HASIM bin Ismail
Communities of Singapore (Part 3),
Accession Number 000709
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 12
Total Reels
- Mohd Yussoff Ahmad
Interviewer
- 05:53:47
Total Running Time
- Malay
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 12
Metadata
- 22 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:28:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Personal background. Father came from Indonesia; mother a Singaporean. Interviewee attended Tanah Merah Besar and Beting Kusa schools. Walked to school. Students without uniforms and shoes. Description of Japanese Occupation. His school, lessons and teachers during his early years. Sickness among students. His hatred towards the Japanese.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 12
Metadata
- 22 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His experience during Japanese Occupation. Incidents showing Japanese soldiers' brutality. Prisoners of war (POW) camp in Air Gemuroh. Restriction for villagers. No public transport. Scarcity of food. Fishermen's catch for Japanese only. Japanese rudeness towards villagers. Stayed at Hill Street Police Station to avoid being taken away by Japanese . Cruel acts he witnessed at the station.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 12
Metadata
- 22 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:57
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Public transportation during Japanese Occupation. Many with tattoos were tortured. Japanese punishment of slapping. Indonesian girls forced to be comfort women. Common feelings towards Japanese. How Air Gemuroh got its name. Early settlers mostly Javanese and Bugis.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 12
Metadata
- 23 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
More about early settlers in Air Gemuroh. Village expanded during Japanese Occupation. It became a Malay settlement. Types of houses. Villagers' occupation before and after the war. Entertainment, Chinese opera. In 1948, Government provided clinic, radio, roads etc. In 1960s, more facilities. In early days, bomohs popular besides midwives. Later, village midwives not permitted to practise.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 12
Metadata
- 23 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Further elaboration on village midwives. Lack of information about treatment in hospitals. Traditional treatment for the sick. Belief in pontianak, ghosts etc. Grass cutters suspected as head hunters. Before 1950, water came from wells. Piped water and electricity supplies in 1960s. Kampung cleanliness. Public radio at village headman's house; its programmes. More battery-operated radios. Joget entertainment from neighbouring islands and 'Mak Yong' from Kelantan.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 12
Metadata
- 23 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:59
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
More about joget troupes. Members of troupes could sing pantuns well. Dancers (including villagers) strictly in Malay costumes and well mannered. A joget troupe would stay 3 or 4 weeks, a 'Mak Yong' a week in kampung. Traditional games like tops (gasing), kites (layang-layang), marbles, jongs, sepak raga, etc were popular. Competition in games participated by islanders and Johoreans. Co-operation in weddings, house-building and other ceremonial functions etc.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 12
Metadata
- 26 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Religious teachings not properly observed. A surau (small mosque) built in 1948. Later, a mosque built by Alsagoff Family. Some villagers believed in animism. Lectures by religious leaders. A keramat of Haji Jabar often visited. Other festive occasions like Mandi Safar, completion of Quran reading (Khatam Quran), etc. Some moral teachings. Parents informed politely if their children were misbehaving.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 12
Metadata
- 26 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Males and females not allowed to mingle freely. Interviewee believed constant contact could retain social and family relationships. Arranged marriages (couples from same kampung) were common. Villagers, including those from other villages, always co-operative. Old folks would usually initiate to settle disputes. In 1946, a welfare society formed; later UMNO branch and kampung committee formed. Village headman's (penghulu) and kampung committee's duties.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 12
Metadata
- 26 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:36
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Village headman's (penghulu) appointment. His father a village headman during Japanese Occupation. Called Air Gemuroh Malay Settlement. More kampung facilities. Patrols during Indonesian Confrontation. Villagers' worry when told of resettlement. They wished to shift to same HDB vicinity. Fishermen mostly affected. Believed compensation was acceptable. Indian and Chinese shops had been in village long ago.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 12
Metadata
- 28 Jul 1986
Recording Date
- 00:29:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
By 1973, villagers aware of resettlement. Worry over social environment and occupation. Some agreed to face change of life, while others pessimistic. Interviewee found living in HDB flats better and healthier. Gradually learnt and understood new social environment. Made sure his children got sufficient education and able to further their studies. Though staying separately he still could contact other members of family. Block committee as helpful as his former kampung committee.
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