30 – A special assignment by the Officer Commanding
One day I received an unusual letter marked “Private and Confidential” from the Officer Commanding, Lieut. Colonel George Engel. He requested me to go to Singapore to see him as he wanted to talk with me privately. The Engels were Americans, very godly, humble and most approachable people. They never stood on ceremony. Prior to their appointment as our leaders, he was the Social Secretary in Korea and they were quite used to working with people of another culture.
In those days the Army Headquarters staff was quite small; we did not have the layers of administration like we do today and life was much simpler. I went to his office and over a cup of coffee, he chatted with me. He expressed his concern that the Army was not working in Kuala Lumpur, the capital. Every year the Public Relations Secretary would spend quite a fair bit of time in the city and surrounding districts collecting donations from our many supporters and friends. Every now and then he or the General Secretary had to visit Kuala Lumpur to attend meetings such as the Annual General Meeting of the Council of Churches. Friends would often question him why the Army was not working there. He felt strongly the need for the Army to begin work in the city.
I felt quite overwhelmed and humbled when he added, “After much prayer and discussion with the General Secretary, we felt you are the one to undertake this responsibility. You just arrange your own programme and visit Kuala Lumpur and see what can be done. All expenses incurred will be reimbursed.” No deadline was set. I was told just to plan my work schedule with my wife. Then after a session of prayer, we parted and I left for Penang.
In the early days of pioneering work in Singapore, Lieut. Colonel Herbert Lord had set his sights on the mainland of Malaya and the first two towns targeted were Penang and Malacca. These two plus Singapore formed the British Straits Settlements each under the rule of a British Governor. I suppose we could consider them ‘warm’ areas ruled by the British. The rest of the country formed the Federation of Malaya, each state under the rule of the Sultan.
Previous leaders did try to establish work in the capital of Malaya. Shortly after the work began in Singapore, in 1941 Adjutant and Mrs. Harold King were sent to Kuala Lumpur to start Army work. He was appointed as the Army’s representative and worked for a short while as the Government Court Probation Officer. He was receiving Government salary, but only allowed take Salvation Army officers’ allowance. The balance had to be credited to Army funds for the work of the Army. As he was on the payroll of the Malayan Government, he was instructed not to wear his uniform when on duty at the court.
Captain George Tan Koon Hoe was appointed to assist him in establishing a Home for boys at Tyson Estate, Cheras Road. Work was progressing favourably and the project was almost completed when Adjutant King resigned and joined the Government as full time Chief Probation Officer. I suppose it was not easy for him serving two masters – the Government and The Salvation Army.
Then tragedy struck. The Japanese landed at Kota Baru and were making their way southwards towards Singapore. The Army had no choice but to close down the work and the young Captain George Tan moved to Singapore.
After the war, in 1945 Captain and Mrs. Sim Wee Lee were sent to restart the work in Kuala Lumpur, but somehow this did not take off. They were not altogether happy to be sent there. When Singapore surrendered to the Japanese, Lieut. Colonel Lord before being taken to Changi Prison had formed a Council of Officers and Captain Sim Wee Lee was appointed the Leader. Such was his Salvationism that even during the war, he and Captain Chua Yam Neo were married in full Salvation Army uniform at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral conducted by the Bishop of Singapore.
Captain and Mrs. Sim Wee Lee, after a short while in Kuala Lumpur, returned to Singapore. By this time Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. Lord had gone back to England prior to taking up leadership positions in Korea. They were succeeded by Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. John Wainwright with no missionary experience of working in a different culture. Captain and Mrs. Sim resigned from officership. He joined the Social Welfare Department. It was a pity for he was one of our very capable officers with leadership qualities.
In the mid fifties, Brother Don Morrish and his wife, both from England came to work in Penang, he as a lecturer at the College of Music in Penang. They were very good Salvationists and supported Penang Corps well. After a couple of years there, he was transferred to Kuala Lumpur. In 1961, Brother Neoh Ah How who was working at the Penang YMCA was also transferred to Kuala Lumpur. Neoh Ah How got in touch with the Morrishes and together started to hold Sunday school at the YMCA Brick Kiln Road in the name of The Salvation Army.
When the Morrishes returned to England at the end of their contract, Neoh Ah How was left to run the Sunday School on his own. It was difficult for a single man to manage his job and also run the outpost. Besides the YMCA building was to undergo major renovation and it was not practical for the Army to hold meetings there.
By 1965, there were at least three Salvationists we know of working in Kuala Lumpur – Neoh Ah How, Chau Chin Lye both from Penang Corps and Jimmy Lim from Balestier Corps, Singapore. Certainly there must have been others from other towns.
Timing is important and in all our planning we must wait on God. The secret of peace with God is to discover, accept and appreciate God’s perfect timing.
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