SANDAKAN: Anzac Day is a tribute not only to prisoners of war (POWs) who suffered and perished during the Second World War (WWII), but also to countless others, including local Sabahans, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“Today, as we reflect on the shared histories of Australia, Britain and Malaysia, we recognise that the bonds between our peoples were forged not only through conflict, but also through compassion.
“The legacy of those who suffered in Sandakan remains inseparable from the legacy of those who helped them survive, even if only for a little longer,” he said at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Sandakan Memorial Park on Saturday.
His speech was delivered by Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong Shir Yee.
Hajiji said thousands of Australian and British POWs endured brutal conditions in camps across Southeast Asia during WWII, including in Sandakan.
“The camps in Sandakan and Ranau became symbols of suffering caused by atrocities — cruelty, starvation, forced labour and the infamous death marches, which claimed the lives of nearly all who were held captive.
“Yet even in the darkest circumstances, humanity endured. Villagers and their families risked their lives to help the prisoners.
“We remember with pride the brave locals who took those risks to offer shelter and care. Each prisoner who survived owed his life to those who protected and supported him until rescue became possible.
“Helping these prisoners was a serious offence, punishable by beatings or death, but these villagers acted because it was the right thing to do,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the villagers’ actions demonstrate that even in moments of great darkness, people have the capacity to make a difference in the lives of others.
“Today, we honour the service and sacrifice of the men who were prisoners of war here.
“The humanity shown to them by the local people was a ray of light in an unimaginably terrible period. Their memory endures as a lasting bond between our peoples,” he said.
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