The acquisition of a vintage radio from an antique dealer takes Alan Teh Leam Seng down memory lane
GOOD Morning, Malaya!
There’s pin-drop silence in the crowded hall. Even the women at the back who’d been busy chatting away earlier are now quiet. Those in front crane their necks to edge closer to the large radio set up by the stage.
The person sitting next to the radio turns the volume knob clockwise but still there’s only static. Everyone waits with bated breath. The brief seconds seem like long hours. Then the radio announcer breaks the silence.
“The shuttlecock is in! Malaya’s Wong Peng Soon has won the men’s singles crown for the very first time. The All England trophy is coming...” Before the commentator could finish his sentence, the crowded hall erupts in jubilation.
The men shake hands with each other while the children soak in the joyous atmosphere by running around and screaming at the top of their lungs. “Kita menang! Kita menang!” (We won, we won!).
This historic moment was shared by all in Malaya as radio sets across the nation reported this momentous win live from the badminton courts in London’s prestigious Empress Hall.
SHARING THE LOOT
I look at the vintage radio in front of me. Could this German model from the late 1940s
be one of the sets that broke the news of Wong’s victory to the people living in George Town in 1950?
Then, just at that moment, the antique-shop proprietor, Uncle Lim, approaches. I’ve been visiting his shop in Chulia Street for nearly 20 years and we’ve since developed a strong friendship.
Uncle Lim is the master, the one who’s taught me many things about Malaysia’s colourful and interesting history.
Each time I walk through his faded Qing dynasty-era main door, I learn something new.
We chat for a bit and I soon discover that the radio came from a club called Bee Jen Club located in Magazine Road. The club used to be an exclusive all-male establishment whose members consisted of prominent Chinese businessmen living in northern Malaya.
When the club closed its doors for the last time in the late 1960s, Uncle Lim was given the opportunity to acquire the contents, lock stock and barrel.
“There were just too many things for me to take on my own. The three-storey pre-war shop house was full of things. In the end, I had to ask several friends to share the ‘loot’. Over the years, I’ve sold everything I got from that place except this radio. Do you want it? Perhaps it’s waiting for you?” says Uncle Lim, as he begins his sales pitch.
“Does it work?” I ask nonchalantly. I had no intention of accepting his offer. Uncle Lim scratches his balding head.
“Ai ya! It has been here for more than half a century and it never crossed my mind to switch it on. How peculiar. I now strongly believe that this radio is fated to be yours!”
Smiling, he adds: “Tell you what. Let’s play a game. If it works, it means you’re meant to have it. Since we’re friends, I sell it to you at cost plus a bit of holding fee for keeping it so long.”
He proceeds to plug the radio in and flips the switch even before I manage to muster a response.
A pause and suddenly an awkward buzzing sound pierces the silence. Then, the display panel lights up like a Christmas tree. And when the sound of Bryan Adams’ Heaven finally emanates from the speakers, I knew that the functional vintage radio had become mine.
HISTORIC FIND
Thrilled at having acquired my first vintage radio, I couldn’t wait to dig into the history of radio in the country.
I duly learn that although the first official radio station only started after the Second World War, the radio made its first appearance in Malaya much earlier than that.
It all began when Johor State electrical engineer A. L. Birch brought in Malaya’s first radio set in 1921. This became the precursor to the formation of the Johor Wireless Society two years later. The Singapore Wireless Society quickly followed suit in 1924 by transmitting in medium wave.
The first radio station in Malaya was a privately-owned enterprise. On Aug 24, 1934, Penangite Khoo Sian Ewe became the proud owner of the first broadcasting licence in the country.
On that same day, Station ZHJ began broadcasting from Khoo’s residence in Perak Road. It quickly became a success despite its short broadcasting hours. Its programmes in Malay, English, Tamil and Chinese began at 7pm nightly and only lasted for three hours.
Soon, everyone wanted a radio set in their living room. Departmental stores like Whiteaway Laidlaw in Beach Street saw radio sets flying off their shelves the moment they arrived.
Khoo’s success didn’t go unnoticed. Three years later, on March 1, 1937, Sir Shenton Thomas launched the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation (BMBC) in Caldecott Hill, Singapore.
As the winds of war drew closer, BMBC operations moved to Cathay Building, which was considered better equipped and easier to defend.
Twelve daily news bulletins with half hourly updates were broadcast in seven languages. The aim was to keep the public abreast with the ongoing war effort in the country.
One by one, the radio stations in Malaya stopped broadcasting as the Japanese Imperial Army marched south towards Singapore with little or no resistance. Then, on Feb 15, 1942, all radios in Singapore fell silent. All of Malaya and Singapore were under Japanese rule.
Several weeks later, the Japanese Army launched its propaganda programme. Specially-modified radio sets that could only receive Japanese programmes were distributed to schools and community halls help spread the Japanese culture and ideology among the local population.
After the war, all radio stations were placed under the purview of the British Military Administration.
A year later, Radio Broadcasting Department was established in Singapore on April 1, 1946. This historic date marked the beginning of a truly concerted effort to unify and standardise radio broadcasts throughout Malaya. Also on that day, the bulletin started with “This is Radio Malaya... “ instead of the usual “This is the British Military Administration of Malaya... “.
ERA OF RADIO MALAYA
From that moment on, Radio Malaya began to grow from strength to strength. It played a prominent role when the Emergency was declared in 1948.
Radio Malaya disseminated news of victories against the bandits to help boost public morale. High ranking British officers made regular guest appearances to further strengthen public confidence in helping to fight the red menace.
Through true grit and perseverance, the tide began to turn and 12 years later Radio Malaya broadcast the official end of the communist threat on July 30, 1960.
Throughout its history, Radio Malaya had its head quarters in several places beginning with the Oriental Building in 1951. Finally, the fifth and sixth floor of the Federal House became its permanent home in 1956.
In addition to broadcasting news, Radio Malaya also produced numerous popular entertainment programmes which highlighted local musical groups as well as conduct talent shows. The latter saw the uncovering of many musical and stage talents that moved on to become legends in their own right.
The first Pertandingan Bintang Radio in 1952 was open to the public. This inaugural competition was won by P. Ramlee with R Azmi and SM Salim, taking second and third places, respectively.
The lowering of the Union Jack at the Selangor Club Padang at the stroke of midnight on Aug 30, 1957 was carried live by Radio Malaya so that all Malayans throughout the nation could share in that joyous occasion.
Two commentators, Hashim Amir Hamzah and Dom Madzi, proceeded to report live from Stadium Merdeka the next day.
The nation rejoiced when Tunku Abdul Rahman’s thunderous Merdeka proclaimation resonated from radio sets throughout the nation.
The era of Radio Malaya officially ended on Sept 16, 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the expanded Federation. On that day, news broadcasts started with “This is Radio Malaysia ....”.
Jolted from my nostalgic reverie, my gaze falls on the radio that I got from Uncle Lim. It has served me well. I felt a sudden a rush of nostalgia earlier this week when I turned its dials to tune in to the morning news broadcast. Emotions overwhelmed me when I learnt that our most successful men’s singles player in modern times had just won his fourth All England crown.
With this win, Lee Chong Wei has equalled the record of two other Malayan badminton greats, Wong and Eddy Choong.
Memories of Malaya’s string of successes in badminton back in the 1950s came flooding back to me. Just like before, this same vintage radio has become the harbinger of hope once again.