Saturday, January 06, 2007
This was wat i was werkin on. but e essay too long. so i'll juz post the transcript and the introduction to give background info.
Education, the process by which a person’s mind and character are developed through teaching, especially through formal instruction at a school, plays an important role in the progress of human civilization. In Singapore, formal forms of education had already been established since the Raffles administration in the early 1800s. Now, Singapore is reputed to be one of the best education centres in the world after much has been done. Political activities were even involved in moulding this system and were prominent between the period of 1956 and 1963. Many events had occurred relating to the education system at that time. However, only two events would be mentioned here as these are the two situations which the interviewee had gone through during that period. The two parts are, the favouring of the Malay language streams and the people of that race, and the popularity of the English language streams amongst the Chinese. These two language streams are related in such that they were seen as being favoured by the British Administrators.
Transcript of Oral History
Where were you born?
Born in Singapore.
In the year?
1947.
And your dialect? Do you have any dialect?
I am Hokkien.
May I know your family background?
I used to stay in quarters. My father was working in the hospital.
In which hospital?
In those days, we called it the Woodbridge Hospital. So, we were staying in quarters. Generally, it’s quite comfortable. Although we don’t consider ourselves rich, but enough to get by. And… We also have, where education is concerned, we get to borrow free books from the schools. We have such things as free books. So, other than that... We would say that… We get to have some place where we can rear some chickens. And then we have some eggs. So sometimes, we get some form of income by selling chicken and eggs. Those are extra incomelah. Then, my mum sometimes do some sewing for the neighbours. Simple simple sewing. That’s also another source of income.
So, it was quite peaceful for you?
Generally, it was quite ok. But we won’t say we are richlah.
Then what about your neighbourhood?
My neighbourhood, they’re all about the same. Some of them may not know how to manage so well. And they may be not so comfortable. Fortunately, I have my father who is… He handles his matters well. So, we are all alright. We just pass the day and generally, we are happylah.
What about the races in your neighbourhood? Were there other races like Malays, Indians?
Oh yes, where I am staying, where I used to stay in the quarters, we have a lot of races because the hospital people consists of Indians Malays, Chinese, Punjabis and all that. So, the family is a mix. They have four kinds of races. They live together.
Including your parents, they can live together?
Yes. So in fact, it is very rich. I mean, staying in that kind of community, there is a lot of interaction, a lot of tolerance. Of course, there are a lot of fights also. (Between?) Children fight so mother got involved. But somehow it has been resolved.
But it’s not a matter of race when they fight?
No, it’s fighting because the children are naughty. Mostly, they are fighting over rice and you knowlah, naughtylah… And mothers taking sides and all that.
So which primary school and secondary school were you in?
Ok, I started off with Yio Chu Kang Primary School. Then, I went to Serangoon Garden Government High School when I am in my secondary.
So both are English medium schools?
Yes, English Medium.
In which year did you take Malay?
I couldn’t recollect but… Well, it could also be that, that’s the year when PAP takes over and the emphasis is on national language. So, from then on, we do have, I think about forty minutes of national language classes. Prior to that, every race have got to attend their vernacular studies. That means, if you’re Chinese, you attend Mandarin. If you are a Malay, you attend Malay. But there’s a year where all of us have to learn the national language and that was Malay. So, it’s about forty minutes.
Before that, what language did you learn?
I was learning Chinese. Mandarin.
How about English?
English as usual.
Started when you were in primary one?
Yes, English in Primary One. So in fact, in 1955, when we started off in schools, we were still singing ‘God Save the Queen’.
So did you have any difficulties learning Malay and did you find it troublesome?
No. For me, I was very eager because I have been very exposed with Malay. So, it’s just like something… It’s part of… Like getting more interested in it because now, you’re actually learning in forms of studies instead of just talking with your friends. So, you feel good about it. You are learning something more.
At home, what do you normally speak in? In which language?
Actually, my mum speaks to us in Hokkien but amongst my brothers and sisters, we speak Malay.
So, did you speak Malay when the national language was imposed?
Yes.
After that, not before?
No, no… I was actually very exposed to Malay. As I said, because my neighbours are Malay. So, they used to switch on the radio. Bangsawan (a Malay opera). So, we would listen to all the songs.
Instead of the Chinese Opera?
Yah, yah that’s right. But I do also have exposure for my Chinese songs. Because my mum, she’s also concerned about me… Like I need to know something about my Chinese. So, she tries to speak Hokkien to me. So, that’s how they’re parents ah.
What were your feelings then, towards Malays, since they were given free education, free textbooks. Did you feel there was any unfair treatment?
That is towards the Malays who were given special treatment? Well, as a child, all this are not important to us. And so, we didn’t have any bad reactions to it.
How about your older siblings? Did they feel anything? Did they complain? Parents complained?
I think the elderlies, they do feel it. They do feel it. They feel that, why are they having it and why are we not having it. But I think they also understand and accept it that… Because, this being a country where it consists of Malay and apparently… Fortunately, my mum, she reads. So, she knows the reason behind the special treatment given to the Malays because of the British. They have this… Leading the way… The country…
It’s through the media that your mum knows about the reason? The rationale?
My mum is one of those fortunate early Chinese, where she was educated for her generation. So, she reads very much. She’s very political ah. So she knows about all these things ah. She reads a lot. Newspaper and all that.
But then, your mother doesn’t feel anything? She just understands it?
I suppose it’s quite natural to feel that, like what I’ve said, why are they given something special. The others are not given. We were quite poor but it’s just an acceptance. It’s an acceptance. It’s like they accept itlah. It wasn’t a hoo-halah. Because I can recollect that it’s nothing big. There’s no big deal about itlah.
So that means u did not hear of any racial discrimination situations?
No, no… (your friends?) But of course we do have Malays… There was some Indian neighbours, who wanted to change, because they are Muslims. So they want to be called Malay. They are Muslims but not Malays, they are Indians. So, there were, like, I wouldn’t call that dispute but talking over it. Like my mum would say, “You’re Indian you know. You cannot say you’re Malay you know. Your identity card says you are Indian. You don’t have any... Although your name…” To them, those days, the Muslim name is Malay name. So, they have these kinds of thoughts amongst the families. They want to be Malays who wants to be favoured, to get special treatment.
So, do you know of any Malays who have reactions towards this? Like they feel proud and show off?
Nolah.. Because, actually, the whole group of people that we were living in... Are very… They have a lot of tolerance. So, people just live on. I mean, this is like nothing important to us. We just go on. You never question it.
Did your mother explain to you why you have to take Malay?
Oh, I don’t think my mum had time for all this. All the time, I can remember, she’s always washing clothes and busy bathing the kids one by one. Until the certain stage when we are older, then we have to do our own bathing. So, this kind of talks, I don’t think she has time for that.
When you had to take Malay, you did not know why you have to take Malay?
I do know that we have to learn Malay because, now, that it’s a national language.
That’s all you were told?
Yes. Because I think in those days also, there were a lot of radio, reports, singing songs, campaigns and all that. So, there was one stage when we were working towards…being together with Malaysia. There were a lot of songs about… There were songslah… A lot of songs… like, I can’t remember, but songs to encourage people that we have to be one, as united…as Malaysia. Because that time we were about to join Malaysia.
So, your siblings have no reaction, in that case?
We are a wild lot. So, I don’t remember things from them. Because we were all busy playing. And those days, after studying we are out playing. Of course there’s a certain period where we finish our homework and that’s it. By 4 o’clock we are out playing already. Then 6, 7 o’clock we come back for our dinner. In the evening we resume our homework. Fortunately, in my case, I am quite balanced. So, I maintained. Because there are some who are naughty they dropped out. They don’t want to study. So, probably around 7 to 8 pm I will study again. Like that lah. But there are times when there’s no homework, play and play only. That’s how we go on.
Do you think learning Malay has its benefits?
Yes, of course because you can get to speak to other peoplelah. Like when Indians cannot speak…you cannot speak their language so it’s a mediumlah. Especially like when you’re going to market or anywherelah.
So do you think learning Malay has its benefits, now, in the present?
Even in the present it still gets you by for being able to interact with all the races.
So in that case, learning Malay kind of helps u understand Malay cultures?
Yes.. yes…
In your opinion, do you think it (learning Malay) promotes harmony instead between races or otherwise?
Yes… It’s more a needed language. Because being a very mixed country, with many races…as I said, you got Indians…even among the Chinese also we have different dialects. So, sometimes Malay is like a medium for us to understand each other. For those who are not exposed to English…so that’s why they call it pasar(market) Malay. Because you actually speak to each other even if you are Indian, or a Cantonese or Hakka or what. So, if you don’t know their dialect you actually trust on Malay as a medium. Of course the more educated ones will speak to you in English. Mandarin, in those days, was not very…because they don’t go to school. The earlier Chinese generation don’t even learn Mandarin. So, their medium would be either Hokkien or Malay. It’s a very useful tool.
When you learn Malay, did you feel any Malayan spirit?
It’s already in me. Like I’ve said, I’ve been exposed to a lot of Malay. So, even like listening to the song, listening to the radio and even go and see the shows. Because during my days were P.Ramlee and Normadiah and Saadiah and Jins Samsuddin (Malay artistes during that time). All these people I know…
So it’s more like the media and the environment that makes you feel the Malayan spirit?
Yes. Yes, that’s right. Then we even read the majalah, the movie magazine but it’s a Malay version. So, we also have a lot of beautiful photographs of all the actresses and all that.
But the government did try to emphasize a sense of Malayan spirit so that we can win over Malaysia, right? ...Through media, they would sort of promote a Malay sort of environment. Do you find it successful?
Well, actually, I do remember when I was in secondary school, my secondary school has got some Chinese school, that’s why they call it Serangoon Garden Government High. So, the higher floor consists of the Mandarin speaking students and the lower floors are all the English. So, I do remember that when we go to the school hall for the singing session, we have the Mandarin educated Chinese teachers who actually sing songs like ‘sama2 maju kehadapan cari ilmu pengetahuan…’ (Mdm Liau sings) These are the songs that were being sang in the school hall. Like I said, there were a lot of songs to encourage you to be one. So, Malay as a medium you see. In those days, we consider it, actually, work towards one Malaysia. So actually the younger generation did not understand why he (Lee Kuan Yew) cried. He actually cried is because he wanted us to be together as Malaysia. Maybe because he knows Singapore, in those days, got no chance to thrive. Because we got nothing. We only have people. True, you need the unification with Malaysia to expand, to be able to enjoy the full expand. Like the land or whatever that can be produced. Singapore is a very small thing. And then, if the British is gone, we got nothing. So everybody work towards being one with Malaysia.
Do you know why your parents chose to send you to the English-medium school instead of the Chinese-medium school?
Actually, as I said, the nearest school is the English school, the Yio Chu Kang School. So that would be the school that they’re going. There is another school across the road which is the Chinese school. But I think at that time, most people would feel that English have got a better prospect. So I’ve been send to the English school. It’s recognisedlah.
Better prospect in what sense?
Better prospect maybe you can get a job, civil servants. Across the road is the old Chinese school which is private type, which is not so recognized. And Yio Chu Kang was a new school. It’s a government school. To them at that time, it’s the best option for us. And so near, and so that’s where we go ah. Everyone in the neighbourhood end up in Yio Chu Kang School. Because that was the nearest school.
So do you know of anyone who goes to the Chinese school?
The earlier ones before the Yio Chu Kang School come out they had no choice. Then they have to go Chinese. So they still prefer English school because it’s a better tool. You have better chance for further yourself if you are English educated. At that time, already they recognize the benefits of going to an English school.
So do you know of students who go to the Chinese medium school and then after that they transfer out to the English medium school after the Yio Chu Kang School have been built?
Those days, if you are overaged, you got no chance to go to school. That means, if you miss, you miss. If you are overaged, you just have to stay where you used to be. That means you are in a Chinese school. Because I have a few cousins who were much older, before the school is open, the only school nearest was the Chinese school. So they went to the Chinese school.
But they cannot switch halfway to the English skool?
No, no. I don’t remember them going to the Yio Chu Kang School because they have a lot of criterias that you must be by what age. So if you’re overaged, they won’t accept you already. They were very, very strict where this is concerned.
So your cousins, did they feel any dissatisfaction?
Yah, actually on the whole, they are at a disadvantage because they don’t have English. So, some of them ended up not as successful as my peoplelah, my family and those who went to the English school. They end up as a painter, carpenter. There’s nothing…Unless you had to be very good to be a school teacher. So, if they’re just an average…so they end up…Then some of them… They go and work in the hospitallah, as attendant and all that..
So at that the people already know the job prospects of being English educated?
Yes, it’s obvious.
Why is it obvious?
Because it’s colonial. We started off being a colonial country because it’s the British. So everybody feels that English is the best. Because as a civil servant, you must have English. Otherwise you can’t go and work with them.
So your aim was to be a civil servant at that time?
Later on in life, of course when I was in secondary school, in those days, if you do well, you become a school teacher. If you don’t pass your ‘O’ levels, then you end up in nursing. There are not much prospects. Then, failing all of that, you go and do some typewriting. Then you become a typist in the high street, in one of those Indian shops and do typing and all that. There were no factories, there are not much job prospects actually. Not much.
Does your family or parents think that actually if you learn Chinese it helps you to better understand your culture and go back to your roots as a Chinese?
No, they don’t have that feelings.
So, they are open-minded?
Yes. To them they had to be practical. So, English is the best tool for us to further ourselves. So, there’s no doubt about itlah that English would be the education that would be needed for me.
So your parents are not worried that you’d be influenced by the westerns?
No, they have no choice. To them, to further yourself, English is still the best tool for us.
But do you agree that if you do not learn Chinese language, you do not treasure your Chinese culture. Do you agree with that?
No, not really because actually, I think it depends on your family. How your parents make you understand that…They just don’t feel that way. The part where maintaining the Chinese culture, my mom do feel that, as a Chinese, I must at least know my own dialect Hokkien. So that’s why she tries to speak to me in Hokkien. Although she’s Mandarin educated, she can speak Mandarin, but she choose to speak in Hokkien because she say, “You are Hokkien, so you must know your own Hokkien.” Same with the Malay family, they feel you are a Malay, so you must at least know your Malay so that they can curse n swear in your own language. It’s in the skin…We are also not that strong in English. So we are everything like borderline. Like there are some countries, if you are a Mandarin…for example, you are a Shanghainese, you are very deep in your language. They could curse and swear and swear and you could feel as a Shanghainese, because your language is very deep. But for us, we are very shallow. We can’t express emotionally, deeply, as a Hokkien. Like you say, sometimes, when I speak Hokkien I mix my language. I mix with Malay and Chinese. So, to me, I feel like I’m very ‘rojak’(mixed). I cannot be very deep in one particular language. That is my problem. So, when it comes to my children, I tell myself that I’m not perfectly Hokkien because there are some very deep language which I cannot express. Fortunately for me, I am quite well verse in English. So, I said, out of the many language that I know best, English is still the best for me. So, I make a point to speak to them in English. For me, I don’t care if they have already lost their roots. They cannot speak in Teochew…my husband is a Teochew. For me, it’s how best they can express as a person. So if you are best in English, express well in English. No use learning your own Hokkien language but you are not good enough to express your emotions and feelings. So, what is best for me is English because I’ve been more exposed to English. So, English is for my children. So, for Shuyin (her daughter), unfortunately, she will not be able to express as a Teochew. She don’t have any Teochew knowledge. So in language, in my opinion, is living. We should not be so crazy about our language. Language moves. For all you might know, all the Malay choose to be English, they speak English. Or even the Chinese. So it’s moving because it’s a tool. Quite effective it is for you to get on. So, all these sentiments about your roots and feelings…of course you’d like to have a bit but when you have no choice, you have to learn to balance and get on with life.
This is the end of the 25minutes interview
7:24 PM
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