yeah....Things will only get better

Chemor is a small town in Perak, a place where my father was born, a place where I got to know my grandmother better. A place of childhood memories.

I remember the long and torturous jounery, be it by train or by coach. Used to follow my dad during Qing Ming to pay respect to my late grandfather. Never did meet my grandpa, he passed away before I was born.

I was very much a city/urban kid. I had difficulties adapting to the countryside life. I cannot understand why one can't bathe from a shower and has to use a pail and bucket. My relatives would fetch water from a well and the poultry provided the perfect morning call for me. I was very much into this " 早睡早起，身体好" thing, hence it wasn't a problem for me. Just that why must they rear their own chickens? For eggs? Meat? Can't they get it from the supermarket? As an alarm clock ? Don't tell me you can't get one in Malaysia? I was even prepared to get them one, much to the dismay of my dad. After all giving someone a clock is taboo in Chinese Customs.

There's this building that fasinated me a lot. It was the Police Station. It's considered to be "the edge" of the town. After this, you're no longer in Chemor. It looked "new" to me. I mean, pardon me but the other buildings in this small town seem to be so "old" and " run down". And the police officers rode around the town on scooters without their helmets, something that amused me quite a bit.

I know I'm a spoilt brat.

But what prompted me to write this post , you may ask. Well, I was reading this book by Dato' Sri J.J. Raj (Jr), a retired Police Commissioner from the Polis DiRaja Malaysia. He was born in Chemor too and well, he officiated the opening of the police station, just a few years before I was born. Hence, the police station wasn't that old when I first saw it? Less than 10 years I believe.

I've learnt a lot more of this police station and it's history. But what so amazing about this police station?

I never truly understood why Dad and some of his Chinese educated friends were "warned" about engaging in " communist " activities. This book gave me an insight of some of the horrible things that the commies did to the local community and the police. The old Chemor Police Station was obviously a target for the commies. But still. why Chemor?

It was a hotbed for commies to stage their activities. The thick forests provided excellent covers. And the large uneducated Chinese population proved to be excellent recruitment grounds. Even if you don't recruit, you can expect symphatisers.

Now I get it. Dad was Chinese educated. Grandpa had a few rubber plantations in Chemor. It was no wonder the family was "warned" . Well, Dad's now in Singapore and my grandmother had passed away, hence we never did make any more trips.

My Aunt was a senior nurse at Tg Rambutan. It was a hospital for the mentally unstable patients. However, it too served as a training ground for the police officer trainees, Dato Sri J.J Raj too.

Felt a sense of warmth throughout this book. Of course, excluding the portions on fighting the Japs during WWII and during the confrontation period la. Looks like I should make a trip to Chemor soon, to relive the memories.

Labels: communication, reflection, thoughts, views