Eight unsung WW2 heroes honoured
KOTA KINABALU: Eight more gallant names were set in a plaque for the first time at the Petagas War Memorial Park here yesterday since the state WWII war victims commemoration ceremony was first held 69 years ago.
Civilians Lothar Wong Manjaji, Vitalianus Joseph Lim@Ubing, Chong Pin Sin, Simon Thien, Paul Lee Fook Onn@Paul Lee Onn, Bung Ah Tee@Stephen Pan Tet Liong, Lim Hock Beng and Mohinder Singh a/l Harnam Singh Kalsi’s 230 family members came to witness the historical event.
Members from the eight families have waited over 70 years for the eight fallen heroes to be recognised and honoured for their courageous act against the Japanese Imperial Army during their occupation of British North Borneo between January 1942 and September 1945.
“This is where we show our respect for all those who have struggled and fought for Sabah during the war, and it is a good reminder of the past.
“It will also provide us with the lead to continue the fight for our rights, for our struggles for the young people, particularly the future of our state and country,” said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, who represented Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman at the annual ceremony.
“Today is a reflection of something moving forward. Towards getting people to get together, getting people to be closer and be more interactive in accepting each other.
“Especially from the point of view of protecting our country, guarding the interests of our country and emphasising the need to cooperate so that whatever we are proud of, whatever we hope for the future of this country can be realised together through cooperation and understanding each other so that we can continue to lean on each other.
“Everything that we hope to achieve must be achieved together with everybody’s cooperation,” he added whilst lauding the change in programme this year.
Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) director general Datuk Joannes Solidau said the local authority had received more requests from family members to participate in future ceremonies.
“In the years ahead we will see the legitimacy of their requests. If there is a genuine family connection, we will definitely allow it because this is done especially for the involved family members,” said Joannes.
“It’s not a problem because we want the public or people to come more often, not only once a year. Maybe this is a chance for the public to get to know about this place even more. We have held this ceremony for 69 years but not many know much about it, especially the young people.
“So through these kinds of requests, it indicates that there is awareness about this event and we try to accommodate. We will allow them,” he assured.
A total of 176 guerrillas comprising sympathisers, followers and supporters were brutally and wrongfully executed in Petagas on January 21, 1944.
Soon after the war, a special committee headed by the few surviving members of the guerrilla force and their families reburied those killed at the Petagas War Memorial, which was visited by about 1,400 people yesterday.