MAY-MOONA bte Haji Ali @ Maimunah bte Mohd Ali
Communities of Singapore (Part 3),
Accession Number 000457
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 14
Total Reels
- Mohd Yussoff Ahmad
Interviewer
- 06:47:19
Total Running Time
- Malay
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 14
Metadata
- 24 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in Kampung Bugis, Tanah Merah Besar. Bugis parentage - ancestors came from Sulawesi through Java, Riau, Johor. Kampung Bugis then:- coastal village, ten households of same clan; timber and attap houses of Limas/Bumbung Panjang designs; clan's grove; Chinese provision shop; weekend bungalows. Village's imams. Mosque (later re-sited in Air Gemuroh): wakaf, construction.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 14
Metadata
- 24 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Mosque construction by Chinese builders (no Malay skilled in concrete work); villagers sought divine blessings by giving token hand. Local shops by Malabari and Chinese; Malays lived on fishing, farm produce. Leisure hours usually idle; besides prayers, attend religious classes. Supernatural events.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 14
Metadata
- 30 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Thefts in village. Children's games. Early transportation: villagers travelled on foot; goods by bullock-cart, later lorry. To city, long hike to Bedok village for nearest taxi. Also travelled by sampan to Beach Road market. In town, jinriksha rides to Rochor. Later, taxis reached village. Daily wear of villagers.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 14
Metadata
- 30 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:27:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Further elaboration of childhood, jinriksha ride and daily wear of villagers. Education: only boys sent to school. No formal education herself - only studied Quran-reading; how she learnt Jawi script secretly. With literacy, enjoyed many Malay epic poems (syairs). Narrated story from Syair Siti Zubaidah.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 14
Metadata
- 31 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Continuation of Siti Zubaidah saga. How she learnt syairs. Parents feared shame of love affairs, so no girls sent to school. First Tanah Merah Besar School: structure, teachers, uniforms. Did cottage craft with mother; made white caps for sale in Rochor. Strict rules of modesty for women before. First marriage (at fourteen); arranged by parents.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 14
Metadata
- 31 Jul 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:07
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Started with initial inquiries, betrothal, wedding. Wedding preparations by community effort - decorations, cooking, procuring materials, etc. Solemnisation of wedding ceremony: berinai rituals. Description of guests' attire. Invitation cards used. Met bridegroom (Indian businessman) for first time. Moved into husband's house. Husband died four years later without children.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 14
Metadata
- 1 Aug 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Wedding custom: makan berdamai. Some rituals dispensed with because bridegroom was non-Malay. After marriage, had comfortable life, large house, servants, car rides to Changi, Geylang, etc. Husband died; widowed ten years, then remarried. War imminent - major British bombardment exercise, village evacuated to Air Gemuroh. Japanese rampaging in Geylang, then village occupied.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 8 of 14
Metadata
- 6 Aug 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:58
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Early days of Japanese Occupation; people terrorised and cowed, young women defaced themselves for safety. Chinese massacre in village; three lorries of youths taken into village, herded to beach, machine-gunned to death. Heart-rending encounters with two victims. Mountain of corpses buried in mass graves dug by European Prisoners-of War (POWs). Personal effects taken by Japanese military and villagers.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 9 of 14
Metadata
- 6 Aug 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Village houses taken for military use. Villagers' relationship with soldiers. More on Chinese massacre. Girls dressed up as boys. Changi villagers later resettled in Mata Ikan/Padang Terbakar. Description of settlement. No rice available - acute food shortages even with tapioca. She made money by making coconut leaf thatching and coconut oil. Later, did illicit fish middleman business in Joo Chiat.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 10 of 14
Metadata
- 6 Aug 1985
Recording Date
- 00:29:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Japanese surrender: witnessed troops laying down arms in Bedok. Living conditions during Japanese Occupation. Essential foodstuffs rationed, also scarce. Tapioca main diet, mee served on special occasions. Religious and social activities unhindered. Japanese officers invited to weddings. New clothing unaffordable. Diseases and ulcers widespread. More Japanese brutalities; looters' heads displayed on bridge, people rapped for not bowing to soldiers.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
