KOTA KINABALU – A local tour guide, Tham Yau Kong, has received a letter of appreciation from the Australian High Commission for his contribution in researching and identifying the route of the Sandakan-Ranau death march during the Japanese occupation.
The Sandakan-Ranau death march was the route used by the Japanese army to move Australian and British prisoners of war, and led to the deaths of 2,428 prisoners during the march in 1945.
Bernama reported that TKY Adventure Tours manager Tham, 60, received the letter signed by the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski.
Dated April 29, the commendation was presented by the Australian honorary consul to Sabah, Datuk Andrew Sim, recently.
The letter said that his research had created new interest about chapters in Australian military history that have yet to be explored, especially the Sandakan-Ranau death march, and helped to provide valuable insight into the World War II incident that occurred in Sabah.
One of the interested parties is PETRA Vision Works, which plans to document the event in the live-action film Angel of Sandakan, the brainchild of award winning actor and filmmaker Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan.
Afdlin, who is PETRA Media chief executive, has shone a light on the inner workings of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).
He revealed that it initially greenlighted the movie, even giving a generous grant to develop a script, but subsequently pulled the plug three weeks after Afdlin joined PKR.
Despite approaching Afdlin for the film, which is Malaysia’s best shot in its Road to the Oscars project, Finas chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid now says the film did not meet several criteria.
This is also despite that Malaysia even signed an agreement with Australia in 2018 to develop film production that would benefit both countries.
Finas has yet to give a plausible reply to queries over its U-turn, while CEO and actor Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri has refused to respond to requests for an explanation.
Meanwhile, Tham’s letter indicated also that his research had strengthened Australia-Malaysia military and community ties, promoted bilateral relations, and helped preserve the memory and courage of the fallen heroes, and their contributions to the liberation of Malaysia.
“The Sandakan-Ranau death march began at the Sandakan prison camp at Batu 8, ended at the Ranau prison camp, spanning a total distance of 265km, and took 10 days to complete,” he said.
Tham said that he was appointed by the non-government organisation Sabah Society to identify the route, based on maps drawn by a team searching for war graves in 1947, and his expedition to identify the route lasted from 2005 to 2006.
“In-depth information and details provided by villagers were the main sources in locating the Sandakan-Ranau death march route...wartime artefacts and remains were found in Lolosing Forest, which is a restricted area as it was the Japanese army’s ammunition dump,” he said.
He added that the historic Sandakan-Ranau route was opened officially in March 2006, and documented by ABC Channel Nine, an Australian television channel.
Tham hoped that the route would be promoted as a tourism product so that Sabah would be better known in the historical tourism sector as being capable of attracting Australian and British tourists.
“Locals are less interested in historical tourism compared with the Australians and British, especially those from the military who enjoy exploring the route,” he said.
He added that he felt lucky to have had the opportunity to personally show part of the trail to Goledzinowski during his visit to Sabah from August 15 to 16 last year, in conjunction with Sandakan Memorial Day. – The Vibes, May 12, 2021
