Eighty-five years ago, a baby girl was born to a young couple. They were thrilled to welcome the little girl into their family, but their joy was short-lived. There was a myth that the first-born after several miscarriages must be given away for adoption for the baby to grow into a healthy child. It broke their hearts to have to give the baby girl up for adoption to a childless couple in Kajang.

The baby girl, Eng, grew up in her new home. Her poor family lived in a rubber estate on a stilt house made of bamboo. When she was 11, the Japanese invaded Malaya. Eng remembered the brutality of the Japanese soldiers, the bombings and scattered bodies of victims. Her family hid in tunnels to evade marauding troops.