OpErAtIoN SoOk ChInG (PTP)

"In order to strengthen their authority and that they did not trust the Chinese, as they thought we were mostly anti-Japanese, they carried out the 'Operation Sook Ching', also meaning Purge Through Purification."

18 February
The Japanese ordered all Chinese to assemble at various centres for screening - the start of Sook Ching,

30 December

The plan, issued by the Imperial Headquarters, was to gather all Chinese males between the ages of 18 and 50 at various locations, screen them, and execute those identified as anti-Japanese.

Screening centres were set up all over Singapore. Most of them were situated in Java Road, Arab Street, Telok Kurau English School, St. Joseph's Institution, and Chinatown, where large Chinese population were found.

At the Chinatown screening centre, lorries were parked nearby to take anti-Japanese suspects to Changi, Punggol, and Bedok, where they were all massacred.

The lucky ones were stamped with an "examined" word on their faces, arms, clothing or just pieces of paper. They were free to return home to their families afterwards.

 Sook Ching will, remain a horrific and traumatic experience in the memory of the survivors.

HoME PaGe               BaTTle Of BT and BB            POWs' ExPeRiEnceS
PrOceSS of OuR ProJeCt          OuR GraTiTuDe                OuR SuBjEcT LiNk