The bravery and the martydom of the Malay Regiment in Pasir Panjang Ridge.
This Royal Malay Army, they really fought to the end at Pasir Panjang. The Japanese came up [to Pasir Panjang]. Only two battalions fought [with the Japanese]. But maybe only part [of the battalion fought] because before that, some were already killed. They fought till the end. So there [Pasir Panjang], one of them was a leftenant ... the OC (officer-in-charge) were all British. Although it was a Malay army, the white men was in-charge. They had an officer, a white man too, major ... I don't know. So he [the major], was interned or I don't know where he went, handed over all his responsibilities to Lt. Adnan. So Lt. Adnan shouldered this heavy responsibility. He was one of the Malays [in the army]. His name went down on record.
He too was tortured by the Japanese. The last one was tortured. Why? Because there was no bullets left. So their [Malay army] motto, 'biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata' (a Malay proverb which means, 'better to die than be humiliated'). So this had become a vow. This is the genuine Malay Army, unlike mine where everyone [race] can mix ... We had Malays, Indians... Various mixture [of races]. [But] this is specifically for the Royal Malay Army, the Royal Malay Regiment. Their name was really ... Well known, I knew it too. This Malay Army was heard of everywhere. Even the Japanese admired them. Their bravery in battling. Thousands [Japanese] had died and yet more [Japanese] came up [to fight] and they [the Malay Army] would fight just as hard. No bullets they used bayonets, charge bayonets. Fought with bayonets, no retreating at Pasir Panjang.
So their names are already in England on the memorial wall or something, written in gold lettering - this [particular] Malay Army. No other army except ... Even the British army were not as brave as the Malay Army. We, the mixed army... Because our unit had a mixture of Indians, Malays and something else. This is the exclusive Malay Army. Only two battalions.
This [Malay Army] is comparable to what people would say the Malayan Gurkhas ... Pure Gurkhas. They still exist today.
They [the Gurkhas] say "come", [you] come. [They say], "go", [you] go. We can't disobey them, the Gurkhas. The Gurkha police is tougher than the normal poice. If they call you, you must obey. That's why people trust them, they're loyal to the government. That's why when they say ... Not only rifle, bayonet, 'kukri' ( Hindi word for a large knife with a blade broadening to the point, used especially by the Gurkhas) also have, 'parang bengkok' (Malay word for a straight-edged knife), the Gurkhas [army] use them. They're good with the 'parang'. They can swing it back and forth.
