Ex-CM: Why not in school syllabus?
Published on: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has questioned the Education Ministry’s failure to incorporate the historic account of the patriotic Kinabalu guerrilla uprising in the Malaysian school syllabus.
Known as the Double Tenth Uprising or Jesselton Revolt, it saw a ragtag band of locals comprising all races resist the Japanese invaders to the point of killing 60 of their troops and taking control of a large part of modern day KK for three days.
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It was one of the best known resistance stories of World War Two in the Japanese war theatre and similar exploits against the Nazis in Europe such as in France and the Balkans are not only remembered in history books but celebrated in movies.
“I think we all agree that most Malaysians, and some Sabahans, have not heard of the Kinabalu Guerrillas. Public awareness of such an important history is low perhaps, because, publicity on the uprising has been limited to only a day’s news reporting the annual commemoration at the Petagas War Memorial.
“To uplift our collective memory of the Kinabalu Guerrillas, may I suggest that the Kinabalu Guerrillas and the Uprising be incorporated into our school syllabus,” Yong stressed, as on January 21, every year, the Sabah Government organises a Memorial Service in the morning at the Petagas War Memorial Garden where Albert Kwok and over 100 other resistance movement members lost their lives.
Yong was speaking at the launching of “One Crowded Moment of Glory of the Kinabalu Guerrillas and the 1943 Jesselton Uprising” authored by Prof. Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken. It is published by University of Malaya Press and distributed by Opus Publication.
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Director of University of Malaya Press, Kuala Lumpur, Adam Wong explained that “The Kinabalu Guerrillas and the Jesselton Uprising against the Japanese on Oct 9, 1943 was an epic story for Sabah.”
It was started by a small group of Chinese youths led by a young man called Albert Kwok. The guerrillas went on to become a multi-ethnic effort in resisting the Japanese Military Occupation of their homeland – North Borneo (Sabah).
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“This is one of the most lasting legacies of the Kinabalu Guerrillas and the Uprising. A very exceptional adventure – one that could even be described as daring and reckless – but one that’s courageous, doing something they believed to be right – to defend their community’s livelihood, dignity against being conscripted for war, slavery and comfort womanhood and their homeland against a common evil enemy.
“The fact is these men, who were not militarily trained, with little organisational skills, were able to put together a resistance group against the Japanese. They took over Jesselton for a night before retiring to Mansiang in Menggatal.
“Today marks the 75th anniversary of the execution of the guerrillas and their sympathisers – at the morning memorial ceremony at the Petagas War Memorial – 389 names listed – those who were executed at Petagas and those who died in Labuan.
“Many others who perished in the jungle or in the prisons as well as the islanders who were massacred on Sulug and Mantanani islands did not have their names inscribed. This book is also dedicated to their memories.”
Opus Publication’s Managing Director Datuk Chan Chew Lun paid tribute to the heroes, saying the darkest and brightest moments of our history should be well documented for posterity, for all the valuable lessons that history may impart.
On the eve of Oct. 10, 1943, prior to the Chinese National Day, Albert Kwok decided to begin their attack, known as the ‘Double Tenth Revolt’ with some 300 guerrilla fighters.
“The attack resulted in more than 60 Japanese troops being killed. Following that, Kwok managed to take over temporary control of Tuaran, Menggatal and Jesselton.
“Unfortunately, as the guerrillas were ill-equipped, the Japanese reinforcement troops from Kuching, that arrived three days later, forced them to retreat into the hills behind Menggatal. Fighting continued for more than two months, with the Japanese finally changing their tactics by threatening to execute 400 civilians in Shantung Valley in Luyang, if the group refused to surrender.
“Kwok and several of the other leaders surrendered and were detained by the Japanese. Every year, January 21 is a very sad day for the families of the fallen heroes and for all of us who know this incident.
“It is for this very reason that the launching of this book is being scheduled today, when 75 years ago, the leader of the Kinabalu Guerrillas, Albert Kwok, with other leaders – Charles Peter, Tsen Tsau Kong, Kong Tze Phui, Li Tet Phui – were ruthlessly beheaded with katana swords by the Japanese, while the other 171 were killed by machine guns at Petagas.”Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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