By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 11: A striking arrangement of 101 steel columns now stands at Palmarium Park in Kuching South, with each structure carrying a story of sacrifice, resilience and remembrance as a new monument honouring the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics (Nan Qiao Ji Gong) was officially unveiled tonight.
The monument, launched by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, features 91 yellow columns representing the 91 Sarawak volunteers whose identities have been confirmed, nine red columns commemorating unknown heroes whose names were lost to history, and a single black column symbolising the families, friends and supporters who stood behind them.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Sim said the recognition by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and the Sarawak government was a tribute not only to the volunteers’ sacrifices during World War II, but also to the values they left behind.
“Today is not merely about commemorating more than 100 Sarawak heroes who left their homes and made sacrifices during the war. We are also commemorating their spirit and what their sacrifices brought to Sarawak,” he said.
The Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics were among thousands of overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia who travelled to China between 1939 and 1942 to support transport and logistics operations along the Burma Road during the war against Japanese forces. More than 100 volunteers came from Sarawak.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, noted the significance of the launch taking place on Sept 11, a date associated globally with the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, saying it served as a reminder of the importance of peace and stability.
“Many people take peace for granted and think it comes naturally. But if you look at conflicts around the world today, you will realise peace is not something that can be taken for granted,” he said.
He credited Sarawak’s prosperity to eight decades of peace, stressing that the State’s progress was built upon the sacrifices and efforts of previous generations.
“None of this fell from the sky. It was achieved through the efforts of the people and leaders who worked to build Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Sim also said the monument would help preserve an important chapter of Sarawak’s history while contributing to stronger Malaysia-China friendship through shared remembrance of the wartime volunteers.
“History is often written by the victors, and these stories also need to be examined and remembered. This monument can become a new landmark in Kuching, while also serving as part of the city’s history,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the project was designed as more than a monument, describing it as a public space dedicated to reflection and historical awareness.
“What we are doing today is bringing an important part of Sarawak’s history, and the history of our forefathers, back into our city and, more importantly, into the memory of our younger generation,” he said.
Wee explained that every design feature within the memorial carries symbolic meaning.
Natural stone pathways represent the rugged terrain of the Burma Road, while broken red bricks pieced together symbolise the sacrifices of individuals whose collective efforts formed a shared journey. Grey gravel reflects both the scars left by war and the rebuilding that followed.
The mayor said visitors should take time to walk through the site and reflect on the experiences of the volunteers.
“It may take us only a few minutes to walk through this place today. But for the Nan Qiao Ji Gong who travelled that road more than 80 years ago, some completed their journey with their youth, and some paid for it with their lives,” he said.
Wee said the monument’s theme, “Across Mountains and Seas, Building Memories Together”, underscores the importance of remembering history so future generations can better appreciate the value of peace.
“We remember war so that we can better understand the value of peace, so that the next generation will understand where we came from, and so that they will have a clearer understanding of where we should go in the future,” he said.
The new landmark joins other memorials dedicated to the Nanyang Volunteers in Kuching and is expected to serve as both a place of remembrance and an educational site highlighting the contributions of Sarawak’s wartime heroes.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Xing Weiping, MBKS Deputy Mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili, Sarawak Business Federation president Jonathan Chai Voon Tok, Chinese community leaders and MBKS councillors were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
