Storytelling 2: The Old Warrior (Based on Location)

Labrador park, one of the historical site in Singapore. This is where the battle took place between the British and Japanese soldiers during the Japanese Occupation. I love spending my time there, jogging through the nature trails and taking photographs of the old relics of World War II like the bunkers and the old forts. On every Sunday morning, I would definitely go here and this place is also where I met the Old Warrior...

He was an old Malay man. His name is Pak Hassan. At ninety years old, he was as healthy as a fifty year old man. He walked erect and and often see him strolling the nature parks and along the coast. He's usually alone, all by himself.

So one day, while I was taking photographs there, he approached me. I was surprised! From what the other joggers and strollers told me, he was an arrogant man. He doesn't talk much. Well, he seems friendly to me. What made me more surprised was that, he was a war veteran who had fought during the Japanese Occupation. Somehow, he had survived all the battle that he fought in.

Every time when I meet him, he would often tell stories of his glory days. He told me that he used to fight alongside with the late Lieutenant Adnan Bin Saidi, who has fought the Japanese in the Battle of Singapore. He is regarded by Malaysians and Singaporeans today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu. Fortunately, Pak Hassan survived that battle. No one knew that he was the sole survivor and that was also his last battle.

He lived alone. He was looked after by a part-time maid, whom he remunerated very well. His wife passed away a long time ago and his daughter had left him. He really missed his daughter so much. It’s been a really long time. After he left the army, he worked as a clerk. He was a workaholic and had no time for his family. One day, his wife was hospitalized as she was suffering from pneumonia. He was at work, too busy. He was not aware that his wife has been hospitalized even though his daughter had tried to call him many times. The hospitals call him about it and rushed to the hospital. But it was too late. His daughter blamed him as the cause of her mum’s death.

For now, deep within him, he had only one wish… he wanted to die fighting, like a warrior once again, like most of his war comrade had done. Peace bored him.

Then one day, it happened. Pak Hassan was on his way to Labrador Park to meet me as usual when he heard a muffled cry for help. Taking his sturdy walking stick in his hands, he went towards the noise. A robbery was in progress. A middle aged malay lady was asked to removed from her car and valuables. Pak Hassan charged at them and taken by surprise, the robber took some time to recover. Seeing him as an old man, the robber pushed him aside and laughing all the while. Pak Hassan staggered to his feet and struck the robber’s head with as much force as he could. Like mad man he struck out at the robber.

Meanwhile, the lady screams attracted passers-by. I was on my way there too. When me and some of the passers-by arrived to the scene, we saw the bewildered robber. One of the guy pounced upon the robber while I called the police. The lady went to her rescuer. He laid still. Then she burst out crying. Turns out, the lady was Pak Hassan’s daughter. She intended to visit and seek forgiveness from Pak Hassan as she misses him too. Well, it was too late. Pak Hassan was no more. He had got his wish and had gone like a warrior… fighting.