KAMPAR: The Indian High Commission is hopeful towards the realisation of a war memorial at the Kampar Green Ridge Battle site soon.

       Its commissioner BN Reddy said both the Indian and Malaysian governments recognised and agreed for the construction of a war memorial, and the spirit of that understanding very much remains on the table.

       He said although the Indian government laid out the proposal, it naturally needed to work with its counterparts in Malaysia.

       "The full cooperation of the Perak state government is required, as land matters fall under their purview.

       "But at this point of time, it is sufficient to say that we must re-commit ourselves to the construction of the war memorial.

       "There are not two, but three hands to clap here - the Indian, Malaysian and the Perak governments to turn the proposal into a reality, with the cooperation from across sections of people," he said at the Remembrance Day held for the fallen heroes at the site for the first time in conjunction with the battle’s 80th anniversary.

       A wreath-laying ceremony was held officially for the first time at the site to honour the fallen heroes.

       Among those present were Kampar MP Thomas Su, Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veteran Association (Mafsva) president Major Baldev Singh, the association’s Perak chairman Lt Col Jasvinder Singh, its secretary Major Balindrar Singh and other dignitaries.

       In 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced his intention to work with the Malaysian government to build a war memorial for soldiers who fought in the battle.

       Mafsva has been pioneering efforts to preserve Green Ridge, a site that among others saw sacrifices of Sikh soldiers in the fierce battle during the Japanese invasion in World War II.

       The memorial, proposed to be located on a 6.5ha hillside expanse, was meant to honour British, Indian and Gurkha soldiers who delayed advancing Japanese forces during the historic Battle of Kampar.

       It was reported in January last year that an information board had been set up by the Malaysian Historical Society at the site of the battle.

       Baldev hoped that the site would be gazetted soon, so that the war memorial could be constructed soonest to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

       "This site was a war zone 80 years ago, where the soldiers fought the Japanese troops in a four-day battle.

       "The soldiers fought hard, lost their lives, and for their bravery and sacrifices it is thus very important for the monument project to take off to honour them.

       "This part of history must never be forgotten. The sufferings and noble sacrifices of the soldiers must always be remembered," he added.

       Su said the proposal to gazette the site as a heritage and historical site is at its tail end, where the Federal Government had acknowledged in Parliament the historical significance of Green Ridge.

       He said to gazette the land, the state government needs to give its consent, and the issue here is due to the land belonging to an individual.

       "I am hoping that the issue will be ironed out, and once that is done, everything will fall in place.

       "Thus, if the state government is able to commit and resolve the land ownership issue soon, this site could be gazetted by next year," he said, adding that he has been dealing with both the federal and state governments over the matter.