“ST Annual itu harganya RM380!“ (The price for that ST Annual is RM380). My ears prick up upon hearing the words, “ST Annual“. That could only refer to the highly sought after The Straits Times Annual magazines, I mumble to myself. Making an abrupt turnaround, I make a beeline for a nearby makeshift stall with the hope of catching a glimpse of the prized collector‘s item. Images of a very early copy suddenly crop up in my mind based on the amount of money asked.
There must be at least 20 people crowding around Mohamad Fauzil Mohamad Kader‘s stall. There’s hardly any space to squeeze through. After a few futile attempts, I’m resigned to the fact that I have to wait patiently for my turn. Fauzil is a permanent feature at the Lorong Kulit Flea Market which is located right next to the Penang City Stadium. Although there are about 40 vendors plying their trade here, few can offer the level of variety and quality like Fauzil. Furthermore, his stock is replenished daily so his customers are always assured of something new each time they drop by.
It’s not long before the crowd in front of me finally thins and I quickly make my move. I’m in luck! There’s not ONE but several Straits Times Annuals magazines available for sale but knowing Fauzil, they’re not going to be cheap. Unlike other sellers, Fauzil doesn’t allow emotions to take the driver‘s seat even when he finds a lot of things to sell. He patiently categorises his new arrivals and then assumes the role of a sleuth to find out more about the items on the Internet. Once satisfied, he’d then set his selling price slightly below current market value. This way he can be quite certain of a sale and at the same time secure a handsome profit for himself.
EARLY DAYS
The idea to introduce The Straits Times Annual is largely attributed to George William Seabridge who took over the reins as editor of the publishing company in 1928. Prior to this appointment, Seabridge served as the news editor of The Statesman in Calcutta. During his 18-year tenure at the Straits Times, Seabridge introduced many sweeping changes. He updated the look of the newspaper, increased the number of pages and encouraged the use of interesting pictures, all with the aim of increasing readership. He even went to the extent of featuring cartoons which was a first for an English language daily in Malaya at that time.
The revamps spearheaded by Seabridge coupled with the strategic acquisition of The Singapore Free Press soon paid handsome dividends for the company. The Straits Times circulation numbers almost immediately saw a marked increase and that prompted Seabridge to launch an exclusive Sunday edition known as The Sunday Times. By 1931, Seabridge was so confident of the future that he decided to invest in a rotary press, the first of its kind in Malaya.
The rising circulation numbers were in part aided by the increase in overseas subscription which came in from as far as the United States, Europe and South America. Subscribers also showed a keen interest in The Straits Times Annual which was published around Christmas each year. Apart from the high quality photographs, they also collected this magazine as it provided a summary of the momentous events that took place in Malaya during the 12 months of that particular year.
According to Fauzil, The Straits Times Annual magazines published prior to the Second World War were sold at $1.50. “This amount was considered a lot of money back then as 5 cents could already get you a decent meal. Not everyone could afford to buy these magazines,“ he recalls before telling me that this periodical enjoyed the highest readership among expatriates as they generally earned better salaries compared to the locals.
On why The Straits Times Annuals published before the Second World War were so difficult to find, Fauzil explains: “The threat of Japanese invasion became very real during the dying days of 1941. This caused many foreigners to make an exit from Malaya. Many of these people, who were mostly Europeans, left practically everything behind in their haste to escape the ravages of war. The early days of the Japanese Occupation were chaotic. Many homes and offices, especially those that were deserted, were looted.”
Pausing for impact, Fauzil continues: “The looters took away many things that could be sold in the black market but they’d destroy or leave behind anything that bore even the slightest reminder of their former colonial masters. The looters knew it’d be the death penalty should the Japanese soldiers catch them with things related to the British. So most of these magazines were lost during the Occupation, making them extremely rare today.”
It seems that the only chance to find the early ones today are mostly through online auctions like eBay. Says Fauzil: “Some still exist overseas. Either they’re in the hands of subscribers during the time of publication or had been brought along by their owners when they fled Malaya before the war arrived.”
The Straits Times halted publication during the Japanese Occupation. Like most companies in Malaya, the Straits Times office was taken over by the Japanese Military Administration who then published their own English-language daily. Produced in early 1942, the publication was known as The Shonan Times.
It was later renamed The Syonan Shimbun and these publications served as a propaganda vehicle for the Japanese to reach the masses. To keep operations going smoothly, technicians who worked for the British previously were allowed to keep their jobs. At the same time, local journalists were recruited to highlight the victories achieved by Japan and her Axis allies. The Japanese Imperial Army only surrendered after two atomic bombs decimated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
CHANGING FACE
The first post-war issue of The Straits Times was published on September 7, 1945. The production of The Straits Times Annual quickly followed suit as the nation started to pick up the pieces left over by the terrible Occupation. The company‘s general manager Alfred Charles Simmons who assumed that position in 1937 returned to work and began initiating further changes with the hope of boosting sagging circulation numbers. During his tenure, The Straits Times front page was, for the first time, filled with news instead of advertisements.
Capitalising on The Straits Times‘ pool of talented photographers, Simmons started a pictorial-only publication in 1947 called Straits Times Pictures. The front cover of the first issue featured a hauntingly beautiful photograph of a Bugis seaman sewing sails.
This 64-page magazine, which was printed completely in black and white was filled with photographs of Malayans from all walks of life. Perhaps it was Simmons‘ way of showing the resilience of the people in overcoming the horrors of the Japanese Occupation.
Always a generous vendor, Fauzil allows me to remove the covering on the magazines to study their contents. An avid reader himself, Fauzil quickly draws my attention to an article in the 1959 edition. “We were a young nation back then, barely two years old when this feature was produced. Look, there’s Tunku with his cabinet members and over here is Tun Abdul Razak, the-then Minister of Defence,“ says Fauzil, gesturing excitedly as he flips the pages effortlessly.
Even though Malaya achieved Independence in 1957, it was only two years later that the House of Representatives and Senate were elected. The fledgling nation was in the throes of parliamentary democracy. “This fact is very important because despite the jubilation of Merdeka, political evolution during that time was almost unnoticed as there was no significant Cabinet change after the British left,“ explains Fauzil.
In addition to his defence portfolio, Razak was also Malaya‘s Deputy Prime Minister in 1959. He played a vital role in the closing days of the Malayan Emergency, visiting troops stationed at various jungle camps and shoring their morale for the final push to defeat the bandits. There’s a photo that Fauzil particularly likes — one of Razak inspecting the latest armaments used by the Malayan troops. “This clearly shows that Razak was a very hands-on person and he had the interest of our forces in his heart,” says Fauzil.
Looking serious, he continues: “We were the youngest member of the United Nations then and part of the British Commonwealth. The eyes of the world were on us and we, under the capable leadership of our Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, were determined to show a united front and progress harmoniously.“
As I’m about to return the priceless magazines back into their protective plastic covers, a young Malay man joins us. He takes an instant interest in the magazines and asks Fauzil to give him a good price for the entire lot.
A brief round of negotiations commences between Fauzil and his prospective buyer. It finally ends with a beaming Fauzil holding on to a rather thick wad of RM100 notes in his right hand. As the unexpected purchaser walks away, I ask Fauzil: “Do you know who he is?“
My friend‘s reply was short and simple: “Yes. Someone who obviously appreciates our nation‘s history.“