The Singapore Story - Chapter 4

Title: The Singapore Story - Memories of Lee Kuan Yew (Chapter 4)

Author: Lee Kuan Yew

Chapter Review: After The Liberation (Pg 84 to Pg 99)

Summary: What happened after the Japanese Occupation

  After the surrender ceremony of the Japanese had come to an end, everyone thought that the good times were about to return, but by early 1946, the people realised that there was no return to the good old times. One reason was because there were british soldiers who filled the newly opened cafes, bars and many other places. Another reason was because ship arrivals were infrequent and goods were scarce not only in Singapore, but also in Britain itself.

  There were also many things that were broken and needed repair, such as the road filled with potholes and old telephones that were beyond repair. Also, there was another problem.

 

  Aside from the about only 10 percent of people that were loyal to the british in Singapore, the remaining 90 percent of people recently arrived in Singapore and would converse in chinese instead of malay or english. Most of their loyalty was to China, not Britain.

  Some of those people would go around blackmailing businessman for their past collaboration with the enemy not dressed as a normal person, but dressed as soldiers. Luckily, after the british offered every so called soldier that if they turned in their weapons, they would get $350. Thankfully, most of them, about 6500 turned in.

  Before that happened, however, the soldiers would always be seen almost everywhere. Shops would be closed down in an act of fear and those people who turned up for work would get beaten up.

  With the japanese aside, many houses were left vacant. Lee Kuan Yew and his family decided to find another place to leave. They rented a house with 5 bedrooms for $80 a month. Lee kuan Yew's father continued to work at the shell depot in Pasir Panjang.

  During this time, Lee Kuan Yew and Kwa Geok Choo had grown closer and Lee Kuan Yew began to like her. At about October - November 1945, he got her a job as a librarian in Raffles Library. After thinking, Lee Kuan Yew decided to not attend Raffles College and instead study law in England. At about March, Lee Kuan Yew was told that he would be accepted to the London Economics College if he could present himself there.

  Therefore, Lee Kuan Yew spoke to the army officer. After hearing about his predicament, the army officer agreed as he was sympathetic. Before Lee Kuan Yew left for England, his mother made sure that he would leave Singapore commited to a chinese girl. After telling his mother about Kwa Geok Choo, Lee Kuan Yew's mother agreed after shrewd judgement.

  Choo had been educated at Methodist Girls' School and was only 19 when she went to Raffles College. Before Lee Kuan Yew left, Choo and him spent a lot of time together. They were young and in love, anxious to record that last moment of their lives.

  When Lee Kuan Yew left Singapore on his 23rd birthday, 16 September 1946, he waved goodbye to all his relatives and his family with a tearful look in his eyes.