Japanese occupation : Sarawak, 1941-1945 9789834403010

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Also by Gabriel Tan Indonesian Confrontation and Sarawak Communist Insurgency 1963-1966. Japanese Occupation Sarawak —a passing glimpse William Tan of Sarawak - Architect, Politician, Social Worker Sarawak Under the Throes of War — Reflection of a ‘Z ’ Special Force Operative By A. Lim Beng Hai Ex- Semut I & II Co-Author - Gabriel Tan

(To be published soon)

Japanese Occupation Sarawak 1941 - 1945 by

GABRIEL TAN Revised Edition

Penerbitan Sehati Sdn Bhd Kuching, Sarawak 2009

Publisher Penerbitan Sehati Sdn Bhd No. 7, Jalan Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui 93300 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: 082-246999 Fax:082-256510 Copyright @ Gabriel Tan Soon Hock, 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by means without the written permission of Penerbitan Sehati Sdn. Bhd. Revised edition 2009 Printer The Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd Lot 231. Jalan Nipah, Off Jalan Abell Utara, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tan, Gabriel Soon Hock Title: Subtitle ISBN 978-983-44030-1-0 History-Malaysia-Sarawak DDC 959-522

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Dedication To all who heroically laid down their lives for Sarawak during the Invasion and Occupation so we can live in peace.

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Contents Forew ord Preface Introducing Saraw ak (w ith m ap) 1

viii x xiii

School Starts W ith Japanese N ational A nthem and B ow B efore F l a g ...............................................

1

2

O rder To Fly T he Japanese F l a g ..........................................

13

3

T he G reen C a m p a ig n .............................................................

21

4

The L ong M a r c h .......................................................................

32

5

D iving F o r S o a p .......................................................................

42

6

T he Snail A nd Rat S c o u rg e ...................................................

50

7

Japanese P erm itted G am bling F a r m s .................................

56

8

B om bs And N aked “ M adonnas” .........................................

65

9

Traitor, R ape A nd T o rtu re ......................................................

76

10

Japanese A void A ir R aid S h e lte r s ......................................

86

B adm inton K ept H im A live

96

12

T ribute To P ioneer Y orioka J i n j a ........................................ 106

13

Japanese B atang Sadong B r id g e ......................................... 114

14

A ustralian W ar M useum H as S araw ak ’s W W II R elics . 123

15

A ussies Shed L ight O n Saraw ak H is to r y ......................... 128

16

A Japanese In Love W ith S a ra w a k ....................................

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R A A F L iberator B om ber M issing A fter M is s io n .......... 138 O ver Batu Law i

18

Saraw ak H ero Fought In M alaya A gainst J a p a n e s e ...... 145

19

Batu L intang C am p M e m o ria l............................................

154

20

L ong N aw ang M assacre... In Search O f .......................... “Tuan M urphy”

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C onclusion - T he S u rre n d e r................................................

172

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FOREWORD

he passage of time can erase memories of events significant to our country.

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It is crucial therefore for us to recount those situations so lessons can be learnt from them. This applies as in the case of this book of happenings more than half a century ago. Interest on what took place then has never waned. It is kept alive and with more findings by local and foreign authors who are passionate on the Japanese Occupation of Sarawak 1941-1945 through painstaking research. Many untold stories about the good, bad and the ugly sides of the war have surfaced for general reading and as a useful reference for students of history. I congratulate Gabriel Tan, a well-known Sarawak veteran journalist, for piecing together valuable works of his personal experience and observation as a young boy from day one of the Japense Occupation of Sarawak until the liberation in September 1945. Gabriel therefore stands out as the only Sarawak author, to pen in English, this magnificent revised version of a book of wide appeal.

This volume is therefore unique in that it serves as a reminder of a dark chapter of World War Two. I wish to thank members of the Research and Resource Committee for their continuous close-knit effort to bring about new publication through Penerbitan Sehati Sdn. Bhd. It is one of our intentions to help improve and increase the repository on Sarawak history.

IX

PREFACE

The President of Sharp Corporation Japan, Mr. Katsuhiko Machida, after receiving the 1st edition of “Japanese Occupation Sarawak” from author Gabriel Tan in Osaka, Japan

he first edition of Japanese Occupation Sarawak has aroused great interest in that it covers a broad spectrum of events as they happened during the war years.

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There are still much to be discovered for inclusion in that part of our history. Unfortunately many with enthralling accounts are too shy to share the tales, for reasons best known to themselves or have passed on. So, to further fill some blanks this revised edition has brought in stories which otherwise would be forever forgotten.

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It is very important that the present and future generations be reminded on certain segments of past events which have impacted the lives of thousands. War stories have their horrors, atrocities but there are also lasting goodwill and friendship struck for life. Many Japanese officers who had served in Sarawak were so attached to this land and its people that they kept coming back for visits. They formed the Japan-Sarawak Friendly Association in Japan. In similar vein many members of the Australian Returned Soldiers’ League (RSL) who had seen campaign in Borneo used to return to the island. Some of them were interned in the POW Camp at Batu Lintang in Kuching, Sarawak and others landed in Sarawak to liberate it from the Japanese. Today we have the Wartime Memorial Monument and the Mini Museum appropriately within the complex of the Batu Lintang Teachers’ Training Institute to remind us of those turbulent times, raw courage to survive and sacrifices. There is now a greater need to maintain the memories and memorials of Australian troops involvement in the war in Sarawak and Sabah. This is because m any of the younger generation in A u stralia and other Commonwealth countries are without any idea of their nations’ connection with these two East Malaysia States during the Japanese Occupation and the Indonesian Confrontation. This book is largely based on my own experience and observation from day one till the end of the Occupation. I am thus the only author to write on an unforgettable era as I walked through the entire episode. Other authors, local and foreign however only wrote about the subject through research but never in person wade in the tunnel of darkness. I am very grateful to YB Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Chairman SUPP Research and Resource Centre/Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development xi

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and Communications, Sarawak, for his interest to see this book goes to print for the benefit of the masses. Indeed he is giving a personal touch to all publications now and in the future by Penerbitan Sehati Sdn. Bhd. To all members of SUPP R & R Centre, Professor Dr. Bob Reece, Faculty of Social Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Mr. Lim Kian Hock and Mr. Francis Chan for their suggestions and advice and Mr. Desmond Lo of SUPP Hqrs. for the design of the cover for this book and Ms. Melissa Murphy for her contribution about her grandfather killed in Long Nawang massacre. I wish to single out for special mention prominent businessman-cumauthor Mr. Chai Foh Chin for taking precious time to enhance this book. Firstly, for technical advice on the cover design of this volume. Secondly, for his generosity in perm itting me to freely use from his personal collection, several of very rare documents to be shared with readers of this book. A special thank you to Librarian Mr. Christopher Bernard Solosa for his untiring effort to ensure this project gets meticulously through and Miss Hon Phik Chen for her assistance in typing some of the texts for this book. An appreciation is in order to my wife, Edith Jessie de Rozario and grandson, Bertrand Tan for their patience and errand running to help put this book on the assembly line. Happy Reading! GABRIEL TAN

SARAWAK IN BRIEF SARAWAK, the Land of Hornbills, the Land of Many Rivers has a colourful history. And just as colourful are its group of 24 ethnic groups perfectly blended and living in harmony with universally known hospitality and friendliness. Sarawak was a dependency of the Sultanate of Brunei from the 15th century. The course of history began to alter with the arrival of James Brooke in Kuching at a time of civil unrest. He was installed Rajah of Sarawak on September 18th 1842. It was the beginning of the rule of the White Rajahs with James Brooke to his nephew Charles Brooke and his son Charles Vyner for 100 years. The Japanese occupied Sarawak in December, 1941. After the Australian 9th Army Division liberated Sarawak in September, 1945 the State came under British Military Administration. It was ceded to Britain on July 1, 1946. When Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963 Sarawak became a part of Malaysia, thus achieving independence. Sarawak has a land area of 124,450 sq km [48,250 square miles] on the northwest coast of the Island of Borneo. Its indented and interrupted coastline is about 800 km long. The greatest distance inland from the coast is 240 km. The highest point in Sarawak is Murud, 2424 metre (8,000 feet). It has a population of 2 million. It is the largest of 13 States in Malaysia and shares Borneo with the Malaysian State of Sabah, the Sultanate of Brunei and the Indonesian Province of Kalimantan. Sarawak’s climate, with heavy rainfall, uniform high temperature and high humidity, is responsible for her forest cover. Daily temperatures range between 23 degrees Centigrade and 32 degrees Centigrade throughout the year in the lowlands.

Sarawak has a commodity based company. It is a major exporter of LNG, petroleum, timber and agricultural products. Manufacturing is rapidly increasing, the emphasis is on processing of commodities and, for the future, electronics, information technology and bio-technology.

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Chapter 1

SCHOOL STARTS WITH JAPANESE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND BOW BEFORE FLAG

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ooking back over the war years when Sarawak was occupied by the Japanese December 16, 1941 to September 11, 1945 was full of mixed recollections.

Leaving out the atrocities of war, I am beginning this series on some of the day-to-day observations when the Japanese Imperial Army marched into Kuching on December 24, 1941. These are some o f the things never written about. However, there were lessons to be learned from these experiences which could even be translated and re-mould to fit today’s progressive framework.

Signs of war Along the narrow winding road from Kuching to the airport in late 1940 army trucks rumbled with Punjabi soldiers in them were a new sight. The soldiers were billeted at a camp near the airport. The Punjabi soldiers were never popular among the people in the M ile 7 area and a few rape cases were attributed to them. A Beat the Retreat as well as a Military Tattoo by Punjabi troops were once held on the padang of the then Police barracks at Jalan Badruddin. Before the event began an Indian prince, who was with the British army was accorded the honour of inspecting the guard of 1

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honour. He came all the way from New Delhi for the occasion. He was dressed in traditional garb with turban and all. The barracks now house the Royal Malaysian Police Headquarters, Sarawak Component. Many children of policemen were born at the barracks. The large open field where the Retreat was held was no more there as it had been occupied by buildings. Similarly the football pitch of St Joseph’s School next to it had also gone because o f school expansion programme. Signs o f war were everywhere. The Air Raid Precaution unit [ARP1 was set up. It was almost similar to the Civil Defence Corps. Black­ out rehearsals were carried out following the blare from sirens. Men of the ARP with steel helmets and a pouch containing gas mask and torchlights would go on patrol. Their duties included the overseeing o f the people to take proper cover in the event o f an air raid and to help control the crowd should there be a blaze due to bombing. Then there was the all-clear sound from the siren when the people would emerge from air-raid shelters and other hidings. The lights would be on again. There were no night raids by Japanese Dive Bombers or Betty bombers as they were known over Kuching other than a raid during broad daylight on Decem ber 19, 1941. For the boarders at St Thom as’ and St Joseph’s schools the black out drills were god sent moments to file out of their dormitories to go downstairs for chit­ chats. It was real fun for them.

Prelude to invasion A real taste of an impending Japanese invasion was felt that day, December 19, 1941, when bombs hit the Borneo Com pany’s fuel dump by the Sarawak River. The bombs missed the kerosene store just across the road. Had this store been hit the Tua Pek Kong temple just beside it would certainly be destroyed too. The fuel dump that was hit was the spot near the River Cafe o f Kuching Waterfront and formerly the Tan Boon Tien w harf and petrol kiosk. The fuel was drums of benzine for use by m otor vehicles. Black plumes of smoke 2

JAPANESE O CCUPATION

from the burning petrol could be seen for miles. There were some casualties from the bombing o f Kuching that day but the exact figure was never established. The first wave of nine Betty flew low over the Kuching airfield also known as Kuching aerodrome and dropped a few bombs. There was no necessity to really destroy the aerodrome as in the first place there were no British planes on the ground and secondly, the airfield would be left serviceable for the enemy aircraft to land later. The airfield was however blown up by the British to deny the Japanese from using it. The second wave of seven Betty dropped a num ber of incendiary or anti-personnel bombs over a wide area of Kuching. The air raid rehearsals paid off as during the bombings the people knew exactly what to do without panicking. Another eminent sign of the war was the straffing of a freighter MV LIPIS, off the coast of Sarawak by Japanese aircraft and also the Rajah’s yacht, th MAIMUNAH. They escaped being sunk and steamed back to Kuching to berth at Ban Hock Wharf. Some sailors and officers on the MV LIPIS were killed and wounded and bloodstains could be seen on the deck. They attracted curious crowds who crammed the wharf for closer look. In fact a few days before the bombing of the fuel dump, not the intended target it was said later, half a dozen Dive Bombers roared low over Kuching without firing a shot or dropping a bomb. The first o f these reconnaissance flight was on D ecem ber 13, 1941 and thereafter there were other fly-past over the town. No bombs were dropped or straffing done from machine guns of the aircraft. They just flew by and many people waved at them thinking they were Dutch airplanes. Dutch aircraft did fly over Kuching a number of times before then but at a higher attitute. The boarders of St Joseph’s School were having their lunch in the refectory. Seated in rows at long tables they were having rice, red bean soup, fried ‘cekor m anis’ and slices of salted tenggiri [mackerel]. The din of the low-flying aircraft was so 3

CHAPTER 1

loud that the boarders dashed out o f the refectory to wave at the aircraft. It was only after the plances flew past several times that it was realised these were Japanese. They did not rush for cover but returned to continue their lunch. They were not supposed to leave the refectory but at that moment even the priest who supervised the lunch could not control them. In fact the priest him self joined the students to look at the planes. The whole population of the town in fact craned their necks skyward to look at the planes as after all they too did not know those were hostile aircraft and the air raid siren never sounded anyway. The dry run by the Japanese bombers was followed by the actual bombing on December 19,1941. As could be seen the Japanese never had the intention of raining bombs on Kuching otherwise the damage could be very extensive. They could have dropped their bombs by taking their sweet time as Kuching had no air-cover. There were no RAF aircraft to intercept them. Kuching was just a sitting duck when it came to air attack. It had no air defence. Enemy aircraft could just come and go as they wish. They could choose any target to straff or bomb. The Japanese war planes did make a few other sorties but no great damage was caused.

Effortless landing The landing of troops on Saraw ak was also faced with minimal resistence. This was due to the excellent military intelligence the Japanese had. They knew exactly where to head for upon landing from the boats after high speed rides along the Sarawak River from Sibu Laut and by land along the Lundu road. An example of how the Japanese got all necessary details for the invasion was partly due to a m iddle-aged Japanese itinerant toy and shirt vendor. He plied his wares all over Kuching including Jalan Pisang, Jalan Rubber and Satok. Sometimes he could be seen at Mile 4

JAPANESE OCCUPATIO N

7 where the airfield was. He was popular with the children. He was jovial. He attracted would-be buyers by playing on a harm onica [Butterfly brand]. No sooner had the Japanese troops landed in Kuching this same vendor was transformed. He was in army uniform with the rank of captain and looked smart. It could be deduced he must have secretly filed back to his bosses in Tokyo much information such as troop m ovement and how defenceless Kuching was. How many people still remember this Japanese officer? I am sure many still do. A few men who had once rediculed this under-cover army captain before were soundly slapped and made to apologise. One school teacher from Taiw an was also know n to send m ilitary information to Japan before the landing.

Lack of air defence exposed again Years later the total lack of air cover for Kuching was exposed again. On February 1, 1964 during Confrontation under a faint moonlight night and light rain an Indonesian Air Force Russian built piston driven Badger aircraft flew over Kuching without being intercepted. It circled low over Kuching and dropped thousands of leaflets over the town. A few un-opened bundles of the leaflets landed on kampungs across river. Some leaflets fell on the M useum ground and Bukit M ata Kucing. The leaflets bore the colours of the Indonesian flag of Red and White. They were signed in Jakarta on January 30, 1964, by Sukarno in his capacity as “PRESIDEN/PANGLIMA TERTINGGI/ PEMIMPIN BESAR REVOLUSI REPUBLIC INDONESIA”. The leaflets c alled fo r a c easefire and a signal fo r the ending o f Confrontation. The air-drop of leaflets was to prove how easy it was for enemy aircraft to intrude so far into Sarawak. Imagine if instead o f leaflets they were bombs that night.

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Blessing in disguise Kuching was poorly defended although there were signs that the Japanese would invade Sarawak. This perhaps was a good thing, military speaking, as otherwise with stiff resistence there would have been heavy casualties for both civilians and soldiers as well as properties. Some fierce fighting did take place near the airfield though but it was a brief encounter in military terms. In any case Kuching was not prepared for long drawn out battles. Had there been fierce fig h tin g perhaps m uch of K u c h in g ’s old build in g s including shophouses would be destroyed. It would be a very sad affair. Today, Kuching still prides itself with many old shops and buildings, some with beautiful facades and masonary work. Indeed efforts are being made to preserve many of these buildings. Little tanks nicknamed Crab Tanks [actually Japanese Type 95 Light Tank equipped with a heavy machine-gun] were to be seen rattling along Kuching roads soon after the Japanese landed. These light armoured machines carried two, the driver and a gunner. Military trucks this time rounds were Japanese not Punjabis. Noisy soldiers would wave at pedestrians and shouted “banzai, banzai”.

War mementoes One of these little tanks could be seen at the War Memorial M useum in Canberra, Australia. In fact many items from Sarawak during the war period are housed in this museum. For instance, there are a few pairs of slippers, and shoes made in Sibu and Kuching from rubber smoked sheets, Japanese army steel helmets, boots and rifles among other exhibits found in the museum. One of the most interesting items is a crude tin nailed to a wooden block with two handles made from tin sheets with the letters “M ELBOURNE CUP” carved into it. This was obviously the work of Australian POWs who made the cup to remind them of the world famous Melbourne Cup horse race on the first Tuesday of November every year at the Flemington race course. 6

JAPANESE O CCUPATION

Im agine the M elbourne Cup fashioned inside the Batu Lintang Concentration Camp. A most precious item at the museum where Saraw ak is concerned is perhaps the “ sam urai” sword that once belonged to Major-General Hiryoe Yamamura, Commanding General, Jap an ese F o rces K uching. H e handed over the sw ord to the commander o f the Australian 9th Division, Brigadier Thomas Charles Eastick during the surrender ceremony on board the HMAS corvette, the K A PU NDA , at Pending Point on Septem ber 15, 1945. The Japanese surrender m arking the end o f the war in the Asian-Pacific region was signed on board the battleship USS M ISSOURI in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

Wartime schools Schools which were not requisitioned by the military were allowed to open again to teach the Japanese language. Simple textbooks in Kata-kana were given from the primary stage. For the secondary stage it was in Hira-kana and Kanji. W hen the morning bell rang students would assemble in lines of two according to grades. They would stand at attention as the Japanese flag was raised and sang the Japanese national anthem, the Kimi-gayu. At the end of which they would bow three times before the flag and then marched to their respective classrooms. Singing o f the anthem was compulsory. Indeed within a very short time true to military discipline the Kimi-ga-yu was on the lips of everyone. This was in stark contrast to the then Sarawak State anthem “Fair Land Sarawak” which very few had heard let alone sing because there were few public functions warranting the playing o f “Fair Land Sarawak” which had a fairly lively marching beat. Besides it was never compulsory to sing the Sarawak anthem during the Rajah period in school. In schools with large halls the morning assembly was held there. And, 7

CHAPTER 1

instead of flag-raising a huge Japanese flag was permanently fixed on the stage wall. Students had to bow before it after singing the anthem. This was an effective way to get everyone, starting from young, to be able to know and sing the Japanese national anthem and at the same time for them to honour and respect the flag. Students were taught how to march and to do physical exercise as part of the extra activities. M arching and foot-frills had the subtlety to make the students obeying command. Discipline was bordering on militant in school during the Japanese Occupation of Sarawak. Despite the short supply of textile during the war students were made to wear uniforms. It was white short, white shirt with two breast pockets and a strap one each shoulder. For the girls it was white blouse and skirt but no peak cap. The boys had to wear a white peak cap with a Blue Sakura when they were in primary classes. It was replaced with a Red Sakura for secondary students. M any students burnt the uniform together with textbooks in a jubilant frenzy on hearing the defeat of Japan. These would have been good museum pieces. Could some people still have these items today. Those activities in school — the singing of the anthem, bowing before the flag, the march training — during the Occupation period had ingrained on the students a good deal of discipline and “to be patriotic to Japan and acknowledge the Em peror as the supreme ruler” or at least that was what the Japanese attempted to do.

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JAPANESE OCCUPATION

General Hedeki Tajo, Prime Minister of Japan, at Kuching airfield on July 7th 1943.

Surrendered Japanese soldiers on way to a camp at Krokong, Bau District. They were allowed to retain their rifle for selfdefence in case of attact by Dayaks.

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iH IIIP IP IIf 11 It was school as usual for many children during the Japanese Occupation. Certificates of Proficiency were awarded to students who completed the higher secondary grade. Some of these graduates were admitted to teachers’ colleges. Here is the certificate awarded in 1942 to one Kueh Yian Chiang by the principal of Kuching Japanese Language School. (Courtesy: Chai Foh Chin)

JAPANESE O CCUPATION

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In Malaysia there is an all important document the Mykad or simply known as Identity Card or 1C. During the Japanese Occupation it was absolutely for safety reasons, to carry some sort of identification papers issued by the Japanese Administration depending on the nature of your work. This identity by the Police was issued in Kuching to a Mr. Chan, 27 years. (Courtesy: Chai Foh Chin) 11

CHAPTER 1

passport. ft*#*.******#*

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Instrument of Surrender signed by Gen Yamamura and accepted by Brigadier Eastick.

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JAPANESE O CCUPATION

General Yamamura who signed surrender document.

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CHAPTER 21

Re-produced here is the Foreword for the First Edition of Japanese Occupation Sarawak ooks on the history of Sarawak written and published during the post-independence era are still a rarity today. Hence, the arrival of new titles is a source of pride and joy to Malaysians in Sarawak, especially if the materials have been researched and written by Sarawakians with first-hand experience and insight into some of the reported episodes.

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I must commend Gabriel Tan, a senior journalist, for his interest and untiring efforts to produce this publication. I am sure he must have spent long hours pouring over heaps of archival materials on the Japanese Occupation and interviewing people from different walks of life, many of whom witnessed the atrocities of the period. As we join the rest of Malaysia in forging ahead aggressively towards the realisation of Vision 2020 and attainment of a Development Nation status, it is important that we do not lose our sense of history. To lose it will mean losing our sense of place and belonging in history. This publication will undoubtedly add to the embellishment of the repository on Sarawak history. I hope it will be used widely by students of history as one of their major reference books. To those who are interested in the history of pre-independent Sarawak, I recommend this book for resourceful reading. Thank you.

/s Datuk Abdul Wahab Haji Dolah Former Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 1997 182

JAPANESE O CCUPATION

The Author

GABRIEL TAN SOON HOCK May this book serve as a Goodwill Bridge between Australia-Sarawak-Sabah-Japan

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