Nathan Had A Close Shave

"And so I entered the employment of the Japanese civilian police (Keimubu), in which I stayed for the rest of the war, until the Japanese surrender," wrote S R Nathan in his book, "An Unexpected Journey, Path to the Presidency". His loyal service with the Nips would see him go through three inspector-generals of police (IGP).

At the police headquarters in Johore Bahru, a report was received stating that the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) had attacked and occupied Segamat town for a few hours.

In late 1944, Nathan was asked by the IGP to accompany him on an inspection visit to a police post deep in the Kota Tinggi-Kluang triangle. Escorted by a platoon from the Special Police force, the Tokubetsu Keisatsu Tai, they arrived at the operational headquarters of the MPAJA Independent Regiment only to find it had been vacated earlier. On the return trip, there was an exchange of gunfire near Kangkar Sisir, the designated launch pick-up point. While washing up with the river water, Nathan thought the sting on his neck was an insect bite.

It was at the Johore Bahru General Hospital a few days later, where he had sought medication for a cold, that the examining doctor told him the "bite" was a gunfire wound: "My boy, you are damned lucky. Had it been half-an-inch different you would have been dead." Three bullets had grazed his neck.

Informed, the IGP said he must have been the intended target, as Nathan was standing just behind him. As compensation, he was rewarded with an envelope of money and cartons of cigarettes which, said Nathan, fetched more than a month's salary in the black market. Decades later, the man would only accept hard cash, in the order of taxpayer millions.

In white shirt, third from left, cuddling puppy