A wealthy Javanese couple decided to abandon their home in Singapore (a spacious seafront bungalow) to avoid the imminent Japanese Occupation. They managed to board the ship bound for Jakarta, but not their servant Halimah (Neng Yatimah), who had been entrusted to take care of their baby daughter Sukartini. Stranded in Singapore, the pair survived the painful ordeal of the occupation. They grew close to each other and Halimah became Sukartini's foster mother, striving hard to educate her at Kampong Glam Malay Girl's School. After the Japanese surrendered, Sukartini's (Hashimah Yon) biological parents returned to Singapore to reclaim what they felt was originally theirs, and a tussle over Sukartini ensued.