CHIA Yeng Keng
Special Project,
Accession Number 002860
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 7
Total Reels
- Patricia Lee
Interviewer
- 04:03:53
Total Running Time
- Teochew
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 2 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Jun 2004
Recording Date
- 00:31:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Samsui women worked at the quarry. Invasion of Pulau Ubin by the Japanese 18th Division Army on 12 Dec 1941. His recollections of the Japanese landing on the island. How a Japanese soldier broke down into tears. A love story of a Japanese man and a Chinese lady on the island. How the Japanese man was killed by members of the Malayan Peoples’ Anti Japanese Alliance (MPAJA) . A German man manufactured soap on the island. His frustration with the anti-Japanese troop. Population distribution of races and dialect groups on the island.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Jun 2004
Recording Date
- 00:29:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
The old man who told him the story of the German girl came to Ubin circa 1884. Boyanese from Ubin settled in Lorong Ah Pin. Western part of Ubin had coffee, pineapple, rubber, durian plantation. Further elaboration of the German girl story. Description of the trade activities between Indonesia and mainland Singapore. How the island was divided into Eastern and Western Ubin. How they had to pay the secret society for protection fee. How the island was further divided along racial enclaves.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Jun 2004
Recording Date
- 00:30:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Previously there were more than 80 families living in the Western part of Ubin. Now, theirs is the only family left. Rubber tapping continued to flourish after the Japanese Occupation till the late 1970s. Names of companies that owned the three estates in Western Ubin. How Lim Chye Joo was appointed as village head of Ubin. Recollections of a theft incident in the shop. Reason for naming the opposite island, Pulau Ketam. How the island used to house the women during the war years. Occasions where there are wayang performance on the island.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Jun 2004
Recording Date
- 00:54:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Expressed surprise at some of his Chinese Ubin islanders who married Malays, spoke Malay instead of the Chinese dialect. Mentioned an Ubin islander who married a Japanese. Occupation of Indians who were in Ubin island.
Observation that Ubin islanders who went to serve National Service were physically fit. Interviewee and wife agreed that food in NS camp was palatable.
How he was given nickname, ‘Tih Gia’ (piglet) by grandmother. Simple childhood games played by interviewee’s children. Interviewee recalled her easy childbirth; did not eat special confinement food. Interviewee and wife used to frugal lifestyle, as they were poor since young.
When his children were young, they did not use disposable diapers but trousers. Wild boars common sight in Ubin. Interviewee said he had seen a tiger’s footprints during Japanese Occupation.
Reason for declining population in Ubin. Advised children to work in Singapore and not to work in granite quarry because of the health hazard involved. Given a choice, interviewee and wife would prefer to stay in Ubin. Interviewee’s wife showed interviewer how a gadget could be used to trap mosquitoes. Why interviewee had kept many generators at home. How they coped without using a refrigerator, use ice box to keep food fresh. Described three meals in a day.
Experienced floods three to four times, roughly at twelve or thirteen years interval. Brief mention of how they celebrated Chinese New Year. Mosquitoes rampant in Serangoon Island. Went back to mainland Singapore twice in a month. Briefly mentioned how they built the house, at Number 2011. Why he did not want to drive in Ubin island. Told of two women who were raped by Japanese during Japanese Occupation. One of them became insane.
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