Sandakan Day memorial brings Australia, Sabah closer
SANDAKAN: The Sandakan day memorial service marked on August 15 continues to bring Australia and Sabah closer.
The annual event is held to remember the more than 2,400 Australian and British prisonersof-war (POW) who lost their lives while incarcerated at the Sandakan Camp and during the death marches to Ranau in 1945 during World War Two.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the memorial service continues to be held yearly due to efforts of the Sandakan Municipal Council and Sabah Tourism Board in partnership with the Office of the Australian War Graves.
"I appreciate that everyone here took the time off from your daily routine to attend this service. This year marks the 73rd year of the end of the war in 1945, and we gather here to remember the fallen Australian men on this very important date.
"It was here in Sandakan where some prisoners-of-war perished and local communities risked their lives to help these allied soldiers, starting form here and along the way to Ranau, over 200 kilometres away," he said at the Sandakan Day Memorial Service yesterday.
His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Arifin Asgali.
Also present were Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell and Sandakan Municipal Council Deputy President Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain.
"Let us honour all of them as our heroes because their brave acts gave us the peace and tranquility that we presently enjoy," Mohd Shafie said.
He said it is this peace that is often overlooked and taken for granted by the present generation. - Bernama