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Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari AWAS Ke Rejimen Ke-10
142 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 1, 2012
Buku yang menceritakan kisah hidup srikandi pejuang kiri Melayu, Shamsiah Fakeh. Selama ini rakyat selalu dimomokkan dengan cerita bahawa komunis adalah ancaman kepada negara, melalui buku ini pembaca dibawa menyelami matlamat dan perjuangan sayap kiri. Mulanya beliau memimpin Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS)yang bergandingan dengan Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API) dalam menuntut kemerdekaan. Setelah AWAS diharamkan, beliau menyertai Rejimen Ke-10 iaitu sayap Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) yang terdiri dari orang-orang Melayu. Beliau memilih mengangkat senjata demi kemerdekaan tanah air sehinggalah Malaysia mencapai kemerdekaan. Banyak pahit maung dihadapinya sepanjang perjuangan, namun beliau tidak pernah menyesal mengangkat senjata dan menyertai PKM kerana baginya itu adalah untuk tanah airnya yang tercinta. Beliau menghembuskan nafas terakhir pada 20 Oktober 2008 dan selamat dikebumikan di tanah perkuburan Islam Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. Al-Fatihah.
http://jiwarasagelora.blogspot.com/20...
http://jiwarasagelora.blogspot.com/20...
March 4, 2016
Dalam perjuangan membebaskan tanah melayu daripada penjajah, kita harus sedar bahawa pihak pihak yang berjuang mempunyai satu matlamat yang sama, bebas dari penjajah. Erti kata lain, merdeka. Malangnya kita sering dimomok momokkan dalam tulisan teks sejarah bahawa perjuangan golongan kiri seperti PKMM,AWAS,API,PKM,BATAS adalah golongan yang 'jahat' dan pengkhianat tanah air. Memetik kata kata Tun Dr. Ismail,"Setiap nasionalis sama ada berfahaman kiri atau kanan telah sama sama memberi sumbangan dalam perjuangan merebut kemerdekaan yang dipelopori oleh UMNO". Buku ini akan menjernihkan kembali pemahaman sejarah yang disalahertikan.
September 14, 2011
Berlaku adil pada beliau. Baca sejarah hidupnya dan cuba memahami kenapa mereka sanggup berjuang, mengangkat senjata dan memilih jalan penuh kesukaran. Amat tersentuh dengan kisah beliau tersesat di dalam hutan bersama anaknya berusia sebulan setengah juga kematian anaknya yang dibunuh komunis.
April 23, 2012
Buku dari salah seorang srikandi pejuang kemerdekaan negara ni sangat senang dibaca, mudah dan cepat aku habis pembacaannya walaupun aku matapelajaran sejarah memang FAIL. Memang bagus untuk dibaca terutama mereka yang percaya bulat-bulat buku teks sejarah sekolah dan filem Bukit Kepong.
September 9, 2021
Buku : Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh, Dari AWAS ke Rejimen ke-10 dan Serikandi Suriani Abdullah oleh Strategic Information Research Development (SIRD)
Kisah dua tokoh wanita dari Parti Haluan kiri di era sebelum merdeka. Masyhur dalam silibus sejarah kita Shamsiah Fakeh dan Suriani Abdullah yang mungkin jarang didengari.
Persamaan, keduanya berjuang bersama Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) dan mengetuai Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS). Selepas pengharaman parti iti oleh British mereka bergerak secara gerila bersama Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM).
Sewaktu darurat diisytiharkan mereka menyertai rejimen ke-10 di bawah Tentera Pembebasan Nasional Malaya (TPNM). Shamsiah bersama pasukan di bawah pimpinan Wahi Anuwar, manakala Suriani bersama Abdullah CD.
Kedua-duanya berkahwin dengan ketua mereka itu. Selepas darurat, Shamsiah meneruskan kehidupan di China dan Suriani di Thailand.
Mereka memperjuangkan emansipasi wanita. Menjadi contoh wanita terlibat perjuangan kemerdekaan. Memberi inspirasi kepada wanita untuk bersama berjuang menolak penjajahan.
Antara yang menarik, kisah bagaimana Shamsiah survival di dalam hutan. Beberapa kali selamat ketika serbuan dan serangan. Sedangkan beliau tidak fasih ilmu hutan. Ada mendakwa Shamsiah ada "ilmu kebal" dan meminta untuk diajarkan. Shamsiah menolak dakwaan itu. Katanya karut segala yang berlaku hanya dipelihara Allah.
Sekurang-kurangnya Shamsiah tidak mendabik dada berjuang dengan darah. Beliau mengakui usaha UMNO memperjuangkan kemerdekaan. Begitu jiga memuji perjuangan sahabatnya Aishah Ghani.
Namun, segala dakwaan Aishah terhadapnya, Shamsiah memberitahu ianya separuh betul.
Suriani pula seorang yang menjunjung tinggi kesenian islam dan melayu.
Shamsiah juga membuka cerita beliau dipecat PKM. PKM ketika itu menghadapi krisis dalaman. Pegangan komunis terpecah kepada 3. Ada Marxis-Leninis, Revolusioner dan Ortodoks.
Membaca memoir mereka sekurang-kurangnya membuka ruang untuk kita adili naratif sejarah yang dibentang kepada kita. Tidaklah hanya cenderung (bias) kepada satu pihak sahaja.
Kisah dua tokoh wanita dari Parti Haluan kiri di era sebelum merdeka. Masyhur dalam silibus sejarah kita Shamsiah Fakeh dan Suriani Abdullah yang mungkin jarang didengari.
Persamaan, keduanya berjuang bersama Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) dan mengetuai Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS). Selepas pengharaman parti iti oleh British mereka bergerak secara gerila bersama Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM).
Sewaktu darurat diisytiharkan mereka menyertai rejimen ke-10 di bawah Tentera Pembebasan Nasional Malaya (TPNM). Shamsiah bersama pasukan di bawah pimpinan Wahi Anuwar, manakala Suriani bersama Abdullah CD.
Kedua-duanya berkahwin dengan ketua mereka itu. Selepas darurat, Shamsiah meneruskan kehidupan di China dan Suriani di Thailand.
Mereka memperjuangkan emansipasi wanita. Menjadi contoh wanita terlibat perjuangan kemerdekaan. Memberi inspirasi kepada wanita untuk bersama berjuang menolak penjajahan.
Antara yang menarik, kisah bagaimana Shamsiah survival di dalam hutan. Beberapa kali selamat ketika serbuan dan serangan. Sedangkan beliau tidak fasih ilmu hutan. Ada mendakwa Shamsiah ada "ilmu kebal" dan meminta untuk diajarkan. Shamsiah menolak dakwaan itu. Katanya karut segala yang berlaku hanya dipelihara Allah.
Sekurang-kurangnya Shamsiah tidak mendabik dada berjuang dengan darah. Beliau mengakui usaha UMNO memperjuangkan kemerdekaan. Begitu jiga memuji perjuangan sahabatnya Aishah Ghani.
Namun, segala dakwaan Aishah terhadapnya, Shamsiah memberitahu ianya separuh betul.
Suriani pula seorang yang menjunjung tinggi kesenian islam dan melayu.
Shamsiah juga membuka cerita beliau dipecat PKM. PKM ketika itu menghadapi krisis dalaman. Pegangan komunis terpecah kepada 3. Ada Marxis-Leninis, Revolusioner dan Ortodoks.
Membaca memoir mereka sekurang-kurangnya membuka ruang untuk kita adili naratif sejarah yang dibentang kepada kita. Tidaklah hanya cenderung (bias) kepada satu pihak sahaja.
December 10, 2017
I read the English translated version entitled "The Memoirs of Shamsiah Fakeh from AWAS to 10th Regiment"
This mini, summarized memoir tells of a young lady who gets sucked into the nationalist movement in Malaya during the Japanese and British rule. As a young, village Malay girl, Shamsiah Fakeh, finds herself answering the patriotic calls of duty. She joins the Malayan Nationalist Party, gradually becoming one of the founders of Angkatan Wanita Sedar, a women's freedom movement, and finally evolving into one of the most charismatic icons of the Malayan Communist Party. All in the name of freedom for her country and people.
From naive moments of affinity towards men, and her multiple marriages, to heart wrenching moments when her baby is killed by three of her own fellow communist party members. From adventurous moments of self exile to China via Thailand to Iconic moments representing her country in numerous international communist conventions, this book keeps you entertained through the chapters.
Other than an awkward grammatical moment or two every now and then (which is most probably attributed to translation limitations), it is a light read. A book that one can read in a day while 'resting' between novels. This along with some lessons in Malaysian history included.
This mini, summarized memoir tells of a young lady who gets sucked into the nationalist movement in Malaya during the Japanese and British rule. As a young, village Malay girl, Shamsiah Fakeh, finds herself answering the patriotic calls of duty. She joins the Malayan Nationalist Party, gradually becoming one of the founders of Angkatan Wanita Sedar, a women's freedom movement, and finally evolving into one of the most charismatic icons of the Malayan Communist Party. All in the name of freedom for her country and people.
From naive moments of affinity towards men, and her multiple marriages, to heart wrenching moments when her baby is killed by three of her own fellow communist party members. From adventurous moments of self exile to China via Thailand to Iconic moments representing her country in numerous international communist conventions, this book keeps you entertained through the chapters.
Other than an awkward grammatical moment or two every now and then (which is most probably attributed to translation limitations), it is a light read. A book that one can read in a day while 'resting' between novels. This along with some lessons in Malaysian history included.
January 16, 2021
A remarkable story which allows one to rethink and wonder what is the actual truth. But the writing is quite poor and wished there was a good editor or writer who could have written her story.
October 24, 2025
Hebat. Seorang pejuang yang gagah. Terpaksa melihat anak yang dilahirkan digigit pacat sebanyak 20 ekor akibat lari dari serangan British
March 11, 2013
Dalam sejarah kemerdekaan negara, kita telah diterangkan betapa usaha mencapainya dilakukan melalui rundingan antara Umno dengan penjajah British. Apa yang kurang ditonjolkan ialah usaha-usaha yang telah dirintis sebelum idea rundingan itu dimulakan. Selain dari faktor luaran seperti faktor penaklukan Jepun dari 1942 – 1945, iklim sosiopolitik dunia sekitar Perang Dunia Kedua, terdapat satu faktor yang sangat kuat yang telah mendesak penjajah British untuk berambus keluar dari tanah air kita. Setelah menduduki negara ini, bersenang-lenang mengaut segala hasil mahsul dan kekayaan negara sebagai persembahan kepada Permaisuri, menjadi tuan kepada hamba-hamba yang ramai, adakah kita fikir mereka akan begitu mudah untuk melepaskan itu semua hanya kerana dipujuk Umno? Melainkan ada sesuatu yang lebih mendesak, yang menggugat keselesaan hatta nyawa mereka sendiri, mereka tidak akan bercadang untuk keluar dari sini. Apakah yang telah mengancam mereka?
Di sinilah kita telah disorokkan daripada fakta bahawa satu peristiwa besar pernah berlaku dalam negara ini – peperangan. Penduduk Malaya yang sejak sekian lama takut dan patuh kepada tuan-tuan Inggeris mereka telah menjadi berani kembali dan mengisytiharkan perang kepada penjajah Inggeris. Kesedaran politik yang dipupuk sejak sekian lama antaranya melalui penubuhan persatuan-persatuan seperti PKMM, PKM, Hizbul Muslimin, API, AWAS dan lain-lain akhirnya telah membawa kepada penubuhan pasukan tentera rakyat di bawah panji-panji Tentera Pembebasan Nasional Malaya (TPNM) pada 1 Februari 1949 pimpinan Parti Komunis Malaya. Rejimen ke 10 TPNM yang kesemua anggotanya berbangsa Melayu telah tertubuh pada Mei 1949. Setelah berjuang melalui jalan politik yang membawa kepada penangkapan dan pembunuhan beramai-ramai para pejuang kemerdekaan oleh British dalam Undang-undang Darurat, perjuangan rakyat memasuki fasa seterusnya melalui jalan perang.
Perang mungkin perkara terakhir yang rakyat mahukan tetapi ia tetap satu cara yang berkesan untuk mengajar penjajah. British telah membawa masuk pakar-pakar perang mereka dari seluruh dunia termasuk Henry Gurney yang berpengalaman luas sebagai pegawai kolonial Inggeris di seluruh dunia, Lt. General Harold Briggs yang berpengalaman berperang di Iraq, Burma dan Western Desert, perajurit- perajurit dari Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Zambia, Malawi, tentera Gurkha selain tentera mereka sendiri untuk memerangi tentera rakyat. Bekalan persenjataan terbaik dibawa masuk ke Malaya. Bumi Malaya dihujani letupan bom dan mesingan. Ribuan yang terkorban dari kedua-dua belah pihak.
Perang terus berlaku walaupun kita telah mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos 1957, sehinggalah Perjanjian Haadyai ditandatangani pada tahun 1989. Kerajaan kita menyambung legasi penjajah meneruskan sikap bermusuh dengan PKM dan lain-lain walaupun penjajah telah pergi. Pejuang-pejuang kemerdekaan tetap dibiarkan dalam penjara. Sejarah perjuangan kemerdekaan melalui peperangan ditutup dan dikunci dalam peti besi. Darah para pejuang yang tumpah ke bumi dikesat dengan bendera Malaysia. Sebaris lirik lagu API, “Merah itu darah rakyat”.
Di sinilah kita telah disorokkan daripada fakta bahawa satu peristiwa besar pernah berlaku dalam negara ini – peperangan. Penduduk Malaya yang sejak sekian lama takut dan patuh kepada tuan-tuan Inggeris mereka telah menjadi berani kembali dan mengisytiharkan perang kepada penjajah Inggeris. Kesedaran politik yang dipupuk sejak sekian lama antaranya melalui penubuhan persatuan-persatuan seperti PKMM, PKM, Hizbul Muslimin, API, AWAS dan lain-lain akhirnya telah membawa kepada penubuhan pasukan tentera rakyat di bawah panji-panji Tentera Pembebasan Nasional Malaya (TPNM) pada 1 Februari 1949 pimpinan Parti Komunis Malaya. Rejimen ke 10 TPNM yang kesemua anggotanya berbangsa Melayu telah tertubuh pada Mei 1949. Setelah berjuang melalui jalan politik yang membawa kepada penangkapan dan pembunuhan beramai-ramai para pejuang kemerdekaan oleh British dalam Undang-undang Darurat, perjuangan rakyat memasuki fasa seterusnya melalui jalan perang.
Perang mungkin perkara terakhir yang rakyat mahukan tetapi ia tetap satu cara yang berkesan untuk mengajar penjajah. British telah membawa masuk pakar-pakar perang mereka dari seluruh dunia termasuk Henry Gurney yang berpengalaman luas sebagai pegawai kolonial Inggeris di seluruh dunia, Lt. General Harold Briggs yang berpengalaman berperang di Iraq, Burma dan Western Desert, perajurit- perajurit dari Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Zambia, Malawi, tentera Gurkha selain tentera mereka sendiri untuk memerangi tentera rakyat. Bekalan persenjataan terbaik dibawa masuk ke Malaya. Bumi Malaya dihujani letupan bom dan mesingan. Ribuan yang terkorban dari kedua-dua belah pihak.
Perang terus berlaku walaupun kita telah mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos 1957, sehinggalah Perjanjian Haadyai ditandatangani pada tahun 1989. Kerajaan kita menyambung legasi penjajah meneruskan sikap bermusuh dengan PKM dan lain-lain walaupun penjajah telah pergi. Pejuang-pejuang kemerdekaan tetap dibiarkan dalam penjara. Sejarah perjuangan kemerdekaan melalui peperangan ditutup dan dikunci dalam peti besi. Darah para pejuang yang tumpah ke bumi dikesat dengan bendera Malaysia. Sebaris lirik lagu API, “Merah itu darah rakyat”.
July 5, 2025
Buku tentang liku-liku perjuangan seorang wanita dalam memerdekakan Malaya daripada pihak Jepun dan British.
Antara benda mengejutkan ialah fitnah kematian anak Shamsiah. Betapa propaganda dan cerita begini di jaja untuk mematikan watak seseorang.
Cerita perkahwinan Shamsiah pada awal usianya juga sesuatu benda yang agak mengejutkan kerana perkahwinan pada masa kini adalah antara perkara yang sangat "berat".
Bilangan Parti berhaluan kiri atau gerakan alternatif juga amat mengejutkan. Suatu benda yang tak di nukilkan dalam buku sejarah sekolah.
Di antara semua, Pemuda UMNO sayap 33 perkara yang paling "mind fuck". UMNO, sebuah Parti yang sangat erat dengan pihak British dan berhaluan kiri mempunya visi untuk mengakat senjata melawan penjajah.
Selebihnya adalah cerita tentang jaringan hubungan antarabangsa parti komunis miliki.
Selamat membaca.
F. Hadiman
8 Muharram 1447 Hijriah
Antara benda mengejutkan ialah fitnah kematian anak Shamsiah. Betapa propaganda dan cerita begini di jaja untuk mematikan watak seseorang.
Cerita perkahwinan Shamsiah pada awal usianya juga sesuatu benda yang agak mengejutkan kerana perkahwinan pada masa kini adalah antara perkara yang sangat "berat".
Bilangan Parti berhaluan kiri atau gerakan alternatif juga amat mengejutkan. Suatu benda yang tak di nukilkan dalam buku sejarah sekolah.
Di antara semua, Pemuda UMNO sayap 33 perkara yang paling "mind fuck". UMNO, sebuah Parti yang sangat erat dengan pihak British dan berhaluan kiri mempunya visi untuk mengakat senjata melawan penjajah.
Selebihnya adalah cerita tentang jaringan hubungan antarabangsa parti komunis miliki.
Selamat membaca.
F. Hadiman
8 Muharram 1447 Hijriah
February 14, 2021
Buku yang mengisahkan sudut pandang perjuangan pelbagai pihak demi satu tujuan; membebaskan tanah air daripada cengkaman penjajah. Penghargaan Tun Dr Ismail terhadap pejuang kanan dan kiri juga seharusnya membuka mata kita untuk lebih memahami siapakah pejuang sebenar yang wajar dihargai dan dicontohi generasi terkedepan.
August 22, 2022
“As a Malay woman who was taught to be lady-like and educated only in religion and enough to assume the role of a housewife, I have joined the fierce fight against the vastly superior armed might of the British imperialists. I have walked the talk. I was willing to sacrifice my life selflessly. I felt that I have sacrificed tremendously for the struggle. I was the head of AWAS, the only women's organisation that was progressive in my time, which joined forces and fought alongside other nationalist organisations to fight for national independence. I am writing this story about my experience of being lost in the jungle so that the general public will understand the hardship I went through and my steadfastness in the struggle to demand for the independence of Malaya. This story is invaluable for those who would like to know, examine and reflect on
the life and times of a Malay woman at the beginning of the struggle for independence 40 years ago”.
- The memoirs of Shamsiah Fakeh - From Awas 10th regiment
.
.
What an icon! Shamsiah Fakeh Walked so that We, Malaysian Women Could Run. Thats what i felt when i finished this memoir. Straight to the point, granted that some parts were brief considering that she wrote this on the latter part of her life. She cant remember much, names particularly but the foundation of why she decided to join the leftist party and eventually, Angkatan Wanita Sedar (Awas) and made her way to Malayan Communist Party (MCP) is very much intact. She was not highly educated but she is willing to learn and her ambition was supported by her father. Her father reminded her that it will be a troublesome path for her and indeed it was. She gave birth in the jungle, Her comrades killed her baby and was not being punished severely, She almost died due to ambush from opposing troops, She got expelled from MCP together with her husband and was placed in multiple house arrests - eventually were given permission to return to her homeland. The book also highlighted her answer in answering some of the allegations that stated she killed her baby. One is by Musa Ahmad , the former MCP chairman that claimed she threw her baby in a river (despite knowing the truth what happened to her baby) and another one claimed to be her classmate, Syed Alwi. He stated that she threw her son against the rock. Shamsiah Fakeh also felt slightly offended that Ishak Haji Muhammad gave a snide remark towards her particularly on her marriage (considering her marriage to Ahmad Boestamam is the third one). I cant be surprised at that comment considering Malay Men (Not all but mostly) loves to give their unsolicited advice and opinion despite no one asked them. Overall, the book did well in educating us about this magnificent woman. Her background and upbringing, Her faith in the Malayan Independence causes, Her Personal life and Her final retun to Malaysia. I am not sure about Malaysian History current textbook - but i do know when i took PMR and SPM History - not much were covered about the Malayan leftist. Their contribution to independence struggle were not really highlighted. Hence, this is the book that you should not skipped if you want to learn about freedom fighters in Malaysia.
.
In this memoir, some of the points raised by her is rational and make sense. For example :
1. The British colonialists gathered so many armed troops and police personnel including mercenaries from Australia, New Zealand, as a shelter from &- Zambia, Malawi and Fiji, in addition to the Gurkhas and their own troops who were led by General Templer to crush our independence struggle. That was how different the two opposing sides were and that was the might of the British colonialist armed troops deployed to crush the people's armed struggle - whom they called "communist terrorists". The British were so afraid of losing their colony in Malaya. Just think for a moment - would the colonialists grant independence to Malaya so easily through requests and compromises? Who were the terrorists? The British colonialists labelled the warriors who went into the jungle to take up arms as "communist terrorists". Indeed, that was the tactic the colonialists use to demonise our independence warriors who were so brave to fight the might of the colonialists. Besides their large number of troops, the colonialists used sophisticated weaponry, standing, including bombs and machine guns, to combat the people's armed forces. Actually, the British colonialists were the terrorists. They burnt the people's houses and their troops raped many of our Malay women in the villages.
2. UMNO was an alliance of several Malay organisations and was considered a right-wing political party led by Malay aristocrats or the upper class and senior government officials. Strangely and disappointingly, it assumed a position of cooperating with the British colonialists and opposing leftist nationalist parties and organisations. UMNO initially adopted the slogan, "Hidup Melayu" (Long live the Malays) and opposed Merdeka “Independence”. From a revolutionary's viewpoint, the UMNO of those days was reactionary. History has shown that in the struggle for independence, not a single UMNO member was detained or imprisoned by the British colonial government. What was more, not a single UMNO member was hung on the gallows.
the life and times of a Malay woman at the beginning of the struggle for independence 40 years ago”.
- The memoirs of Shamsiah Fakeh - From Awas 10th regiment
.
.
What an icon! Shamsiah Fakeh Walked so that We, Malaysian Women Could Run. Thats what i felt when i finished this memoir. Straight to the point, granted that some parts were brief considering that she wrote this on the latter part of her life. She cant remember much, names particularly but the foundation of why she decided to join the leftist party and eventually, Angkatan Wanita Sedar (Awas) and made her way to Malayan Communist Party (MCP) is very much intact. She was not highly educated but she is willing to learn and her ambition was supported by her father. Her father reminded her that it will be a troublesome path for her and indeed it was. She gave birth in the jungle, Her comrades killed her baby and was not being punished severely, She almost died due to ambush from opposing troops, She got expelled from MCP together with her husband and was placed in multiple house arrests - eventually were given permission to return to her homeland. The book also highlighted her answer in answering some of the allegations that stated she killed her baby. One is by Musa Ahmad , the former MCP chairman that claimed she threw her baby in a river (despite knowing the truth what happened to her baby) and another one claimed to be her classmate, Syed Alwi. He stated that she threw her son against the rock. Shamsiah Fakeh also felt slightly offended that Ishak Haji Muhammad gave a snide remark towards her particularly on her marriage (considering her marriage to Ahmad Boestamam is the third one). I cant be surprised at that comment considering Malay Men (Not all but mostly) loves to give their unsolicited advice and opinion despite no one asked them. Overall, the book did well in educating us about this magnificent woman. Her background and upbringing, Her faith in the Malayan Independence causes, Her Personal life and Her final retun to Malaysia. I am not sure about Malaysian History current textbook - but i do know when i took PMR and SPM History - not much were covered about the Malayan leftist. Their contribution to independence struggle were not really highlighted. Hence, this is the book that you should not skipped if you want to learn about freedom fighters in Malaysia.
.
In this memoir, some of the points raised by her is rational and make sense. For example :
1. The British colonialists gathered so many armed troops and police personnel including mercenaries from Australia, New Zealand, as a shelter from &- Zambia, Malawi and Fiji, in addition to the Gurkhas and their own troops who were led by General Templer to crush our independence struggle. That was how different the two opposing sides were and that was the might of the British colonialist armed troops deployed to crush the people's armed struggle - whom they called "communist terrorists". The British were so afraid of losing their colony in Malaya. Just think for a moment - would the colonialists grant independence to Malaya so easily through requests and compromises? Who were the terrorists? The British colonialists labelled the warriors who went into the jungle to take up arms as "communist terrorists". Indeed, that was the tactic the colonialists use to demonise our independence warriors who were so brave to fight the might of the colonialists. Besides their large number of troops, the colonialists used sophisticated weaponry, standing, including bombs and machine guns, to combat the people's armed forces. Actually, the British colonialists were the terrorists. They burnt the people's houses and their troops raped many of our Malay women in the villages.
2. UMNO was an alliance of several Malay organisations and was considered a right-wing political party led by Malay aristocrats or the upper class and senior government officials. Strangely and disappointingly, it assumed a position of cooperating with the British colonialists and opposing leftist nationalist parties and organisations. UMNO initially adopted the slogan, "Hidup Melayu" (Long live the Malays) and opposed Merdeka “Independence”. From a revolutionary's viewpoint, the UMNO of those days was reactionary. History has shown that in the struggle for independence, not a single UMNO member was detained or imprisoned by the British colonial government. What was more, not a single UMNO member was hung on the gallows.
August 29, 2022
Perlu bagi 5 bintang sebab ini kisah hidupnya yang diceritakan dengan jujur. Pembacaan baik untuk memahami perjuangan kemerdekaan kiri dari sudut pandang pejuang perempuan. 3 m/s terakhir ada plot twist berkenaan sokongan beliau terhadap che det.
June 7, 2026
Pada 15 April 2026, Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) telah mengisytiharkan pengharaman Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari AWAS ke Rejimen Ke-10, dan menambahkan tajuk ini dalam senarai 3214 terbitan larangan dalam negeri. Tindakan kerajaan terhadap terbitan ini merupakan sesuatu penindasan atas kebebasan berfikir dan berpendapat rakyat. Dasar kerajaan ini yang cuba menguasai dan mengawal ruang wacana dan pemikiran rakyat adalah dasar kerajaan yang diwarisi sejak zaman kolonial pentadbiran British.
Kak Siah telah menjadi tunjang signifikan dalam mengetuai perjuangan golongan revolusioner negara ke arah kemerdekaan. Kisah perjuangannya yang bersifat anti-kolonial harus dilambangkan sebagai inspirasi kerana berpotensi menggerakkan kaum wanita Malaysia untuk membebaskan diri daripada penindasan kelas dan patriarki.
Saya ingin menekankan kepentingan rakyat Malaysia membudayakan fikiran yang terbuka dan membaca tentang kisah sejarah negara daripada pelbagai sudut pandangan ideologi, khususnya lensa perspektif yang bukan-ortodox serta menentang status quo. Ini menjadi langkah prasyarat dalam pembentukan fahaman sejarah yang objektif dan bebas daripada unsur bias.
Kak Siah telah menjadi tunjang signifikan dalam mengetuai perjuangan golongan revolusioner negara ke arah kemerdekaan. Kisah perjuangannya yang bersifat anti-kolonial harus dilambangkan sebagai inspirasi kerana berpotensi menggerakkan kaum wanita Malaysia untuk membebaskan diri daripada penindasan kelas dan patriarki.
"No one can refute that the role of women was important in the struggle for independence. Women constitute half of mankind. The hands that rock the cradle can shake the world."
Saya ingin menekankan kepentingan rakyat Malaysia membudayakan fikiran yang terbuka dan membaca tentang kisah sejarah negara daripada pelbagai sudut pandangan ideologi, khususnya lensa perspektif yang bukan-ortodox serta menentang status quo. Ini menjadi langkah prasyarat dalam pembentukan fahaman sejarah yang objektif dan bebas daripada unsur bias.
April 2, 2019
Who is Shamsiah Fakeh?
1. She was a Malaysian nationalist and feminist.
2. She was the leader of Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), Malaysia's first nationalist women organisation.
3. She was a prominent Malay leader of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
In this memoir, Shamsiah details her journey from being a naive patriot, to her armed struggle with the movement; not excluding heartbreaking moments of failed marriages & when her baby was killed by fellow Communist party members. Finally in the end, she fought and won the rights to return to Malaysia, after living and building a family in China for 4 decades.
See, Shamsiah and her family were barred from returning to Malaysia because she & her husband were part of the MCP, despite the fact that they insisted they were against the British colonisers & not the government. She actually examines the dynamics between the colonisers & ruling govt, let's just say some tea was spilled 🍵
I picked up this book because I wanted to read about more Malaysian women in history, and now I'm intrigued to read more about the presence of communism in Malaysia.
All in, an insightful read. Malaysians, read this!
1. She was a Malaysian nationalist and feminist.
2. She was the leader of Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), Malaysia's first nationalist women organisation.
3. She was a prominent Malay leader of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
In this memoir, Shamsiah details her journey from being a naive patriot, to her armed struggle with the movement; not excluding heartbreaking moments of failed marriages & when her baby was killed by fellow Communist party members. Finally in the end, she fought and won the rights to return to Malaysia, after living and building a family in China for 4 decades.
See, Shamsiah and her family were barred from returning to Malaysia because she & her husband were part of the MCP, despite the fact that they insisted they were against the British colonisers & not the government. She actually examines the dynamics between the colonisers & ruling govt, let's just say some tea was spilled 🍵
I picked up this book because I wanted to read about more Malaysian women in history, and now I'm intrigued to read more about the presence of communism in Malaysia.
All in, an insightful read. Malaysians, read this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
A short biography by the late Shamsiah Fakeh who used this book as an opportunity to tell her story, distinguishing from ones told by others who elide the left and communism as synonymous. During pre-independent Malaya, left-leaning ideas were promulgated among the rakyat who were amenable to rhetorics of equality, non-cooperation with the British colonizers, and independence. These rhetorics were subsequently suppressed through the prohibition of all left-leaning parties and censorship by the right, with the support of the British. This became the catapult for people such as Fakeh to bear arms in the fight for independence from the British and subsequently from their influence after independence. Of course, this biography focuses more Fakeh's story and her righting all the propaganda that had been purportedly wrongly conveyed in the name of defeating "communists"*.
*Although Fakeh was involved with PKM, her allegiance was more towards PKMM, which was a left-leaning party, often speciously designated as communist.
*Although Fakeh was involved with PKM, her allegiance was more towards PKMM, which was a left-leaning party, often speciously designated as communist.
August 18, 2018
Perjalanan hidup penulis mengingatkan saya kepada Ibrahim Chik. Seakan sama daripada sudut latar dan keadaan. Bezanya, penulis mengalami zaman kecewanya dalam berumahtangga sehingga sering berlaku penceraian. Fakta menarik? Semestinya pengalaman penulis berkahwin dengan Ahmad Boestamam!
Saya teruja untuk mengetahui perjalanan penulis sehingga menetap di China, melakukan hubungan diplomatik di Vietnam, Indonesia sehingga dapat bertemu dengan Ho Chin Minh, Sukarno dan juga pejuang Melayu awal iaitu Ibrahim Yaakob.
Penulis melalui masa-masa yang tersepit apabila dikeluarkan dari Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) dan bekerja di kilang sekitar tahun 1970-an dan proses untuk kembali ke tanah air. Sebuah perjalanan dari seorang pejuang srikandi bangsa.
Saya teruja untuk mengetahui perjalanan penulis sehingga menetap di China, melakukan hubungan diplomatik di Vietnam, Indonesia sehingga dapat bertemu dengan Ho Chin Minh, Sukarno dan juga pejuang Melayu awal iaitu Ibrahim Yaakob.
Penulis melalui masa-masa yang tersepit apabila dikeluarkan dari Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) dan bekerja di kilang sekitar tahun 1970-an dan proses untuk kembali ke tanah air. Sebuah perjalanan dari seorang pejuang srikandi bangsa.
March 1, 2021
Some chapters were too abrupt, I wouldve love it if she had dealt/narrated it deeper. Interesting (take from a leftist who professed to do what she did out of sheer love for her nation.
October 3, 2011
Memiliki edisi terkini buku ini terbitan Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (2007).
Setelah selesai membaca prakata daripada beliau, satu persoalan utama timbul dibenak fikiranku iaitu mengapakah semangat perjuangan beliau tidak berada pada saluran yang betu? Dan buku ini telah menjawab segalanya...
Satu bahan bacaan yang agak menarik untuk dijadikan koleksi~ Bacalah, berfikir dan buatlah pendirian sendiri mengenai perkara ini dengan bijak...
"Pertumpahan darah bukanlah satu-satunya jalan untuk berjuang.. hanya yang berfikiran sempit sahaja yang berfikiran sedemikian" LeaQistina, 2011.
Setelah selesai membaca prakata daripada beliau, satu persoalan utama timbul dibenak fikiranku iaitu mengapakah semangat perjuangan beliau tidak berada pada saluran yang betu? Dan buku ini telah menjawab segalanya...
Satu bahan bacaan yang agak menarik untuk dijadikan koleksi~ Bacalah, berfikir dan buatlah pendirian sendiri mengenai perkara ini dengan bijak...
"Pertumpahan darah bukanlah satu-satunya jalan untuk berjuang.. hanya yang berfikiran sempit sahaja yang berfikiran sedemikian" LeaQistina, 2011.
July 29, 2018
Saya pinjam buku ini dari Pusat Dokumentasi Melayu, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, cawangan Sabah (2011).
2013: Berjaya memiliki Edisi Baru terbitan SIRD.
2013: Berjaya memiliki Edisi Baru terbitan SIRD.
Want to Read
October 9, 2014best boook
June 6, 2011
Cuba melihat dari suatu sisi yang lain.
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