Malaya's Descent into Chaos: A Month-by-Month Chronicle of 1942 The fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 was not the end of Malaya's suffering—it was the beginning. What followed was a year of systematic terror, economic collapse, and the birth of a resistance movement that would shape the region's future. This is a month-by-month account of how Malaya descended into chaos in the first year of Japanese occupation. February 1942: The Fall and the First Blood 1 Feb  – British forces complete withdrawal from Malaya to Singapore Island. 8-9 Feb  – Japanese cross Johor Strait and land on Singapore Island. 13 Feb  – Alexandra Hospital massacre occurs; Japanese kill hundreds of patients and staff. 15 Feb  – Percival surrenders Singapore. Over 130,000 become POWs—largest surrender in British history. 17 Feb  – Sook Ching ("purge through cleansing") begins—systematic extermination of Chinese. 18 Feb – 4 Mar  – Sook Ching continues across Singapore. Hooded in...