I WISH TO thank National Arts Council (NAC) for their generous Arts Creation Fund which made it possible for me to concentrate on writing this book. I am also grateful to the NAC for giving the publishing grant to Marshall Cavendish to publish this book.
I would also like to thank the National Archives for permission to use some of their photographs. Photo credits and thanks also go to Mr Lim Kheng Chye and Mr Han Chou Yuan.
The first incarnation of Balik Kampong was published in the Peranakan magazine, by the Peranakan Association; and its second incarnation was subsequently published in National Library Board’s Singapore Memories archives.
I wish to also acknowledge the use of a couple of books which helped to refresh my memory and confirm some of the facts. These are:
• Singapore – An Illustrated History, 1941–1984, Text and Edited by Daljit Singh & VT Arasu. Published by the Information Division, Ministry of Culture.
• Chronicle Of Singapore, 1959–2009, Edited by Peter HL Lim. Published by EDM and NLB.
• Non-specific Articles from NLB Singapore Infopedia, newspaper articles and from the National Archives.
• The quotation by Mr Goh Chok Tong is taken from Our place in Time – Exploring Heritage And Memory in Singapore, edited by Kwok Kim Woon et al. Published by Singapore Heritage Society,1996.
• The lyrics of P. Ramlee’s song ‘Getaran Jiwa’ is taken from the film, Anatara Dua Drajat by the Shaw Brothers. Its English translation was gleaned from various translations on the web.
I have been lucky to get two excellent editors for this book. Jennie Lisney, United Kingdom, came in when the manuscript was still under the NAC Arts Creation Fund Process. Tara Hasnain was appointed when Marshall Cavendish accepted the manuscript. I am amazed what good editors can pick up when the writer herself is blinded by her own words. So thank you both!