KUCHING, Sept 11 — The Sarawak World War II Liberation Monument at Pending Point was unveiled today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the state’s liberation from Japanese occupation.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who officiated at the ceremony, said the monument stands as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by Allied forces and Sarawakians during the dark years of occupation from 1941 to 1945.
“On September 11, 1945, aboard the Australian naval vessel HMAS Kapunda, Brigadier-General Thomas Eastick accepted the surrender of Japanese General Hiyoe Yamamura.
“Those surrenders ended three and a half years of hardship and fear under occupation and opened the door to rebuilding Sarawak’s future.
“It was a turning point that would shape the course of our state’s history,” he said during the ceremony at Pending Point, Pending Jetty Hawker Centre here.
Dr Sim stressed that the monument not only honours the courage of those who fought and suffered but also serves as a lesson for future generations.
“The younger generation must understand that the opportunities they enjoy today were paid for with sacrifice and courage.
“The events this week, the unveiling of this monument, the re-enactment at Sim Kheng Hong Wharf, the commemoration at Batu Lintang, are not just ceremonies. They are lessons in history and responsibility,” he said.
He commended Kuching South City Council (MBKS), led by mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, for always thinking beyond traditional municipal services.
In his welcoming remarks, Wee said MBKS envisioned the monument not just as a site of remembrance, but as part of a broader heritage effort to connect history, identity, and tourism.
“When I assumed office as mayor in 2019, I dreamt of creating more than just a tourism product. I dreamt of a landmark that binds economy with memory and progress with heritage.
“I remember vividly sitting with (Sarawak heritage activist) Datuk Lim Kian Hock, identifying this very location as a site of remembrance. Then came the pandemic, a storm that halted our plans and yet, even then, we fought to preserve memory by restoring the plaque at the World War II Memorial Clock Tower.
“And now, on this historic Sept 11, 2025, 80 years since Sarawak was liberated, we fulfil that dream,” he said.
Wee said MBKS plans to weave a Heritage War Trail linking Batu Lintang, Padungan, and Pending.
He stressed the council is committed to preserving landmarks such as the Padungan Clock Tower in their original commemorative role, ensuring that ordinary streets in Kuching become living history and continue to draw both tourists and locals to reflect on Sarawak’s wartime sacrifices.
The ceremony also featured a handover of a replica Instrument of Surrender, wreath-laying, a message from the MBKS Child Council, and the Ode of Remembrance led by veterans.
Among those present were Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy High Commissioner of Australia Simon Fellows; and Michael Eastick — the grandson of Kuching Force commander Brig Gen Sir Thomas Eastick. — The Borneo Post
