Othman imbued with patriotism

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KUALA TERENGGANU: Fisherman Othman Ali of Kampung Batin remembers his mother rushing towards him at the riverbank where he was busy catching prawns.

She grabbed him by the arm and started running. Midway through, she carried him in her arms before dashing towards a hole in the ground.

World War 2 was coming to an end. He was a 6-year-old then, too young to understand what was going on, nor why the adults were panicking.

But what Othman, now 75, remembers clearly were the sounds from above the ground as he squatted with his relatives in the hole, which resembled a grave.

Fisherman Othman Ali has the Jalur Gemilang displayed on his house and boat

"The adults were frightened. I just sat quietly.

"Two minutes later, we came out of the hole and we saw a few bullet-riddled houses.

"Fortunately, none of us were injured," he told the New Straits Times, explaining that the sounds were from British warplanes which were targeting Japanese soldiers.

The distant memory of the Japanese occupation has imbued in him a sense of appreciation for Merdeka and patriotism, which explains why the Jalur Gemilang is erected at his house. It reminds him of his boyhood experiences.

He also displays the Malaysian flag on his boat every time National Day comes around.