Commemorating 80 years of liberation at Batu Lintang POW Camp
- BT
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
KUCHING, 11 September 2025: The 80th anniversary of Sarawak’s liberation from Japanese occupation was commemorated earlier today at the Batu Lintang Teacher’s Training Institute. Formerly the Batu Lintang Prisoner of War and Internment Camp, the site is now home to the Memorial Square, which serves not only as a reminder of not only its history, but also resilience and peace.
Today’s memorial was attended by Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting, who represented the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia, Dato Sri Hajah Nancy binti Shukri, South Kuching Mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Simon Fellows and Sarawak Tourism Federation President, Audry Wan Ullok, among others.
“80 years ago, within these very walls, soldiers, civilians and families, among them Australians, New Zealanders, British, Canadian and Sarawakians, endured unimaginable hardship. Yet, in the face of cruelty, they held on with remarkable resilience, courage and hope for liberation. Many paid the ultimate price. Today, we gather not only to commemorate Sarawak’s liberation from Japanese occupation, but also to honour the memory of all who suffered and perished, and to pay tribute to the veterans and survivors whose strength of spirit inspires us still,” said Abdul Karim in his speech, which was read by Ting.
Today’s memorial is not only a commemoration of liberty, but also a rededication of the commitment for unity and peace, ensuring the sacrifices of the past ignite the path for generations to come. The ceremony included the presentation of memento to the last living survivor of the POW Camp, Jeli Abdullah. After the ceremony, the attendees took turns laying flowers and wreaths at the Memorial Square. The somber occasion also saw some tears and tributes from the attendees, some of whom are families of fallen soldiers.
“Batu Lintang Camp is both a solemn reminder of a painful chapter in history and a symbol of human resilience. By remembering these events, we honour the courage and suffering of all those who were held prisoner here,” concluded STF President, Audry Wan Ullok in her speech.
