SANDAKAN: Conflicts such as the Second World War (WWII) should never be allowed to happen again, says British High Commissioner to Malaysia Charles Hay (pic).

       He said in the midst of development and progress, the events of conflict that happened in the past should serve as a reminder to avoid such tragedies from occurring in the future.

       “We still see them today because we allowed them to happen.

       “What happened in the past were terrible times and had been tough for families of the victims,” he said during a virtual commemoration of Sandakan Day hosted by Sabah Tourism Board yesterday.

       Hay said that if not for the Covid-19 pandemic, being in Sandakan to commemorate the event could give a sense of what happened to prisoners of war (POWs) under the Japanese occupation in the early 1940s.

       He also acknowledged the selfless and courageous acts of local Sabahans, who were willing to risk their lives to help rescue POWs during the war.

       “It is important for locals to also remember these events because what they did was truly remarkable and proved that the human spirit was alive during those difficult times. This moved me,” he said.

       Historian from Australia’s Veterans’ Affairs Department Dr Ian Hodges said any commemorative event such as Sandakan Day could provide an opportunity for the people to reflect on what happened and what it meant to the future generations.

       “WWII was a costly affair. It shaped most of the world’s history today,” he said.

       In 1942 and 1943, more than 2,400 Australian and British POWs were captured by the Japanese and subjected to a gruelling ordeal to build a military airstrip in Sandakan but it was destroyed in January 1945.

       During this time, the POWs were moved in phases through the highlands to Ranau, about 260km on foot, known as the Sandakan Death Marches.

       Only six Australians survived.

       The Japanese surrendered on Aug 15, 1945. — Bernama