MUTHUCUMARASAMY, Arumugam
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003076
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 02:41:48
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:54:08
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:17) Personal and family background.
(0:02:04) Had vivid recollection of the Japanese occupation.
(0:02:22) Before the Japanese came, the family ran away from Kuala Lumpur to a rubber plantation but returned to Kuala Lumpur (KL) after Malaya fell.
(0:03:30) His most traumatic experience was when he witnessed a group of people surrounding some severed heads which were to be hung up on poles.
(0:04:55) He learnt Japanese well and could communicate in it.
(0:06:05) Remembered the very tough life, with rations for everything. He caught fish for many people and hated the smell.
(0:07:42) Worked for the Japanese.
(0:08:58) Improvisation was the order of the day when he learnt to make buttons and used to keep human urine and faeces as plant manure as the family grew vegetables.
(0:09:42) Tapioca was the staple.
(0:11:10) Talked about the British bombing in 1945.
(0:13:25) In general, everyone was happy to see the return of the British.
(0:14:42) His father re-joined the civil service, and he resumed schooling.
(0:15:57) He was always good at sports and excelled in hockey but did not bother to study much.
(0:18:25) He passed his Senior Cambridge examination and decided to join two brothers who had moved to Singapore.
(0:18:52) The main push factor for his moving to Singapore.
(0:22:28) He respected his mother, who was a picture of calmness.
(0:23:30) His mother fell ill, and he had to take over cooking at age 19.
(0:27:39) He came to Singapore in 1953 and joined the teaching force. He had some interesting school experiences and spent a lot of time there.
(0:31:32) He decided to join the Prisons Service as a sub-officer in the industrial training unit.
(0:35:05) Experienced racial discrimination under the British and had some tiffs with his bosses.
(0:41:34) After self-government in 1959, he distinctly remembered two Asian bosses.
(0:45:42) He was posted to the Reformative Training Centre (RTC). He talked about his unorthodox ways of dealing with inmates.
(0:46:56) Code of conduct amongst prisoners.
(0:48:41) He established rapport and trust with them.
(0:49:32) He went to the maximum-security Changi Prison and disliked the harsh and foreboding environment.
(0:50:50) Talked about a moving experience with a prisoner.
Personal background - date, place of birth, parents and siblings. His father was a civil servant in Malaya, mother a homemaker; he had four brothers. Has a vivid recollection of the Japanese occupation. Before Japanese came, the family ran away from Kuala Lumpur to a rubber plantation, but returned to KL after Malaya fell. The most vivid recollection was seeing a group of people surrounding some severed heads which were to be hung up on poles - a most traumatic experience. Interviewee learnt Japanese well and could communicate in it. Worked for the Japanese. Remembered the very tough life, with rations for everything. He caught fish for many people and hated the smell. Improvisation was the order of the day - he learnt to make glasses and buttons. He used to keep human urine and faeces as plant manure, as the family grew vegetables in their garden. Tapioca was the staple. About the British bombing in 1945, the eerie feeling, which he still feels today. But generally, everyone was happy to see the return of the British.
His father rejoined the civil service and he resumed schooling. Intervieweee was always good in sports, but was mischievous and did not bother to study much. He excelled in hockey. He managed to pass his Senior Cambridge; decided to join two brothers who had moved to Singapore. The main push factor was to get away from his overly strict father, who was hot-tempered and regarded all his sons as failures because they did not go to the university. Interviewee respected his mother, who was a picture of calmness. She fell ill and interviewee took over cooking at age 19. He hated washing dishes but had no choice.
He came to Singapore in 1953 and joined teaching force. He had some interesting experiences in school and spent much time there. Then he decided to join the Prisons Service as sub-officer in the industrial training unit. Experienced racial discrimination under the British; had some tiffs with his bosses. After self-government in 1959, he distinctly remembered two Asian bosses. He was posted to Reformative Training Centre (RTC). His unorthodox ways dealing with inmates. He established rapport and trust with them. Code of conduct amongst prisoners. He then went to the maximum security Changi Prison; disliked the harsh and foreboding environment there. About a moving experience with a prisoner. Learnt much, through trial-and-error.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:56:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:23) He served a short stint in Changi Prison (CP) because he was not at ease with the rigid regime.
(0:02:26) Returned to Medium Security Prison (MSP) where he became the Housemaster.
(0:05:00) He enjoyed his stint, during which time he got to know the inmates well and found great satisfaction in seeing them reform.
(0:05:55) Talked about his unorthodox ways of dealing with inmates.
(0:09:47) There were no escape incidences.
(0:10:16) He also set up an MSP band, which became very popular and performed at outside functions.
(0:11:04) He strongly believed that sincerity, openness, and transparency with inmates were the only ways to build trust and help them rehabilitate.
(0:17:00) Even now, many years after retirement, ex-inmates approach him on the road and talk to him.
(0:17:33) He felt the 13 years he worked in MSP were the best years of his career.
(0:26:27) About jealousy among fellow officers who could not fathom how he related so well with the inmates.
(0:32:54) After a short stint in the Reformative Training Centre (RTC), he was given the mammoth task of running the Selarang Park Drug Centre, a new concept in Singapore.
(0:33:43) He had to set up a centre with 500 drug inmates with limited resources and other challenges.
(0:34:17) He was under great stress and suffered two heart attacks.
(0:38:03) But after nine difficult months, he got the centre working.
(0:39:45) He initiated many activities for the inmates, including forming a band.
(0:42:41) He was proud to see the centre become a showpiece among the nine drug centres in Singapore.
(0:45:15) He believed strongly that while authorities had to be tough to deal with transgressions, it had to be tempered with humaneness and empathy for the inmates, who dabbled in drugs for varying reasons.
(0:53:46) He did not receive any formal training on how to handle drug addicts.
Talked about one prisoner who tried to intimidate him. He served a short stint in Changi Prison (CP) because he was not at ease with the rigid regime there. Returned to Medium Security Prison (MSP) where he became Housemaster. Enjoyed this stint; got to know inmates well; why they deviated, interaction with their families and the great satisfaction of seeing them reform. Again, he used unorthodox ways - one was to have soccer games in an open field, another was doing community work at Tampines Community Centre. There were no escapes. He also set up the MSP band, which became very popular and performed at any outside functions. There were no escapes. Interviewee believed strongly in sincerity, openness and transparency with inmates, as the only way to build up trust and help to rehabilitate them. Even now, many years after retirement, ex-inmates approach him on the road and talk to him. He felt the 13 years he worked in MSP were the best years of his career.
About jealousy among fellow officers who could not fathom how he related so well with the inmates. After a further short stint in the Reformative Training Centre (RTC), he was given the mammoth task of running the Selarang Park Drug Centre, a totally new concept in Singapore. With a meagre staff allocation (who were rejected elsewhere) and without any infrastructure, he had to set up a centre with 500 drug inmates. The problem was compounded by the centre having a road running through it. He had great stress and suffered two heart attacks. But after nine difficult months, he got the centre working. Again, he initiated many activities for the inmates, including forming a band. Had the satisfaction of seeing the centre become a showpiece among the nine drug centres in Singapore. He believed strongly that while authorities had to be tough to deal with transgressions, it had to be tempered with humaneness and empathy for the inmates, who dabbled in drugs for varying reasons.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:51:17
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:12) He believed drug addicts are not prisoners but patients.
(0:05:30) He felt the committee members should at least meet the addicts before deciding.
(0:06:06) Disagreed with the arbitrary way the Drug Review Committee decided on the length of detention for the patients.
(0:11:28) He was promoted and asked to report to Prison Headquarters (HQ) as the Assistant Director/Drugs. He did not want this promotion but had to comply.
(0:12:31) In HQ, he had the opportunity to streamline many systems.
(0:17:51) He was also able to discuss problems with higher authorities such as Ministry.
(0:20:20) He felt inmates were treated like mere digits without much consideration for their feelings.
(0:22:05) He regarded this type of work as a calling, not a mere job.
(0:30:09) This attitude did not always endear him to the bosses, but it did not bother him.
(0:33:14) He retired after four years in Prison HQ.
(0:34:50) Ran a halfway house for Pertapis (Self-help organisation for Muslims in Singapore) and introduced many unorthodox systems.
(0:35:18) Left after eight months as he could not agree with the Board of Directors.
(0:37:58) Developed a great rapport with the inmates.
(0:40:29) Went to Terengganu and worked for about eight months before returning.
(0:41:14) Returned to Singapore to work in a security agency for two years. Then spent 13 years as public relations officer of seven pubs.
(0:43:14) Reflected on the decline of morality in Singapore.
(0:43:26) Stopped work at age 72 in 2005.
(0:46:19) His love for sports is still with him.
(0:47:19) He now walks, does household chores, and looks after his grandchildren.
Interviewee felt that drug addicts were not prisoners, but patients. The arbitrary way in which the Drug Review Committee decided on length of detention for the patients really riled him up. He felt the committee members should at least meet the addicts before arriving at a decision. He was then given a promotion and asked to report to Prison Headquarters (HQ) as Assistant Director/Drugs. He did not want this promotion but had to comply. In HQ, although he really missed the day-to-day interaction in the institutions, he had the opportunity to streamline many systems. He was also able to discuss problems with higher authorities such as Ministry HQ. Never one to toe the line blindly, he always spoke his mind, often disagreeing with the official position. He felt that inmates were treated like mere digits without much consideration for their feelings. Ultimately, one had to regard this type of work as a calling, not as a mere job. This attitude did not always endear him to the bosses, but it did not bother him.
After four years in Prison HQ, he decided to retire prematurely as he wanted to go while the going was good. He then ran a half-way house for Pertapis (Muslim inmates), introduced many unorthodox systems and developed great rapport with the inmates. There was not a single relapse. He left after eight months as he could not agree with the Board of Directors. He then went to Trengganu and worked for about eight months, before returning to take charge of a security agency. He worked there for two years, then spent 13 years as public relations officer of seven pubs. He saw how morality has declined in Singapore. He decided to stop work at age 72 in 2005 and now spends his time walking, doing household chores and looking after his grandchildren. His love for sports is still with him.
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