Working Class Heroine

My Elder Half-Sister--Mother of An Alleged "Communist" Son

TAN KIM KEE (AH KEE)

Ah Kee, my eldest half-sister, has three sons--one of whom, the eldest (Low Geok Leong), is already deceased and the youngest (Low Geok Ann), a delivery driver married with children, is living with her--together with her husband (Low Ah Gong)--in a rented HDB flat in Jalan Berseh. She has a married daughter (Low Geok Kwee) who lives with her husband and children at Jalan Jelapang.

Ah Kee likes to bet on lottery but she lives and eats simply. She has to take care of her grandchild with the meagre sum of money given to her by his son Low Geok Ann. She has few leisurely interests and her usual way of spending her leisure hours is watching Chinese dramas and news reports on TV.

I was able to receive, gratefully, many of her unwanted furniture items, kitchen utensils, electrical home appliances an other household paraphernalia to furnish my own newly-purchased HDB flat at Yishun when she moved out of her own flat (located next door to mine) after selling it in order to stay with her daughter sometime in 1997.

I am only now beginning to appreciate how much I owe her for receiving all these items and products from her. Not only had she saved me from spending too much money but she had also passed to me many items and products--especially electrical ones--which are still so useful and functional after more than 10 years!

Years of poverty and hardship have not changed her good-natured and unselfish behaviour. And she is still quite sprightly and healthy for a woman in her seventies!

Alas, she has another son (Low Geok Seng) who is of the same age as mine (55 now) and who caused her much worry and consternation during an incident sometime in the 1970s!

Low Geok Seng, her son, who now owns and manages a shop selling souvenirs to foreigners and tourists, was arrested and detained (and probably tortured) by the PAP Government one day then--for taking part in alleged "Communist" activities.

Ah Seng (as I used to call my nephew) used to play with me and my brothers at my SIT rented flat in Tasek Utara Estate when we were young. He was quite a mischievous but intelligent boy. There were occasions when I became jealous of him, as even my mother took great care of him (while neglecting me), praising his smartness and wits.

Ah Seng, who is married with children and gives financial support to his mother Ah Kee regularly, has never spoken to me about his arrest and detention by the Internal Security Department. This is partly because we, as adults, have been preoccupied with our own business and interest--being too busy to meet up, even on occasions to celebrate Chinese New Year or during my mother's funeral.

Was my nephew tortured while being detained? Why was he released eventually by the PAP Government? Did he confess to being a "Communist"? Did the PAP Government release him without extracting a confession from him? If so, the ISD goons are guilty of destroying the life of a young innocent man--and causing much misery and unhappiness to her mother!