Professor Gary Lit Shares Untold Stories of Japanese Occupation in Malaya - Testimonies Of War Survivors And Witnesses

Professor Gary Lit and the war survivors (l/r) Chong Su Ha, Tham Yoong Yam, Tan Aik Hong, Lin Yeow Chang

Professor Gary Lit who regularly give talks of the Japanese occupation years added another feature by asking War Survivors to come forward to relate their own war time experiences to an audience. 

Included in the audeience was Madam Ding Qiao, the Vice Consul-General of the Peoples Republic of China in Penang to officially open the Chinese section at the Peace Gallery.

Gary in his opening address said that 81years ago Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of the Japanese army. In Malaya, after 3 years and 8 months the war came to an end. But for the war survivors the memory lingers. The survivors were Mdm Chong Su Ha, Mr Tham Yoong Yam,  Mr Tan Aik Hong and Mdm Lin Yeow Chang. We are proud and privileged to have them today and we need to honor them.We must share these survivors’ testimony because we are the last link to sharing some of the past. 

Professor Gary addressing his audience at  his Peace Gallery 

The survivors from Perak and one from Johore were young in their puberty years when the war broke out. All of them experienced fear and trauma when young. One of them although advanced in age and travelled extensively has refused to visit Japan.

Chong Su Har was 7 when she experienced the trauma of war. She lived in Papan. At the onset of the war her parents left Papan to hide in the hills at the Kledang range. During the escape she hurt her foot. Instead of seeking help from members of her family she persevered on although with great suffering until the family reached their destination. Although she never experienced the cruelty of the Japanese personally she felt the fear all those years. After the war she became a teacher and instilled courage in her students to rebel against the war of any form.

Tan Aik Hong comes from Johore. His father was captured by the Japanese to Ayer Hitam and used as a forced labourer. He was rescued but died due to his weakness. Later

the family moved closer to town. There three Japanese soldiers came but they were Taiwanese because they spoke Hokkien. One of the soldiers grabbed my 13 year old sister. She somehow broke free and said ‘seesua’ meaning ‘death so be it’ and ran off into the jungle. My Eurasian neighbour, mother, father and daughter. that lived in a bungalow near us. Their daughter was raped by the soldiers and died. Their bungalow became haunted. Each time I passed the police station I would hear screaming meaning prisoners were being tortured.

There is one instance the whole country is not aware of and hearing for the 1^st time. One night the whole population of Kluang was forced at gunpoint to gather at the towns football field. The field was surrounded by machine guns.  Towards morning the townspeople were allowed to go to the field. My mother, my young 10yo brother, 2yo sister, my married sister and husband were in the field and were massacred. I often think if the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki could have prevented the massacre from being carried out in Kluang. “I don’t feel sorry for the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki”.  Until today the Japanese have never admitted to their atrocities neither have they apologised for their actions.

Tham Yoong Yam was under 10 years of age when the war occurred. His family moved from Tanjong Malim to Malim Nawar living in a jungle area. 

One afternoon my sister returned crying bitterly. She related that Japanese soldiers went to the tin mine area where they were and cornered my sister and another woman. They were raped but luckily not killed. Thankfully my sister has passed on but that incident changed  her whole life. I too changed. My wife and I have travelled around the world these last few years but I can never visit Japan. I only have a Japanese SONY tv all others are China made. I personally saw Japanese cruelty. Villagers in my area were forced to dig their own grave and were immediately beheaded or shot. At  Kampar town at the field opposite the Anglo Chinese School  there were residents who found  life too hard that they would take their own lives by slitting their throats.  I don’t love Japan. Japan is nice but I cannot visit it. The memory is bitter and I cannot forget. I am 90years old. When I close my eyes I think of my sister and the atrocities they did. I am glad for this event so we don’t forget the past.

Professor Gary added that Japanese atrocities was not limited to China. In Malaya General Yamashita aka the Tiger of Malaya commited the terrible ‘Sook Ching which killed more than 350K Chinese. “ We should forgive BUT we should never forget”. He then asked for 1 minute silence for the war victims whether WWII or the recent  victims of the Iran/ US conflict.

..the audience observing one minute silence ....

The official opening of the Chinese Section in Peace Gallery 

Professor Gary (centre), on his left Madam Ding Qiao Vice-Consul General followed by former Ipoh Mayor Dato Roshidi Hashim 

Vice Consul-General, Ding Qiao said that she was honoured and privileged to be here today. Professor Gary is doing a good job of keeping the memory alive. I speak for the Chinese people all over Asia.  After so many years the Japanese government has not officially apologised for their actions. As such we must remind people that we should share the peace and remind those who died for our generation.

The audience as usual was elderly but very interested and could identify with the survivors. There was also the presence of the very lovely and colorful Nyonyas led by Dato' Lillian Tong who brightened up the hall with their Baju Kebaya. 

VIP's, guests, family and friends take a group photo before going up to the Peace Gallery

(l) Gary and Ding Qiao (r) Ding Qiao gives a souvenir to Tan Aik Hong

the audience present at the Peace Gallery.  .....

(l)YLCO team and the Nyonya's from Penang. Seated 4th from left Dato Lillian Tong (r) Gary Lit and relatives

Lady in the blue Baju Kebaya is Chung Lai Yin the grand daughter of Kapitan China  Chung Keng Quee

It was certainly a most interesting morning.

JAG

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J