By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 9: Michael Eastick, the grandson of Brigadier General Sir Thomas Eastick, presented the original “1945 Japanese Surrender” document to the Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, during a courtesy call at the Astana Negeri Sarawak today.
According to a Sarawak Information Department news report, the presentation was part of a 35-member delegation’s visit, led by Michael Eastick, to honour the legacy of Brigadier General Eastick, the commander of the Kuching Force who accepted the surrender of Japanese General Yamamura 80 years ago.
The document, once handed over by the Japanese to British forces, marks a defining moment in history that ended the Japanese occupation in Borneo on Sept11, 1945.
Wan Junaidi, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, received the delegation with Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, as the accompanying minister.
Brigadier General Eastick later served as Military Governor of Kuching for six months before Sarawak was peacefully restored to civilian administration.
Also present were the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia Inc South Australia and Northern Territory Branch president Paul A. Rosenzweig OAM, Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) heritage advisor Dato Lim Kian Hock, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datu Sherrina Husaini, and Sarawak Museum director Nancy Jolhi. — DayakDaily
