IT was a sombre gathering as community leaders and members of the public came together to remember the Nanyang mechanic drivers who lost their lives during the Anti-Japanese War and civilians who perished during World War II.
The annual memorial ceremony in Air Itam at 11.11am sharp today also served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the wartime heroes and the importance of preserving peace for future generations.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present, said peace should never be taken for granted, as Penang had endured more than three years of hardship during the Japanese Occupation.
“Today, peace means being able to go to work and school every day and return home safely at night. However, for Penangites who lived through the Japanese Occupation, such a peaceful life was once something they could only hope for.
“Peace did not come easily, and we should never take it for granted,” he said in his speech.
Chow said more than 3,000 young Chinese from Southeast Asia had responded to the call to support China’s war effort against Japanese aggression more than 80 years ago.
Among them were volunteers from Penang who drove vehicles, repaired trucks and transported supplies along the Burma Road, despite facing treacherous mountain routes and Japanese air raids.
“More than 1,000 of these mechanic drivers never returned home,” he said.
Chow said younger generations should be encouraged to learn about the sacrifices made by the wartime volunteers through visits to memorials and history museums.
“By understanding the hardships endured by these people, they will better appreciate the peace we enjoy today,” he said.
He also said Penang’s multiracial harmony depended on mutual respect, understanding and a willingness to resolve differences through discussion.
“We must continue to cherish this spirit of inclusiveness and firmly reject hatred and violence against others,” he said.
Chow added that the state government would continue to support Chinese community organisations and history museums in preserving historical records, promoting historical education and organising memorial ceremonies.
He said the state government would also continue to support Chinese education while ensuring that younger generations had opportunities to learn about history and appreciate the importance of peace.
Meanwhile, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying allocated RM10,000 for this year’s memorial ceremony.
Lim, who is also Tanjong MP, said the allocation was channelled through the ministry to support the annual commemorative event.
She said the ceremony played an important role in ensuring that younger generations understood the sacrifices made by the Nanyang mechanic drivers and appreciated the importance of peace.
“War is not merely a conflict between nations. Behind every casualty figure is a family, a life and an irreversible loss,” she said.
Lim said the country’s multiracial harmony must be protected through mutual respect, understanding and rational communication.
Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) chairman Tan Sri Prof Dr Tan Khoon Hai said the annual memorial ceremony was not merely an event to commemorate the past, but also a commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices of the Nanyang mechanic drivers were not forgotten.
He said younger generations, having grown up in peaceful environments, might only know about war through textbooks, making it important to preserve historical records and share the stories of those who had sacrificed their lives.
“Hence, we commemorate history not to perpetuate hatred, but to cherish peace. We remember past suffering not to create divisions, but to prevent such tragedies from happening again,” he said.
Tan received the Distinguished Meritorious Service Award from the World Governance and Strategic Cooperation International Organisation yesterday in recognition of his contributions to international relations, social development and public service.
The ceremony was attended by a representative of China’s Consulate-General in Penang, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillors Visvenathan Tangavello, Tan Soo Siang, Memorial Monument Management Committee acting chairman Khian Hock Leong and schools’ representatives.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Law Suun Ting