DATO’ JJ Raj lived through and experienced first hand the tribulations of the Emergency in Malaysia–the period when the Communist movement threatened the formation of Malaysia.

The talk covered the time from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya (1941-1945) right up to the formation of Malaysia in 1963. This was a very intricate part of Malaysian history. Therefore Dato’ JJ Raj gave us the highlights of each period and also amused us with several personal experiences of his.

During the Japanese Occupation, people lived mainly in a state of arbitrary arrest and torture and were fearful of being sent to the Death Railway in Thailand. To fight against the Japanese the Malayan Peoples Anti Japanese Army (MPAJA) was formed. After the Japanese surrendered, the MPAJA ruled the country for about 3 months and held kangaroo courts to sentence people who were under the slightest suspicion of collaboration with the Japanese during the Occupation.

The British returned to Malaya and began to rebuild the country. In 1948, the Communist Party began its campaign. Members of the Communist Party included former members of the MPAJA, who had not surrendered their weapons when the British returned. Dato’ JJ Raj worked as an OCPD in several districts in Johor, Perak and Kedah during the Emergency. He served under General Sir Gerald Templer. General Templer was the British High Commissioner whose task it was to save Malaya from the Communists and to unite all the races so that common citizenship could be achieved for all Malayans.

New villages that were fenced and patrolled by policemen were built throughout Malaya. This was to prevent communist interaction with the villagers.

To counteract the communist attacks on these villages, the corpses of the communists that were killed in the jungle were laid outside the local police stations for the general public to view. Even though this was a crude method, it was effective as it helped the villagers to slowly relinquish their fears of these communists.

The communist threat was quelled by the concerted effort of all those involved. As Malaya approached its independence, the leaders of Malaya sought a smooth transition period from colonial rule to independence. Many British officials, including the then Inspector General Sir Claude Fenner, were requested to remain for a while to aid with the running of the country.

Malaysia would still face challenges after its independence, e.g. the 1963 riots and the Ganyang Malaysia (Crush Malaysia) campaign by the Indonesians. Dato’ JJ Raj left us with the message that racial tolerance in Malaysia must be promoted to achieve “Bangsa Malaysia” (Malaysian Race).

The talk was informative. More details about Malaysia’s journey through those times are recounted in his book, The War Years and After.
- Sharmini Markandu

December saw the Explorer’s Group visiting a Siamese location. Although we met at KL’s second Thai Temple, we began the morning with a brief discussion about the city’s first Siamese Temple, which was founded in 1925, in what became known as Kampung Siam.

The temple does still exist in Pekeliling off Jalan Tun Razak, but now it is surrounded by high rise flats, a far cry from its initial days when it was set in jungle and swamp land.

Wat Chetawan is the second and far more visually appealing temple located in Petaling Jaya just off Jalan Gasing.

Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, promised the Thai Government to build a new temple. Two acres of land were donated for this purpose and the temple was completed by Thai craftsmen in 1962, and inaugurated in the same year by King Bhumipol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

Visiting the Wat or monastery gave the group the opportunity to discover the features of a temple compound as well as learning about the significance of the Buddha.

Certain features are found in every wat compound:

• The Bodhi tree, the sacred fig tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment.
• A Vihan or assembly hall.
• A bell and drum tower, used to call the monks to assemble and to announce their final daily meal taken before noon.
• There is also the Kuti, the monk’s quarters.
• And the Ubosot. This is the most important building in the compound; the exterior is marked by Bai Sema pillars at the eight cardinal points, indicating that it is consecrated ground. A ninth marker, the Luk Mimit, is placed under the main Buddha image inside the hall.

  The Ubosot is the most stunning building in the compound and is decorated with gold and coloured miniature glass tiles, a triangular gable board and a multi tiered roof topped with what is known as a Chofa or sky tassel.

It is in the Ubosot that all the important ceremonies are conducted and the principal dates in the Buddhist calendar celebrated. These are:

• Songkran in April marking the Thai New Year and known for its enthusiastic water festival.
• Wesak, usually occurring in May, commemorates the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha.
• Kathrin marks the end of the monk’s annual retreat, and finally, Loy Krathong, held in November, is when elaborate floats after a blessing are taken to the nearby lake and released.

There were a number of other features that we observed when walking around the compound. From the simplistic mural paintings we could follow the main events of the life of the Buddha as well as appreciating some of the recurring symbols.

One of the most significant is the lotus, reminding believers in the story of the Buddha’s birth when he took seven steps and wherever his feet touched the ground lotus flowers bloomed.

Also within the grounds is a shrine to Kwan Yin, who is often described as the Goddess of Mercy and known as a Bodhisattva, one who turned away from enlightenment in order to use her wisdom to help others.

There is also a shrine to Brahma, the creator in the Hindu pantheon of gods. He is shown with four heads indicating that he is watching over the four corners of the world, and his four arms hold the Vedas, water vessels, a ladle, a rosary and a conch shell.

Although Wat Chetawan is situated close to the busy Jalan Gasing, it is a surprisingly serene and quiet place, an oasis of tranquillity in the midst of P.J.
- Diana Cooper