By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, March 16: The International 80th Commemoration of Operation Semut Parachute Landing 1945 will be held at the Bario Memorial Park on March 25, featuring a re-enactment of the historic 1945 event.
The re-enactment will be conducted by the Malaysia Sports Parachuting Association (MASPA), Payung Terjun Sarawak, BOMBA, with the support of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the combined Australian Defence Force (ADF)/Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) parachute component.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, who disclosed this at a press conference in Miri today, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
“We are excited to feature a re-enactment of the landing by the Z Special Unit parachute troops, codenamed ‘Semut’. This will be the first time such an event is incorporated into the commemoration,” he said.
Operation Semut was a covert mission carried out by the Z Special Unit during World War II, with eight operatives parachuting into Bario on March 25, 1945.
Their objective was to establish contact with the indigenous people, train them as resistance fighters, and disrupt Japanese forces in Borneo. The mission played a crucial role in the liberation of Sarawak.
The commemoration, organised by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak with co-organisers Miri City Council and Miri Resident Office, has grown into an international event since its inception in 2013.
This year, the event is expected to be attended by Sarawak’s Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Joining him would be foreign dignitaries such as Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke, New Zealand High Commissioner Mike Walsh, and Acting British High Commissioner David Wallace.
Veterans and their families from around the world, including Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, are also expected to take part, paying tribute to both the soldiers and the local community members who supported the mission.
The commemoration has become an important occasion for veterans, their descendants, and military historians, much like war memorial events in Kuching, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu, and Sandakan.
A second re-enactment event is scheduled to take place on March 27, 2025 at Padang Merdeka, Kuching, where Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will officiate the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Gerawat highlighted the logistical challenges of getting to Bario for the event, stating that the organisers are in discussions with MASwings to provide additional flights.
“Travelling to Bario is always a challenge. MASwings sometimes accommodates additional flights, but on certain occasions, these flights are only available at full fare, which can be costly,” he said.
The commemoration event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Bario Sub-District Office, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, and MASwings. – DayakDaily
