Had a very interesting chat over dinner with mum n dad tonite. On World War II: The locals experiences with the Japanese armies. Before that, my bro Jerry brought up the topic over afternoon coffee and he said our grandma helped a chinese man from being behead by the Japanese armies. That really caught my attention, deeply. I have a very strong bond with my grandma, although I was not entirely nice to her all the time. And so I can’t wait to ask my parents about what they might heard from their parents about WWII. Both of them were born post-war.
Mum: Raised in Kg. Tamalang Silou, Inanam. Mau naik bukit lg baru smpi rumah. Has 6 siblings, all but one still live until today. Semua perempuan kecuali satu abang.
Mum’s story No.1
There were 2 chinese guys, Saito and Sianung, operating their own sundry shop in Inanam town. Japanese hated the Chinese so much, when they see chinese they will behead them. Saito & Sianung were spotted by the Jap armies, they then ran to the hill, terjumpa my grandparents’ house. Grandma then hid the 2 guys inside the hole they dug in case of emergency, covered the hole with leaves and branches.
Japan armies tidak selalu kacau locals, they were only after the Chinese. The armies were determined to find Saito & Sianung, arrived at my grandparents’, asked them questions, asked for food and water. When they cannot sense anything wrong there, they moved on further. Saito & Sianung stayed in my grandparents’ farm quite a long time. I don’t know how long exactly. So those 2 guys are safe.
After Japanese lost to American, everything went quiet, calm and people started going out to the town. Habis barang2 di kedai kena kasi jadi source of food and others for the Japs. So semua habis jadi tin kosong. Saito and Sianung started their new shops and each raised a family. Saito and Sianung kedai runcit masih lagi ada di Pekan Inanam now in front of the Shell station. I know Saito has a son and he’s a doctor now in Taman Fortuna, Dr. Tan Kok Sui. Oya, after the war, saito and sianung sell groceries to my grandparents at a lot cheaper price, bleh masuk buku 555 lagi hehe. And that went down to my mum and her siblings, sampai turn kami , teda sudah sbb nda tau sejarah kan. But the shops are still in Inanam until now.
Mum’s story No.2
One day, the Japanese hold a free movie for all in Inanam town. They call upon all people, and all people who were interested and could reach town, went that evening including my mum’s brother, he was still in primary school at that time. Bah teda TV kan di rumah sendiri dulu, jadi ramai la org datang di pekan ni mo tingu wayang. Mum said ‘raaaaaaamai urang’..so I assume ramai smpi tidak bulih kira la tu.
What these innocent people didn’t know was that the Japs plan to bomb them that night. But God knows and protects. Before the movie started and when the football field were filled with lots of people from the kampung, it was raining really heavy and wind blew heavily too. Mum remembers grandma said ‘it was an extraordinary rain and wind’ uinah cakap English ba ninik ku..hehe. So nothing could be done except to run home. And bukan dekat lagi rumah dorang ni, mo naik bukit lagi.
The next day, rumor went around these kampung people about Japanese plan to kill them. There was no 2nd call for free movie cause the Japanese knew that the kampung people know about their plan. Ada la tu spy dorang.
Mum’s story No.3
Lack of food, the Japanese killed a guy in his house. Cincang the guy to small pieces and asked the guy’s family to cook him and ate the meat. Many hungry Japanese pun makan. Hmmm…mum bilang ‘cannibal btul oh..’ Grandma only heard this story, I hope the person that told grandma was not exaggerating. Hmm did I hope right?
Mum’s story No.4
In 1945, after Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Americans went berserk, Americans jetfighters roamed the air, not forgetting North Borneo air. At that time, the japs were on the verge of losing. In one particular site, a local was tie tightly (position like nailed to a cross) in between 2 trees. The jap was about to shoot him, as the army was about to do that, Americans released bombs to the ground. Again God knows and He protects. This is really a miracle when I hear it. When bombs dropped, and Americans fly low near the ground, ini lelaki yang kena ikat, telepas tali dia, ran away to save his life, didn’t care about anything but to save himself. Logically maybe the tali telepas caused by the big impact of the bomb. But miracally said, God’s timing is perfect. I think itu lelaki yg mungkin cerita this to my grandma. Oh and the japs shouted ‘americana, Americana!!’
Mum’s story No.5
A priest or maybe a doctor ran to a local house after being spotted out. He saw women cutting tapioca outside the house, begged the ladies to save her. The women hid him inside a hole and covered him with branches and leaves. And this was very near to where they were sitting. As usual, Japanese came and asked questions, walked around the house and finally went up the hill. Half way, they walked back down, maybe cos penat and tidak confident dapat cari. So the priest or doctor were saved.
Okay that's all from mum's power. Now dad's power lagi. Dad only have 1 story to share.
Dad: Lived in Kg. Montenor, Batu 60 Beaufort. Ni pun atas bukit juga, selalu sa blk kg dulu tp nda juga pandai slim haizz. Has 7 siblings, all but 1 lived until today. Semua lelaki kecuali satu kakak. Dad’s village is near the Padas river where now tourists go for water rafting.
Dad’s story
A Chinese kapitan from China arrived in North Borneo (now Sabah), lived in Beaufort. He was in the wanted list by the Japanese. He ran to NB to save himself, managed to build a business in Beaufort, owned huge lands, he was smart lah to keep it short. Japanese is determined to find him. The Japs arrived in Beaufort, maybe ada dorang punya spy la ni. The kapitan ran up the hill tejumpa my grandparents’ house and begged for help.
My grandpa owned a house where they put the paddy after harvesting. It was at the other side of the Padas river. When the Japs got to know this, they shot the paddy house with a machine gun. Habis bah berterabur padi ingkung sa, anjing pun mati. But surprisingly the Japs didn’t go to my grandpa’s house and kill everyone. Either my dad missing the facts or it was again God’s miracle. Grandpa hid together with kapitan in the forest for a loooong time.
So after the war, kapitan had to go away (back home to China maybe) but he tidak sempat jumpa my grandpa. Rumor said he sent a message to my grandpa through his worker, a message together with huge lands that he developed called Saliwangan Estate. But the worker did not pass the message. I hope my dad didn’t missed facts or salah info.
Mum: Raised in Kg. Tamalang Silou, Inanam. Mau naik bukit lg baru smpi rumah. Has 6 siblings, all but one still live until today. Semua perempuan kecuali satu abang.
Mum’s story No.1
There were 2 chinese guys, Saito and Sianung, operating their own sundry shop in Inanam town. Japanese hated the Chinese so much, when they see chinese they will behead them. Saito & Sianung were spotted by the Jap armies, they then ran to the hill, terjumpa my grandparents’ house. Grandma then hid the 2 guys inside the hole they dug in case of emergency, covered the hole with leaves and branches.
Japan armies tidak selalu kacau locals, they were only after the Chinese. The armies were determined to find Saito & Sianung, arrived at my grandparents’, asked them questions, asked for food and water. When they cannot sense anything wrong there, they moved on further. Saito & Sianung stayed in my grandparents’ farm quite a long time. I don’t know how long exactly. So those 2 guys are safe.
After Japanese lost to American, everything went quiet, calm and people started going out to the town. Habis barang2 di kedai kena kasi jadi source of food and others for the Japs. So semua habis jadi tin kosong. Saito and Sianung started their new shops and each raised a family. Saito and Sianung kedai runcit masih lagi ada di Pekan Inanam now in front of the Shell station. I know Saito has a son and he’s a doctor now in Taman Fortuna, Dr. Tan Kok Sui. Oya, after the war, saito and sianung sell groceries to my grandparents at a lot cheaper price, bleh masuk buku 555 lagi hehe. And that went down to my mum and her siblings, sampai turn kami , teda sudah sbb nda tau sejarah kan. But the shops are still in Inanam until now.
Mum’s story No.2
One day, the Japanese hold a free movie for all in Inanam town. They call upon all people, and all people who were interested and could reach town, went that evening including my mum’s brother, he was still in primary school at that time. Bah teda TV kan di rumah sendiri dulu, jadi ramai la org datang di pekan ni mo tingu wayang. Mum said ‘raaaaaaamai urang’..so I assume ramai smpi tidak bulih kira la tu.
What these innocent people didn’t know was that the Japs plan to bomb them that night. But God knows and protects. Before the movie started and when the football field were filled with lots of people from the kampung, it was raining really heavy and wind blew heavily too. Mum remembers grandma said ‘it was an extraordinary rain and wind’ uinah cakap English ba ninik ku..hehe. So nothing could be done except to run home. And bukan dekat lagi rumah dorang ni, mo naik bukit lagi.
The next day, rumor went around these kampung people about Japanese plan to kill them. There was no 2nd call for free movie cause the Japanese knew that the kampung people know about their plan. Ada la tu spy dorang.
Mum’s story No.3
Lack of food, the Japanese killed a guy in his house. Cincang the guy to small pieces and asked the guy’s family to cook him and ate the meat. Many hungry Japanese pun makan. Hmmm…mum bilang ‘cannibal btul oh..’ Grandma only heard this story, I hope the person that told grandma was not exaggerating. Hmm did I hope right?
Mum’s story No.4
In 1945, after Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Americans went berserk, Americans jetfighters roamed the air, not forgetting North Borneo air. At that time, the japs were on the verge of losing. In one particular site, a local was tie tightly (position like nailed to a cross) in between 2 trees. The jap was about to shoot him, as the army was about to do that, Americans released bombs to the ground. Again God knows and He protects. This is really a miracle when I hear it. When bombs dropped, and Americans fly low near the ground, ini lelaki yang kena ikat, telepas tali dia, ran away to save his life, didn’t care about anything but to save himself. Logically maybe the tali telepas caused by the big impact of the bomb. But miracally said, God’s timing is perfect. I think itu lelaki yg mungkin cerita this to my grandma. Oh and the japs shouted ‘americana, Americana!!’
Mum’s story No.5
A priest or maybe a doctor ran to a local house after being spotted out. He saw women cutting tapioca outside the house, begged the ladies to save her. The women hid him inside a hole and covered him with branches and leaves. And this was very near to where they were sitting. As usual, Japanese came and asked questions, walked around the house and finally went up the hill. Half way, they walked back down, maybe cos penat and tidak confident dapat cari. So the priest or doctor were saved.
Okay that's all from mum's power. Now dad's power lagi. Dad only have 1 story to share.
Dad: Lived in Kg. Montenor, Batu 60 Beaufort. Ni pun atas bukit juga, selalu sa blk kg dulu tp nda juga pandai slim haizz. Has 7 siblings, all but 1 lived until today. Semua lelaki kecuali satu kakak. Dad’s village is near the Padas river where now tourists go for water rafting.
Dad’s story
A Chinese kapitan from China arrived in North Borneo (now Sabah), lived in Beaufort. He was in the wanted list by the Japanese. He ran to NB to save himself, managed to build a business in Beaufort, owned huge lands, he was smart lah to keep it short. Japanese is determined to find him. The Japs arrived in Beaufort, maybe ada dorang punya spy la ni. The kapitan ran up the hill tejumpa my grandparents’ house and begged for help.
My grandpa owned a house where they put the paddy after harvesting. It was at the other side of the Padas river. When the Japs got to know this, they shot the paddy house with a machine gun. Habis bah berterabur padi ingkung sa, anjing pun mati. But surprisingly the Japs didn’t go to my grandpa’s house and kill everyone. Either my dad missing the facts or it was again God’s miracle. Grandpa hid together with kapitan in the forest for a loooong time.
So after the war, kapitan had to go away (back home to China maybe) but he tidak sempat jumpa my grandpa. Rumor said he sent a message to my grandpa through his worker, a message together with huge lands that he developed called Saliwangan Estate. But the worker did not pass the message. I hope my dad didn’t missed facts or salah info.
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