By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 5: The sacrifices of 126 Sarawakian Chinese who went against the Japanese in World War II (WWII) were honoured in a Nanyang Volunteers memorial ceremony held in conjunction with the Qing Ming Festival.
According to Suara Sarawak, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, the ceremony was to pay tribute to the Nanyang Volunteers who served as mechanics and drivers after undergoing training with Chinese communities from Southeast Asia before being sent to Yunnan Province, China.
“This ceremony is not just to remember our ancestors, but also to remember the bravery of the Nanyang Volunteers who played a vital role in ensuring supplies were delivered throughout WWII,” he said.
He said this to reporters after officiating the ceremony, which took place at the Zhu Sze Kung Temple in Tabuan Laru here on April 4.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim recalled the challenging conditions during WWII when Japanese forces controlled the coastal routes, preventing supplies from being sent by sea.
“As a result, the volunteers had to use the land route through Myanmar to support the Chinese army in its efforts to resist colonialism.
“The effort is proof that these are not just technicians, but patriots who showed extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity,” he said.
He also urged the community to understand the broader history and learn from past events.
“Memorials alone are not enough because we must continue to educate future generations about the values of sacrifice, peace, and unity.
“Although this event is not taught in the school syllabus, we still need to learn from it to build a bright future based on their past struggles,” he said.
At the same time, Dr Sim also expressed his appreciation to the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, community leaders, and the Association of Sarawak Chinese Academic Research (ASCA) and Zhu Sze Kung temple committees for their dedication in ensuring that the legacy of the Nanyang Volunteers is preserved and carried forward. — DayakDaily
