Date: 1950
Maria Hertogh has gone down in popular imagination as the girl whose custody case sparked one of Singapore's worst riots. But her tale is not all about the politics of inter-communal relations in a multi-racial city. At the centre was an innocent child torn between two mothers. This selection of news reports recaptures that gripping domestic drama, played out against the backdrop of that eternal conflict between East and West.
May 20
THE SINGAPORE CHIEF JUSTICE, Mr Justice Murray-Aynsley, yesterday ordered that a 13-year-old Dutch girl who has lived for eight years with a Malay woman in Java and Malaya should be given into the care of the Netherlands Consul-General who, it is understood, will return her to her parents in Holland.
After the decision, the girl, Maria Huberdina Hertogh, and Aminah, the Malay woman, clung to each other for almost an hour outside the Supreme Court. They declined to enter a waiting car, sobbed and vowed they would not be parted.
With tears streaming down her face, Maria shouted in Malay (the only language she can speak): "Aminah is my mother. She has loved me, cared for me and brought me up."
Then looking at Aminah, the girl said, "Do you love me, mother? If you love me don't leave me. I don't want to go with this man (a Dutch consular official)."
July 29
THE FULL COURT of Appeal in Singapore yesterday decided that Maria Hertogh shall be given back to her foster-mother, Che Aminah.
The Appeal Court yesterday held that the proceedings before the Chief Justice were, by reason of the non-service of the necessary parties, a nullity.
When she heard that Maria would be returned to her, Aminah broke down and wept openly. But they were tears of joy. Hugging and kissing Maria, she said brokenly: "I have never been so happy in my life."
Stumbling a little as she came out of the Court of Appeal, she shook hands almost convulsively, with friends and well-wishers who were waiting outside.
Nearly everybody has one moment of supreme happiness.
Yesterday was Aminah's day.
July 29
IN BERGEN-OP-ZOOM (Holland), last night Ex-Sergeant De Hertogh said he was "most perplexed" when he heard of the Singapore court's decision.
"I do not see how it is possible for the court to keep our child away from us," he told Reuter. "If necessary I am prepared to go to Singapore to get her back.
July 30
IT WAS HARI RAYA all over again in a little shophouse in Rangoon Road, Singapore, yesterday as 14-year-old Nadra binte Ma'arof, better known as Maria Huberdina Hertogh, spent her first day home again with her foster-mother Che Aminah.
"Don't ever call me Maria," Nadra chided me when I chatted with her. "I'm done with the Hertogh family and my real Muslim name is Nadra."
On Friday night, Nadra slept with Che Aminah in the same bed, a thing she had not done for the past three months ever since she was taken to live in the York Hill Home. There was a big kenduri (feast) in honour of Nadra at the home of Mr M A Majid, president of the Muslim Welfare Association, where the couple are now staying.
Nadra told me: "I cried for three days and nights at York Hill a fortnight ago when Hari Raya Puasa was celebrated.
"I pleaded with the matron to let me go home to mother for Hari Raya but permission was never given.
"Mother came to see me on Saturday (Hari Raya eve) on the usual visitors'day. She brought me cakes and jellies for Hari Raya, but when the big day came, the following morning, I just couldn't help it, I cried and cried my heart out. I so wanted to go home to her."
When I showed Nadra a cable from her father (Ex-Sergeant De Hertogh) in Bergen-op-Zoom, Holland, who said: "I am prepared to go to Singapore myself if necessary to get her back", Maria clutched Che Aminah and hotly retorted: "I don't recognise anybody as my parents except Che Aminah.
"It is useless for him to come to Singapore because I shall definitely refuse to go back to Holland."
First published in 150 years of the Straits Times (July 15, 1845-1995)
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
