Farewell dear Granduncle Leong

As the escalating spread of Covid19 was being reported, I kept myself updated with the happenings to be aware of the latest developments worldwide and at home.

A view of the causeway drive towards the
checkpoint at Woodlands on March 16

With social media often used re-actively to share posts, I’m always seeking verified reports and credible sources of information to avoid being affected by sensationalism and fake news.

Then on March 13, we received the sad news that granduncle Leong had passed away peacefully in Singapore at the ripe old age of 90.

When the bereaved family shared the update with details on the wake and funeral arranged for March 17, my family and I made plans to attend.

Then we read on Sunday, March 15, the news about the Stay Home Notices for all travelers entering Singapore from ASEAN countries among other nations and there was cause for concern.

Mum [Right] with her aunt[Left] Jalan Waterworks, 1940s

“All Travellers,” shouted the headlines, which made everyone rather jittery because we dearly wished to go to pay our last respects to granduncle.

But hold on. I read in the body copy of the report which stated that travelers from Malaysia via sea and land were exempted.

I wanted to take my mum to be with her aunt, the bereaved widow, to offer her comfort because mum and her aunt have a close relationship since their youth.

Our grandaunt, grandma’s youngest sister, is only four years older than mum – who is grandma’s eldest daughter – and they share a special bond maybe because they started dating about the same time.

Double Dating at Istana Gardens, Johor Baru,
Mum & Dad [Right] Granduncle Leong & grandaunt [Left]

From dad’s photo albums I discovered old photos of this aunt and niece, captured while they went on double dates, where else but in Johor Baru’s romantic Istana Gardens.

When I carefully plucked out the old photographs and read the date written in dad’s cursive handwriting: “1953.”

Then I figured out that these group shots were captured by dad’s classic camera mounted on a tripod stand.

In those days when money was scarce, it must have cost dad a pretty penny to buy himself a camera complete with tripod stand, and to enjoy a hobby in photography.

These precious photos tell of a carefree era when they were young and so in love!

Double Dates: Mum and dad [Left] with
Granduncle Leong and grandaunt [Right] 1953

In other photo mementoes of our parents’ wedding, that was held at grandfather’s house at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng, I saw that their wedding banquet was held on the badminton court.

In those days, it was the norm to invite a catering crew to the house to cook up a menu for a grand banquet in a makeshift kitchen and served to guests seated around tables arranged on the badminton court!

My mum told me that her evening gown that she wore during her wedding banquet was sewn by her aunt. It was carefully preserved, and we still have it to this day.

After our parents were wed, our grandaunt was then married to granduncle Leong.

At that time, Malaysia and Singapore was still one country and movement across the causeway was just a smooth and comfortable drive.

I have fond memories of granduncle Leong, who had a career with Mitsui Bank in Singapore, particularly from his annual year-end gift of calendars that featured graceful Japanese ladies clad in traditional costumes.

The Leong family on a Chinese New Year visit to our
grandfather's house at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng

Our family and other relatives in JB would attend their children’s birthday parties and on the first day of Chinese New Year, the Leong’s would host an open-house dinner in their home.

Every second day of Chinese New Year, the Leong’s would visit grandfather’s house with their family for an annual family gathering in JB. This was when we would meet with granduncle and grandaunt, along with their two sons and only daughter.

Growing up at about the same age, I didn’t know it then, but rank-wise, these three youngsters were my uncles and aunt!

With young families in tow, my dad and granduncle Leong continued to plan outings together with the extended family that included grandma (dad’s mother-in-law) and great-grandma (granduncle’s mother-in-law)!

A precious photo memento at the playground in Istana Gardens after our fun at nearby Lido Beach;
[L to R on see-saw] Aunty Nellie, me, Aunty Irene, my sister Ruby, [Standing] Uncle Eddy, cousin Howard, Uncle Steven,
my sister Pearly, Uncle Michael, Aunty Sylvia and Aunty Polly;
[L to R on bench] Mum, grandaunt, Aunty Nancy and great-grandma; Spot my Dad seated on the grass!

We have fond memories of these picnics organized at JB’s famous Lido Beach that always ended with a fun time in the playground at Istana Gardens.

Looking back, the food and refreshments for these family outings always included homecooked chicken curry and other gravies to eat with chunks of bread.

Later, when our parents were transferred to work in the Health Sub-Centre in Masai, dad discovered the pristine beaches at Kampung Pasir Gudang – before it was developed into Johor Port – and this destination became another favourite family picnic spot.

Another photo memento of our
outing at Istana Gardens

Granduncle Leong were among the organisers who brought along a kerosene cooking stove, wok, condiments and cooking oil to deep-fry freshly caught fish from the sea.

The experience of munching lightly battered deep-fried, freshly caught fish, right there at the beach, is truly an unforgettable one!

The family bonds that developed from our parents’ close relationship with the Leong’s is something unique for an aunt and niece and now during our grandaunt’s bereavement, I felt that mum should be present to offer comfort and condolences.

While the news on March 15 about the Stay Home Notice clearly specified that it was for fly-in travellers, but sea and land travelers were exempted, I just needed an assurance that we would not encounter any problems at the causeway checkpoint.

As I kept a close eye on the developing news, I decided that the best person to reach out to, was the Consul-General for the Republic of Singapore in JB, CG Jeevan Singh.

When he replied, “How can I help?” I gave a brief outline of my situation and the wish to attend the funeral wake of our late granduncle in Singapore.

I realised that things were fluid and may change from moment to moment, but his reply gave me the confidence to proceed with the plan to head across the causeway:

“Peggy, as of now I do not think there is any problem for you and your family to go to Singapore for the funeral as long as all are free from Covid19 symptoms and you are driving across.” He also assured me that he will share any further updates.

At about 2.45pm on March 16, I drove to Singapore with my mum and eldest sister through a 45-minute crawl across the causeway to the checkpoint.

It was a Monday afternoon and we observed that out of all the Singapore registered cars in the queues, there were just about five – including us – Johor registered cars.

At the funeral wake in Singapore

I had mentally prepared my mum for an anticipated delay from the traffic and temperature-taking procedures and any other incidental delays that may arise due the electronic SG Arrival Card process, and we were pleased when all these went on smoothly and comfortably.

We breathed a huge sigh of relieve when we cleared the checkpoint and in just 18 minutes, we arrived at our destination for the funeral wake.

It was all-important for mum to be with her aunt and while meeting other family members gathered there, I made sure mum and her aunt had quiet moments together to talk in private.

Grandaunt appreciated how we braved the causeway crossing during the prevailing Covid19 threat, but I assured her that it was really no trouble at all.

We wanted to be there.

Grandaunt and her family were fully aware of the worldwide concern about the dreadful virus threat and our presence meant a great deal to them.

Shoppers waiting in the queue to pay for their groceries

While we were at the wake in Singapore, unknown to us – because our smartphones did not use international roaming data – a great deal was happening in Malaysia.

In cities like Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere, there was already a rumour spreading about a lockdown which inevitably caused panic buying in supermarkets and grocers.

That evening at 9pm, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced the nationwide Movement Control Order that would take effect from March 18 to 31.

On the drive back to JB that night, my sister turned on her phone after we passed the JB checkpoint and read aloud the latest news updates with exclamations of surprise!

It was indeed a sobering thought.

As I drove on home, I felt deeply grateful for the safe and smooth trip into Singapore that fulfilled a specific purpose, personally for mum and her aunt.

When I got home and finally looked at my phone, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a message from CG Jeevan who followed up with a query, “All ok?”

View of the clear causeway from R&F Apartments
early in the morning of March 18, 2020
[Can spot only one delivery truck heading into Singapore!]

I was quick to reply with grateful thanks for his kind concern and assured him that all went well as we had just arrived home safely.

The very next day, after the news broke about travel restrictions between Malaysia and Singapore, the roads leading to the causeway in JB were chock-a-block with vehicles and human traffic attempting to cross one of the busiest border crossings in the world before the Movement Control Order kicked-in at midnight from March 18.

The queues were unusually long and the sheer number of Malaysians/Johoreans commuting into Singapore was a clear reflection of both in blue-collar and white-collar jobs, who are contributing to the workforce in Singapore.

With our shared history, this was also a clear indication of the close inter-dependence and strong economic and people/family links between Singapore and Malaysia.

About 30 minutes after midnight on March 18, traffic gradually tapered off at both the checkpoints as the causeway congestion cleared and remained virtually deserted.