Japanese consulate refers war memorial controversy to Tokyo
The Japan consulate-general office in Penang said it was not prepared to deal with media queries on the controversial fallen soldiers’ memorial in Kedah.
When contacted today, an officer in the consulate office in Penang said that they were waiting for instructions from their headquarters in Japan on how to proceed.
"Once we receive instructions, we will let you know," said the officer.
This was in response to Penang MCA youth leaders ...
The Japan consulate-general office in Penang said it was not prepared to deal with media queries on the controversial fallen soldiers’ memorial in Kedah.
When contacted today, an officer in the consulate office in Penang said they were waiting for instructions from their headquarters in Japan on how to proceed.
"Once we receive instructions, we will let you know," said the officer.
This was in response to Penang MCA youth leaders today who submitted a memorandum to the consulate-general of Japan in Penang, urging the immediate removal of the monument at the Sultan Abdul Halim memorial bridge on Thursday which commemorates Japanese World War II soldiers.
At a press conference later, the wing's chief Lim Swee Bok noted that the Kedah government has removed the signboard which carried the word "hero" to describe the fallen soldiers.
"However, Penang MCA insists that the consulate-general of Japan should remove the entire monument," Lim said.
"We think it is more appropriate to commemorate the innocent people killed by the Japanese army, not the Japanese army itself," he added.
"The Japanese army was an invader. What qualifies war criminals for a heroic monument?" Lim asked.
Lim condemned the Kedah government and the Consulate-General of Japanese in Penang for being "completely insensitive" to families of soldiers who died during World War II.
"It is totally unforgivable not to understand the feelings of the Malaysians and to commemorate the brutal Japanese army!”
Lim said Kedah state exco in charge of tourism Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris' remarks that the monument can promote tourism would seem like a great irony to our ancestors.
Mohd Asmirul had said the word "heroes" will be amended to "soldiers" on the signboard.
He highlighted that the monument had existed under the previous BN state administration.
The Japanese consulate had offered to restore the memorial, which commemorates the act of Commander Platoon Lieutenant Hajima Asahi and two others, as it was previously dirty and covered in shrubs.
The trio had died while attempting to secure what was then known as the Alor Setar bridge on Dec 13, 1941 during the early stages of Imperial Japan’s conquest of Malaya and Borneo.
Lim said by allowing the monument, the Kedah government is attempting to "subvert history and bleach the bloody killing" of the Japanese army.
"Is this also one of the means by the Pakatan Harapan government to please the Japanese in its pro-Japanese Policy?" asked Lim.
"World War II was the biggest catastrophe in human history, but the Harapan government has praised the invaders.
"This monument has hurt Malaysians again. This so-called monument must be dismantled immediately, " said Lim.
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