Malaysia's Labuan Hosts Remembrance Day In Honour Of World War II Fallen Heroes

LABUAN (Sabah, Malaysia), Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of people gathered at Malaysia's largest World War II Memorial here Sunday to honour 3,908 soldiers from the Allied Forces, namely from Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, India and the local defence units who lost their lives in Borneo during World War Two. In his address at the ceremony, Labuan MP, Rozman Isli said the objective of this event was to create awareness to the public on the importance of history for the young generation, besides promoting another potential event to promote and make Labuan more tourist-oriented. He said the Remembrance Day had become significant and an official calendar of events in this Federal Territory. Every year on Sunday, nearest to Nov 11, a ceremony is conducted in full military tradition to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of these war heroes. Among the significant and central elements of the Remembrance Day include the laying of wreaths, reversed arm (leaning on a weapon held upside down), the lone piper & flower of the forest, the sound of the last post and the moment of silence. Alongside with the Remembrance Day ceremony, Rozman also launched a historical site at the Botanical Garden - a British Government House locally known as 'Bumbung Dua Belas'. "It is the first time that Labuan Corporation has taken this move to start the history trail's project. We have appointed public university, University Malaysia Sabah to do the research," he said. He said the findings report of 'Bumbung Dua Belas' was finally completed on June 10 this year. 'Bumbung Dua Belas' was built in 1852 by the British Government during the British Empire in Borneo. The house was destroyed on May 3, 1945 during World War II. Among those present at the Remembrance Day and launch of 'Bumbung Dua Belas' were David Campbell (British High Commisoner to Brunei), Nicola Rosenblum (Australian High Commissioner to Brunei), Royal Malaysian Air Force Commander (Air Region 2), Major-General Mohd Sabre Hussein and Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad. Labuan is a federal territory of Malaysia. --BERNAMA