Interview Transcript

Interviewer: What were your feelings and reactions when the war had just started?

Interviewee: When the World War 2 started, I was living in Malaysia. (Pause)At that time, everyone was very scared. Because when they attacked Malaysia, the Japanese soldiers killed a lot of Chinese.

(Flips the Interviewer paper)

Interviewer: Did anything happen to your job and your father’s plantation when the war started?

Interviewee: At that time, I was still a kid. Our Rubber Plantation...no,no, (shakes head) nothing happened to our rubber plantation.

Interviewer: How was your life during the Japanese Occupation?

Interviewee: The lives of the people were very tough during that time and it was very difficult to look for jobs. During that time, those people who were working also faced a lot of problems.

Interviewer: What happened to your family and friends during the Japanese Occupation? Did you get separated?

Interviewee: (Long Pause)The Japanese surrendered in 1945. (Pause)After that, in the 1950s, we moved to Singapore, we came to Singapore and we lived there.

(Flips the Interviewer paper)

Interviewer: What did the Japanese soldiers do when people do not obey them?

Interviewee: (Pause) The Japanese...They… Um… During the Japanese Occupation, People must obey the Japanese and listen to them or else they will hit your ear, um… yah… hit our ear, slap you and beat you.

Interviewer: Did the Japanese soldiers do anything to you?

Interviewee: The Japanese, no , Japanese never, We stayed at the country side… yah, country side during that time and there were no,um... No Japanese soldiers there.

(Flips the Interviewer paper)

Interviewer: Was there enough food for you and your family during the Japanese occupation?

Interviewee: Oh during that time, the Japanese, During that time food was not a problem for us as we have enough food to eat.

Interviewer: Was there any person who helped you during the Japanese occupation ?

Interviewee: Um… Then, everyone’s life was tough and, um ,and I help you, you help me, everyone was helping each other as the most important thing is unity.

(Flips the Interviewer paper)

Interviewer: What happen to your rubber … …

Interviewee : (interrupts) Rubber Plantation

Interviewer: Rubber plantation after the war?

Interviewee: No, um, nothing happened to our rubber plantation. 3 years, After 3 years, We move to Singapore already.

Interviewer: What are… what are your overall feelings about the war?

Interviewee: The Japanese people are very cruel. (Pause) They… They killed a lot of Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore.

(Flips the Interviewer Paper)

Interviewee: No more?

Interviewer: Yah… um… Thank You.

Interviewee: So thats all! (Throws the Interviewer paper on to the table.)