Although the war years began with much trepidation and fear of all that was feared of an invading army suitably boosted by efficient propaganda by the retreating British and no doubt clear evidence of indiscriminate bombing deaths, rape and reprisals against those who had supported the previous regime it stamped a mark as to who was in charge. The population used to the long colonial rule of decades was not keen to embrace a new rule. To make matters worse the largely military rule that replaced the colonial civil service brooked no opposition. They had years before planted spies in the form of Japanese tradesmen, from barbers to photographers who in some cases actually held military rank in the Japanese army and through them knew who were the enemies of the Japanese in Malaya. They fed the invading minitary police wing of the Japanese Army the Kempetei with needed information who then carried out the detention torture and in many cases extermination of those they saw as enemies. The fierce response to opposition was quite a shock to all used to a paternalistic previous government. Torture was carried out on buildings such as the old District offices facing the present KP stadium below,
and in the class rooms and presumably the Hostel of Tuanku Muhammad School Kuala Pilah and the wooden temporary police station at the junction of Jalan Tung Yen and Jalan Seremban. Years after the war ended rumours of bone chilling screams and moans and sound of chains being dragged at night in these buildings circulated in Kuala Pilah .
A recent picture of TMS main building
After a year or less of the harsh occupation of Kuala Pilah although food and other goods for daily life were in short supply a semblance of normalcy began to take shape. A civil administration ran day to day administration. a wide variety of substitutes made up for staples. River fish (ikan sembilan ) replaced tengiri from the sea which was a rare luxury. Chicken was a real luxury, mutton and beef more so. Rice was for special occasions and tapioca, millet sweet potatoes made up for staples. Coffee was actually grown near the present Giat MARA and substance abuse rehabilitation centre off Seremban road overlooking the first and only KP Air strip of 1950s to come.
This is the 1950's KP Airstrip - to the right of this at a higher level on the hillside was the coffee garden that grew coffee
The coffee was harvested, dried and milled into a low grade coffee drunk while nibbling a small piece of palm sugar. School children were sent in trucks at least on weekends to work on a large farm near Juasseh on the way to Bahau to grow vegetables. for refreshments green pea porridge was given the very expensive sports equipment of modern schools and gymnasiums were unheard of . School PT was Physical commitment to improve food supply ! Clothes were recycled darned and care fully treasured. Canvas shoes were suitably padded periodically on their soles with strips of rubber sheets glued with rubber glue. Exercise books were carefully treasured. Japanese and Hindi schools. All English text books from before the war were accepted as long as pictures of colonial references were inked out or removed..
Perhaps the most important memory of KP people of the war was the highly inflated Banana notes that replaced the British currency. Some fearful of the new order but yet feeling that the British would return buries their money in tins in secret places - only to find paper notes rotten and or termites eaten at the war's end. The Banana notes were similar to those used in neighbouring countries , had no water mark and most of all almost no value. A banana cost 5 Banana Dollars whereas pre war it was probably 2 cents.
Civil servants, teachers and private business men went about their businesses and work - albeit in a modified way. To supplement incomes many had side businesses. A Sakura café was opened by a teacher, to cater for coffee shop needs and served tapioca cakes, local made Japanese cakes and served coffee without milk and sweetened by palm sugar. Most grew their own vegetables around their houses
Doubtless malnutrition was not rate and all sorts of substitutes were used to non availability of nutritious proteins eggs and good food. Hospitals had a tough time getting medicines whose supply from the colonial mother country had dried up when the war started. Some Japanese supplies started to trickle in later and substitutes for quinine were obtained from other nearby countries also occupied by the Japanese.
A view of the Kuala Pilah Valley with Bus Stand and Toddy Shop on the left
More to Follow !
Deva Mp
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