Heroic deeds of fallen must not be in vain: CM
Published on: Thursday, August 16, 2018
Sandakan: The brave acts of Australian and local Sabah Prisoners of War (POWs) who risked their live 73 years ago during World War in 1945, here, must not be forgotten. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the fallen heroes' acts also gave us the peace and tranquillity that we presently enjoy. "We should not forget the sacrifice and the generation today also should not take it for granted," he said at the Sandakan Day Memorial Service 2018 at Sandakan Memorial Park, here, Wednesday.
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His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department cum Sekong Assemblymen, Arifin Asgali. Also present were British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski, Sandakan Municipal Council Vice President, Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain, Karamunting Assemblymen, Hiew Vui Zin, relatives of the perished Australian and Sabah POWs and local leaders. The event held every Aug. 15 at the Memorial Park is to remember the fallen Australian and locals. Some of the POWs risked their lives to help allied soldiers in the Death March from Sandakan and along the way to Ranau, over 200km.
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The event is supported by the Sandakan Municipal Council and Sabah Tourism Board with the partnership of the Office of Australian war Graves.Shafie said holding this date in remembrance annually will bring Australia and Sabah closer.
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Earlier, in their speech, both Vicki and Andrew, acknowledged the existence of the Sandakan Memorial Park as significant to remember those who were willing to live far from their family and loved ones and made a big sacrifice for the nation. Also present at the event was Edmund Sabinus, grandson of late Didacus @ Dick Majinal, local from Papar, Sabah, who worked with Agriculture Department at Pulau Berhala Sandakan before World War Two broke out. Edmund shared his grandfather's history at the service. He said when the Japanese army entered Sandakan in 1942, his late grandfather, Didacus, joined the underground resistence group and bravely smuggled food, medicine and news to European civilians interned in an old quarantine station at Berhala Island near Sandakan town. It was reported that he was the first local to approach the prisoner of war camp's intelligence officer, Caption Lionel Matthews and provided the link with underground movement. He was later caught and imprisoned by the Japanese soldiers where one of his good friends told family members that he almost died from being beaten up by Japanese.When the war ended in 1945, Didacus went back to Jesselton and got married. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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