Japanese hunted down Kwok more than a month
Published on: Sunday, May 22, 2022
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The execution site at Petagas in 1945. Kwok (inset) and four others who were ringleaders were beheaded. The rest were machine-gunned and fell into a large pit. The memorial at Petagas is one of few in the world erected over an actual site.
Once in Penampang, Kwok and six of his companions, who included Shek Chun Fah, Tan Kim Hin, Chung Tet Yau and Fung Tshung Shen, 49 sought help from a few trusted Chinese including Liew Nyuk Lim and Siau Teng Koh.
They then hid in the Northern Chinese cemetery near the Bukit Padang reservoir and the Northern Chinese settlement. Their presence was known to a few, including Liew and Siau, the family of Shek Chun Fah, Nee Bao Ying and Chong Fu Kui.
It was not long before the Japanese knew of their presence, no thanks to a spy who reported to the headman of Penampang, Majakui bin Salaman, who, in turn, informed the Japanese.
There is another version of the story behind the betrayal of Kwok’s whereabouts. Apparently, after Kwok and his men reached the Northerners’ village on 13 December 1943, they moved to the cemetery on the night of 15 December.
There they were helped by Shek Chun Fah’s family who lived 15 minutes’ walk away.
While hiding at the cemetery, Kwok asked Tan Kim Hin to write a note to Vung Kin Chung, the manager at the vermicelli factory where he had previously worked, to ask for $1,000.
From the cemetery, Kwok and his men went to hide in a cave between the lands of Lee Ta Lee and Siau Teng Koh. They were finally betrayed by Lee Er Lee, a brother of Lee Ta Lee, the village headman.
A compulsive gambler, Lee Er Lee was hoping to cash in on Vung’s generosity. He approached Vung to supply some money on Tan Kim Hin’s request. When Vung refused, Lee leaked the information on Kwok’s whereabouts (Chia 1978: 63).
On learning of Kwok’s location, the Japanese sent troops, hoping to arrest Kwok and his followers. They surrounded the cemetery only to find Kwok had moved camp to the cave.
In their search, the Japanese forced Chong Fu Kui and Siau Teng Koh to lead them to the guerrillas’ hideout. Under pressure, and the threat of death to all the residents of the settlement, Chong led the Japanese to Kwok’s hiding place and persuaded the guerrillas to surrender for the sake of the people in the settlement.”
On 19 December 1943, Kwok and six of his remaining followers surrendered after the Japanese threatened to kill all the villagers of the Northern Chinese settlement at Penampang (Chia 1978: 71). Kwok and his men were hiding in the settlement’s cemetery, near Bukit Padang reservoir.
After learning of Kwok’s whereabouts, the Japanese planned to gather 250 of Jesselton’s leading businessmen and were prepared to kill them should Kwok refuse to surrender.
The Japanese dug three large holes near the Atkinson ClockTower for the purpose (Chia 1978: 71). The plan was aborted when Kwok surrendered.
According to Chia Yuk Tet, who met the guerrillas again during detention in the Japanese prison, Kwok and his followers had initially thought of committing suicide by exploding hand grenades. However, after Chong Fu Kui had pleaded for the Northern Chinese villagers, Kwok decided to surrender.
For his part in bringing in Kwok and his followers, Chong Fu Kui was favoured by the Japanese; he was asked to continue as the village chief, and chauffeured around in Japanese staff cars. Many were convinced that Chong also helped the Japanese to identify some of the survivors of the uprising.
After they were arrested, Kwok and his followers were taken by lorry to the Jesselton Club in town. The building, next to the town padang, had been commandeered by the Kempeitai at the beginning of the Japanese occupation to serve as their headquarters.
According to Chia Yuk Tet, the Japanese initially treated Kwok and his men well, like a victor treating his vanquished enemy magnanimously.
Kwok and his men were treated to tea, and photographs were taken. However, once the pleasantries were over, the kid gloves came off and the interrogations started (Chia 1978: 65; Stephens 1960).
The Japanese interrogated Kwok and his men using various methods, including torture. While some succumbed to the cruel and inhuman ordeal, most managed to keep their heads up. It was reported that Kwok tried to take responsibility for the entire affair, but the Japanese refused to accept such a claim (Chia 1978: 65).
It was clear that the Japanese were interested in killing Kwok with their own hands to avenge the deaths of the 49 Japanese killed during the uprising. According to Oho Masuo, the chief of police at Jesselton, the Japanese military command was adamant to extract revenge for the loss of Japanese lives on 9 October.
At a meeting in early December which Masuo attended, the Military Commander insisted that for the lives of the 49 Japanese, a total of 500 should be punished.
Masuo recalled that he protested against such harsh punishment, but was overruled. As a result, according to Masuo, a total of 250 prisoners were sentenced to death (Mochizuki 1995: 59-60).
Masuo also stated that the executions were carried out a few days after the meeting. In another section, Masuo gave the date for Albert Kwok’s arrest as some time in late November, whereas Kwok was actually captured on 19 December. Thus it is more likely that the meeting to decide the fate of the prisoners was held in early January 1944.
During the period between the uprising (October 1943) and April 1944, the Japanese carried out massive arrests in Jesselton and its vicinity. They went as far as Kudat in the north and Tenom in the south. They also conducted enquiries in other places where anti-Japanese incidents had taken place, such as Kota Belud and Tambunan. The Japanese continued to build their case against the guerrillas.
In November 1943 the family of Li Tet Phui, the guerrillas’ advisor, were arrested in Menggatal and taken to Jesselton for interrogation. Their severe treatment at the hands of the Japanese is one of the few cases where explicit information was provided.The Li family party consisted of Li Tet Phui’s wife, Chin Siew Len, his sons Lee Vui Leong and Vincent Lee Vui Ming, Vui Leong’s wife Kong Fook Kui, and an uncle, Chin Shen Kee. Kong Fook Kui was the sister of Kong Sze Phui, the deputy commander of the guerrillas.
At the time of the revolt the Li family moved from Jesselton to the family orchard at Tel ibong. After a month, the entire family went to Telipok to get their good conduct passes.
There they were arrested and taken to Menggatal before further interrogation at Jesselton. LeeVui Leong was taken out first, beaten for several hours and burned with lighted cigarettes, and made to kneel with a stick behind his knees while one of the Kempeitai jumped on the stick.
Lee was later taken to a tap and tied to a branch with his face underneath the tap. Then Sergeant. Major Tsuji Toyoji turned on the tap so that the water sprayed on his face and Lee Vui Leong died after 10 minutes.
This was done in front of his wife, Kong Fook Kui, who was forced by the interrogating Kempeitai, Tsuji, to watch. Kong was also interrogated and beaten.
All this took place despite the Japanese knowing that Lee Vui Leong and his family members had not directly taken part in the uprising.
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