The adversities in life, the day-to-day challenges that we face, are most often, unknowingly the source of our strengths. We draw courage from learning how to handle our fears. We build wisdom from the lessons that life has to give and the mistakes that we make. Life’s curve balls may shake us with disappointments. Ironically, these setbacks can surprisingly pave us the way to success.

 Great leaders like the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned 27 years for the anti-apartheid cause that he believed in before his nation-building efforts towards the implementation of multi-racial democracy in South Africa was eventually recognised.

While weathering the unpredictable global economic climate, it is sometimes important and helpful for us to look inwards and trace back our pillar of strength and sources of inspiration to help us pull through the tough times.

The nation building stories of this small nation started in 1959 when granted with self-government by the British and the story of our success continues till today.

 There are many more inspiring stories that we can draw from the unsung heroes of Singapore. Stories of courage and the memories that people hold on to, while being part of significant nation-building efforts make up a unique collection of Singapore history when pieced together. This includes memories of establishing the prestige and roles of Singapore’s National Library to what it is today. Once, due to lack of funds, Mrs Hedwig Anuar who was previously the director of National Library from 1965 to 1988 recalls of having to mobilise 50 library staff to form the human chain when the National Library was being relocated.

Our national anthem, ‘Majulah Singapura’ which means ‘Onward Singapore’ when translated to English was selected as the nation’s anthem when Singapore attained self-government in 1959. Symbolising Singapore’s rootedness to our identity, the same anthem has been sung, for 50 years from 1959 till present, with tunes and lyrics unchanged in spite of the progress that Singapore has made through the years. 

Perhaps, to reflect back, we ought to remind and draw common aspirations of Singapore from our national anthem.

An Insider’s World brings you heartwarming stories contributed by those who are willing to share their struggles and joy having seen Singapore’s development through the years.

 

An Insider ’s World with Othman Wok

The racial riot account of 1964 was shared by Mr Othman Wok, first Minister for Social Affairs for Singapore following Singapore’s self-governance in 1963. He was also the only Malay member in the cabinet.

RACIAL RIOTS

 

 The afternoon of 21 July 1964, a public holiday, was warm and sunny. About 20,000 Malays and Muslims gathered at the Padang attending a mass rally celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. They were representatives of social, welfare, religious and political organizations in Singapore, listening to speeches by religious leaders.

 But the atmosphere surrounding the Padang was very tense. Since September 1963 extremist United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) leaders in Kuala Lumpur had purposely launched a campaign playing up the sensitive issues of race, language and religion raising the emotion and sentiment of Malays against the Chinese. The main reason for this was due to the loss suffered by all UMNO candidates in the Singapore general elections in September 1963, particularly in the Malay dominated constituencies of Geylang Serai, Kampong Kembangan and the Southern Islands.

 The speeches were interrupted by shouts of ‘God is Great’ from the huge crowd. I was there leading a group of 70 PAP Malay/Muslim members. Seeing the mood of the crowd I had a feeling that something unpleasant would happen.

At the end of the rally, the procession to Lorong 12, Geylang, began passing through Beach Road, Arab Street, Kallang Road and Geylang Road. It was about 4.30pm when trouble began. The PAP contingent, being almost at the tail end of the procession, was passing the old Kallang gasworks when I saw a number of Malays roughing up some Chinese who were watching the procession. They were beaten up for no reason. A Chinese old man riding a bicycle was pulled down and beaten up and his bicycle thrown into the drain. He was severely injured.

More incidents took place as the procession proceeded towards Kallang Bridge. More people were beaten up and there was complete chaos. The worst racial riots in Singapore lasted for several days. Many were killed and injured and properties destroyed.

It was a frightening experience for my colleagues and me. What had happened taught us a bitter lesson that the sensitive issues of race, language and religion should never be played up. We should always be alert and prevent them from happening again.

Since our independence there has always been peace and harmony among our multi-racial population. We should always maintain and improve this. This is a continuing process to guarantee that there is always peace, stability and harmony in Singapore not only for ourselves but also for our future generations. The most important thing we should never forget to not to take things for granted.

 Mr Othman Wok, Singapore Cabinet Minister (1963 – 1977)

An Insider’s World with Darren Heath

I met Darren Heath, an award-winning, FIA accredited F1 photographer prior to the launch of Singapore’s first street night race in September 2008, also known as the Singapore Grand Prix. We’d been planning almost a year to have Darren come down to the library to give a public library talk on what it takes to be a professional F1 photographer.

 

A humble man, you could tell by the looks that Darren treated each of his works very seriously and spoke with much enthusiasm about his photography passion. Not surprisingly with motor sport, being his favourite subject matter, it was not long before he finally went to study photography at college and shoot professionally at Formula One circuits in 1989 at a tender age of 21.

 Watch now a ‘live’ interview with Darren Heath.

 

An Insider’s World with Hidayah Amin

 

Eloquent, intelligent & spirited would be my way of describing Hidayah Amin, the author of the recently launched book, “Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood”. In this segment, we get up close and personal with the author herself, through an online interview.

 Could you tell use more about yourself?

I was educated in Singapore, France and USA where I was a Fulbright Scholar at Lehigh University. I was also the first Malay Girl Guide to receive the President’s Guide Award. I’m passionate about community and humanitarian work. I’m equally comfortable discussing world politics with dignitaries at the United Nations Headquarters where I had interned pro-bono for 6 months, as well as working alongside tsunami survivors in rugged make-shift tents in Aceh. I’m a media producer by profession and a world traveller by interest. I enjoy a good conversation and gazing at the stars that speckle the Himalayan sky. 

 

How did you get started in writing?

I love to read and write! I started ‘serious’ writing on “Hidayah, World Traveller” blog in 2006. In 2009, I started writing regularly for Singapore International Foundation’s Kopitiam website: www.singaporekopitiam.sg

 

What inspired you to produce and publish this book?

My grandmother used to tell me stories of her life when she was a child growing up in Gedung Kuning and of my great-grandparents. Then, I couldn’t fully understand why it was important to know my heritage. When Gedung Kuning was acquired, it struck me that a part of my family’s history was gone, “taken away”. I felt “lost.” I decided to pen down all the memories for posterity, so that the future generation will know about our family at Gedung Kuning. I set up www.gedungkuning.com in 2004 and started compiling my family’s historical narratives into a book.

 

What is the message that you want to send out to people about Gedung Kuning?

•          Gedung Kuning was the family home of Haji Yusoff ‘Tali Pinggang’ from 1912 to 1999.

•          The Gedung Kuning family is not related to Malay royalty or the Istana Kampong Glam.

•          Gedung Kuning played an important role in the history of Kampong Glam and of the Malays in Singapore.

What other projects are you currently working on or any plans for the future?

Some projects in the pipeline:

I might direct and produce another short film this year (Last year, I produced “Potong Andam”, a forgotten Malay ritual where a bride’s virginity is determined).

I might write another book – either Volume 2 of “Gedung Kuning Stories” or “Recipes of Gedung Kuning” or “Banjar Stories”

I might compose more songs and produce a music CD with Nuradee.

So stay tuned to find out what I’m up to! 

 

Describe Hidayah Amin in three words.

Passionate. Determined. Full of Life.

 

Motivational Quote from Hidayah Amin:

There’s no mountain too high: Just Climb.

 

If you’re interested to follow through the author’s upcoming projects or would like to contact her, do visit the following websites.

 

Websites:

Website: www.gedungkuning.com

Blog: www.hida-amin.blogspot.com

Short film: www.potong-andam-the-fim.com

Let’s Lepak!: www.singaporekopitiam.sg/blogs