By Olivia Miwil - August 15, 2021 @ 1:35pm
KOTA KINABALU: Sandakan Day is not merely a testimony to the horrors of war.
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Justin Lee said the special day represents the close ties among different nations.
"On this day, we remember the more than 2,400 Australian and British Prisoner Of Wars (POW) who lost their lives at the Sandakan POW camp and during the death marches to Ranau in 1945."
He said despite the pandemic and movement restrictions in many parts of the world, he felt the event must continue to honour the many people affected by Sandakan Day.
"If not for Covid-19, I would be in Sandakan now alongside veterans' families, Australian visitors and our dear Malaysian friends from Sandakan and elsewhere in Sabah at the place that gave witness to one of the great tragedies of World War 2," he said during the 76th Sandakan Day memorial event held virtually today.
Lee said people must remember the service and sacrifices of the fallen and honour Sabahans who bravely helped the Australians and British in their hour of need.
"This chapter in history laid the foundation for the strong and cooperative partnership that Australia and Malaysia share today."
Group Captain Gretchen Fryar, who is the Australian Defence Advisor to Malaysia, reminisced on past events held at the Sandakan Memorial Park, with catafalques at the site and the laying of wreaths to honour those who died.
"The park provides a sombre and honest reminder of the brutality of the war and the tragic personal cost.
"Today, on Aug 15, the day following the Japanese surrender, we remember the individual soldiers who were interred at Sandakan and those who lost their lives on the forced marches to Ranau.
"We also remember the selflessness of the local people who helped them. We cannot imagine the horror each suffered, but we honour, we respect, we remember and we say thank you," she said.
British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay said the memorial is a reminder not to let atrocities happen again, and to not allow victims to pay a terrible price for conflicts.
"Last year after the hybrid event, we walked some of the routes that these poor prisoners walked in those terrible days. Even for us well-nourished with water and food, it was tough. You can only imagine how tough it must have been for them."
Also present during the virtual event were Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman, Department of Veteran Affairs Australia representative Dr Ian Hodges, Sabah Forestry Department Forest Research Centre deputy head Dr Arthur Y.C. Chung and Sandakan Municipal Council representative Catherin Chua.
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