ATTAN bin Idris
The Public Service,
Accession Number 001978
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Zaleha bte Osman
Interviewer
- 01:57:06
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 27 Nov 1997
Recording Date
- 00:28:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) Personal and family background.
(0:02:46) His father was transferred to Bedok, which had Malay villages.
(0:05:13) During the Japanese occupation, many Indonesians were brought over to work as forced labourers.
(0:08:39) Private homes and civil servants’ quarters along Geylang Road.
(0:09:17) Being in the civil service was seen to be prestigious.
(0:11:22) Working experience as a vehicle inspector.
(0:13:20) Joined the civil service as a registry assistant at the Internal Security Department (ISD), formerly known as Malayan Security Service.
(0:17:35) His reminiscence of the Maria Hertogh riot in 1950.
(0:23:15) The “complexities” of the police force during the riot.
(0:25:49) Changes in civil service when the People's Action Party (PAP) came to power in 1959.
Personal background. Malay villages in Bedok. Indonesian forced-labour. About Geylang Road. Civil servants' quarters. Prestige of being in civil service. Working experience as vehicle inspector. Worked as registry assistant at Internal Security Department (ISD), formerly known as Malayan Security Service. Maria Hertogh riot in 1950. Role of police during riot. Changes in civil service when People's Action Party (PAP) came to power in 1959.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 27 Nov 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Talked about early Malays in Singapore.
(0:02:28) Chinese coolies at the harbour. Indian labourers at naval bases and Municipal Council.
(0:05:01) Introduction of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and income tax in 1949. The people’s reactions to these policies.
(0:06:54) Personal comment on British divide-and-rule policy.
(0:08:39) Formation of Straits Settlement.
(0:11:19) His experience studying in a Malay school back then.
(0:15:24) Differences between studying in a Malay school and an English school.
(0:21:58) Disappointed that Malays were too complacent, including Malay politicians.
(0:24:41) His opinion on Lee Kuan Yew's leadership. The importance of having efficient civil servants for a nation’s advancement.
(0:25:57) Recounted an incident where he had to deal with the inefficiency of the Johor Bahru police back then.
Early Malays in Singapore. Chinese coolies at harbour. Indian labourers at naval bases and Municipal Council. Introduction of Central Provident Fund (CPF) and income tax in 1949. Reactions to these policies. Personal comment on British divide-and-rule policy. Formation of Straits Settlement. Malay education. Malay politicians. Opinion of Lee Kuan Yew's leadership. Importance of efficient civil servants.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 27 Nov 1997
Recording Date
- 00:28:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) How the Johor Bahru police station issue was resolved.
(0:03:01) He recalled that Singapore's civil service also has its fair share of inefficiency.
(0:03:38) He recounted a frustrating incident where he was denied the rightful CPF claim as the beneficiary of his deceased son.
(0:09:56) The People's Action Party’s (PAP) early treatment of civil servants was deemed harsh.
(0:10:25) Civil servants' reactions to the pay cut in 1959, which led to many resigning.
(0:14:54) PAP's preparation for the election.
(0:17:22) The merger between Singapore and Malaysia in 1963, which included Sarawak and Borneo. Why the merger failed.
(0:18:59) How Singapore coped with the unexpected separation.
(0:21:43) He recalled that all of Singapore’s founding fathers were from Malaysia.
(0:24:43) Singapore engaged Israeli instructors to train the army. The government also introduced national service.
(0:26:37) Israeli president visited Singapore in the 1980s, much to the dismay of Malaysia.
Singapore civil servants. People's Action Party (PAP)'s early treatment of civil servants. Civil servants' reactions to pay cut. PAP's preparation for 1963 election. Singapore-Malaysia merger in 1963. Reasons for failure of merger. How Singapore coped with unexpected separation. Establishment of national service. Engagement of instructor from Israel to train army. Visit of Israel's Prime Minister to Singapore in the 1980s.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 27 Nov 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:04) Discussed colonial administration in the Malayan Civil Service
(0:05:36) The lifestyle of British administrators.
(0:07:38) Cost of employing and maintaining British administrators.
(0:09:46) Criteria for Britons joining the Malayan Civil Service. The necessity of learning local language and culture.
(0:11:31) Teachers were hired as personal language tutors for British administrators.
(0:12:57) Work ethics of administrators. The British were very considerate people.
(0:15:03) He spoke at length about the social activities and lifestyles of different races in colonial days.
(0:21:03) His take on the effectiveness of Singapore's education system.
(0:23:41) He stressed the need for all countries to take a firm stance against corruption within their civil services.
Malayan Civil Service. British diplomatic relations with its colonies. British administrators. Cost of employing and maintaining British administrators. Criteria for Britons joining Malayan civil service. Necessity of learning local language and culture. Teachers hired as personal language tutors to British administrators. Work ethics of administrators. Social activities and lifestyles of different races in colonial days. Singapore's education system. Corruption in civil service.
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