KL Municipal elections. This desire was extended Throughout the country, subsequently leading to the first national election in 1955.

Early Years… Elections 1953
When local elections were introduced to B.M. Town in November 1953, leaders of the Penang Radical Party, Dr. Lim Chong Eu, Dr. N.K. Menon and lawyer Mr. Oliver Phipps approached the B.M. Community leaders, Mr. Ooi Kean Kor, Mr. Yeap Ban Siong, Mr. Teh Cheok Sah, Mr Chan Ewe Pin and others for candidates for the first B.M. Town Council Election. My father was one of the many proposed for consideration.

Pow Nee, at the time was heavily committed to Kim Sen School, and he felt that it was unfair to accept their honoured proposal. He had hoped to be excused, with a letter from the Penang Scout Commissioner Mr. Gan Hoot Ewe, stating that a Scouter should not actively participate in politics.

However, Dr. N. K. Menon, a Vice President of Penang Scout Council, pointed out that there was no such ruling in the Scout Organization. A Scouter could stand in an Election. B.M. Community leaders then approached Pow Nee to accept their nomination. B.M. Town Council Election was then held on 28th November 1953.

In 1954, during a visit to Bukit Mertajam’s St Anne’s Church, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malaya, Olcomendy said to Pow Nee, “I have a feeling that something important is coming for you. Please accept it for the love of God.” Pow nee was not surprised, thinking that, “something important” meant he would become headmaster of a new school. At that time, he was teaching at Kim Sen School which was run by the Church and there were plans to set up a separate English primary school.

It was about 4pm to 5pm when Pow Nee went to St Anne’s Church to pray for god’s blessings and guidance. The first person he confided with, was Father Thomas Chin, parish priest of the Church and Chairman of Kim Sen School board of management. Pow Nee said, “I am excited yet confused. I have been dealing with innocent children and now I have to run a government. It is certainly a heavy responsibility.”The Father said, “Pow Nee, don’t you worry! God will help YOU. Be honest and help the people and the country.”