When the Japanese took over from the British, a divisive method of ruling was retained in the management of the island's different races. Each racial group was managed by its own leaders in the form of "welfare associations". The unfortunate legacy from the Japanese Occupation was that the various races perceived each other with mistrust even though every single community was subjected to massacres and acts of brutality. The Chinese had their Sook Ching, the Malays sacrificed at Pasir Panjang Ridge and the Indians and Eurasians loyal to the British cause were also massacred. ^^^
