Lieutenant Adnan Saidi

Adnan Saidi born on 1915, in Selangor, Malaysia, a lieutenant of the Malay

Regiment’s 1st Battalion, died fighting the Japanese in one of the fiercest battles in
Singapore during World War II.1 Regarded a war hero, he led his men in the Battle of
Opium Hill (Bukit Chandu), off Pasir Panjang, giving the Japanese a bitter taste of
real combat so much so that when they captured him, they tortured him as revenge
before killing him and burning his body.2 Adnan was posthumously awarded with
medals for his courage while a memorial plaque was erected at Kent Ridge to
commemorate his valour, and that of his comrades. The memory of this brave soldier
also lives on at Kranji War Memorial where his name is etched on the main memorial
column wall of the Kranji War Cemetery.

Adnan Saidi was the eldest of six children and was one of three male siblings to join
the military. He studied at Pekan Sungei Ramal School in the English medium and
was said to be bright and diligent. Upon graduating, he became a trainee teacher
and taught at his old school for over a year. However, he left teaching to join
the Malay Regiment in 1933 when he was 18.

When he was 23, Adnan married Sophia Pakih Muda, a school teacher from his
village.7 The couple had three children – two sons and a daughter.

Adnan’s fierce resistance and refusal to surrender even after being mortally
wounded, added to his further agony at Japanese hands. Not satisfied with capturing
him, the Japanese, angered over the casualties they suffered, dragged Adnan and
hung him by his legs to a tree and repeatedly bayoneted him.

Adnan’s undying valour exemplified his strong belief in the Malay motto: “piar putih
tulang, jangan putih mata” – death before dishonour. Today, the fiery spirit of Adnan
and his men lives on in a war memorial plaque in Kent Ridge Park erected in their
honour. The etching on the main memorial column wall of the Kranji War Cemetery
No. 385 bears the words “Lt. Adnan Saidi”.19 A telemovie about Adnan’s life and the
battle at Opium Hill, titled Bukit Candu, was also made.20
 a) Year of birth _______________________________________________

b) Place of birth _______________________________________________

c) Education __________________________________________________

d) First work __________________________________________________

e) Wife _______________________________________________________

Children
f) ________ sons
g) ____________________

h) Reason of tortured by Japanese soldier

__________________________________________________________

i) Place of memorial honouring Lieutenant Adnan and his men

__________________________________________________________

j) Name of telemovie about his life

____________________________________________________

GIVE THE CORRECT WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT

Consider
After death
Remembered
Brother and sister
Hardworking
Fatal wounded
Suffering
Death or lost
Stabbed
Words carved