| |
 Kuala
Lumpur-born author, Patrick Keith, became a newspaper
reporter in the tumultuous days of 1948 as the Communist
Party of Malaya (CPM) began launching its military
challenge to the post-war returning British. Working
initially for the Malay Mail and then The Straits
Times, he found himself quickly thrust into the deep
end of what the colonial administration of the time
liked to call, euphemistically, 'The Emergency', but
was, in fact, desperate jungle warfare. |
| |
| Moving next
to the staff of Radio Malaya, Keith soon found himself
appointed head of its news division. A variation on
the practice of journalism followed when he was seconded
to the government's Information Department. As its
Deputy Director of External Information, he became
deeply involved in the critical field of national
propaganda. |
| |
| Over the years,
Keith's work brought him into direct contact with
all key players involved in the build-up to Malayan
independence, the creation of Malaysia, the ultimate
expulsion of Singapore from the Malaysian Federation
and, of course, the aftermath of these incredible
events. Realising he was sometimes witnessing at close
quarters - sometimes even participating in - major
historical developments, Keith took copious notes
and kept extensive diaries. His book is based on these
journals. |
| |
| Ultimately,
the region's bitter political trends determined Keith
would pay a heavy personal price. He became thoroughly
disillusioned with the way racial politics were being
played out in both Malaysia and Singapore. With a
heavy heart, he left his homeland for Australia in
late 1968 and there worked for ten years with Radio
Australia. Now in retirement, he lives in Melbourne
with his wife, Constance, three grown-up children
and five grandchildren. |
