Memorial service honours WWII volunteers
KUCHING: A memorial service was held here yesterday in remembrance of Sarawakian volunteer mechanics and drivers, who joined other volunteers from the Chinese diaspora across South East Asia in the fight against the Japanese army in China during World War II ( WWII).
It was recorded that in 1939, 100 Sarawak volunteers – grouped in three batches – left Kuching for Yunnan in Southwest China via various routes.
They helped other volunteers by transporting equipment and materials along the treacherous Burma Road – a long stretch that connected Burma (now Myanmar) with Southwest China.
More than 1,000 of these volunteers perished in WWII.
The memorial service at Kuching Monument of the Nanyang Volunteer Mechanics and Drivers along Lorong 4A7A in Tabuan Laru here coincided with ‘Ching Ming’ – the Chinese ‘ Tomb- Sweeping Day’.
China Consul- General in Kuching Cheng Guangzhong, political secretary to chief minister Tan Kai, Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan and Association of Sarawak Chinese Academic Research (Ascar) representative Dr Julitta Lim were present at the ceremony.
In his remarks, Cheng expressed his pride and honour for the volunteers, who had served during WWII and fought against Japan’s imperial forces in Asia some 80
Three thousands of them were from Nanyang, and more than 100 from Sarawak, abandoned their peaceful and comfortable lives to join the Chinese people’s war of resistance against fascism and Japanese imperialism during the war.
years ago.
“Three thousands of them were from Nanyang, and more than 100 from Sarawak, abandoned their peaceful and comfortable lives to join the Chinese people’s war of resistance against fascism and Japanese imperialism during the war.
“We are gathered here to pay respects to the martyrs, to honour the heroes, to remember the history and above all, to cherish peace,” he said.
Cheng also stressed about maintaining cultural kinship and friendly cooperation between Malaysia and China, in safeguarding peace in Asia as well as throughout the world.
Flowers were later placed at the monument in honour of the Nanyang volunteer mechanics and drivers.
It is learnt that the Kuching Monument of the Nanyang Volunteer Mechanics and Drivers in Tabuan Laru was erected in August 2016.
Cheng Guangzhong, China Consul-General in Kuching