In October 1943 Sabah lay under the iron heel of the Japanese. The armies of Japan had invaded Borneo in January 1942 as part of the Japanese war of conquest in the Far East which had begun on December 7th, 1941 with the victory by the forces of the Emperor over those of the United States of America at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
Labuan was taken on January 1st, 1942. At that time Great Britain was engaged in a struggle for its very life both in Europe against the Germans, and in the Far East against the Japanese.
She could not spare arms and men to defend Sabah, so the North Borneo Chartered Company ordered its officers not to fight but to hand over their powers to the Japanese.
The North Borneo Government issued special orders to the people to obey their new masters and not to get themselves into any trouble. The only fighting men who could have defended Sabah were the police and a Volunteer Force.
This force was small and was made up of clerks, school teachers
THE Funk brothers – Johnny, Alexander and Paddy – were members of the North Borneo Volunteer Force (before the war). Their family home was near where the Allied Prisoners Of War (POWs) were interned from July 1942. This enabled the brothers to establish secret contacts with the POWs which saw them providing help and serving as conduits between the POWs and the hospital in Sandakan.
When their activities were betrayed to the Japanese in July 1943, the brothers were arrested and severely punished by the Japanese Army; Alex was executed while Johnny and Paddy suffered great physical and psychological torture
(Sunday, November 6, 1994)
NOVEMBER 14
1963: Head of State Datu Mustapha bin Datu Harun unveiled the Malaysia monument (pic) built by the Chinese community to mark the birth of Malaysia.
It cost $11,000 and is situated in front of the Keng Chew Association in Charter Street, Jesselton.
When Malaysia was around the corner, the sponsoring associations began planning a suitable way to mark its birth. Several proposals were considered, among them temporary arches to scholarship foundations.
When the proposal to erect a permanent monument was agreed upon, it was just 20 days before Malaysia Day (Sept 16). But it was completed on time and the lights were turned on the first evening of the Malaysia celebrations.
NOVEMBER 8
Filipino Mayor flees to Sandakan after armed raid
1962: The Mayor of the Philippines island of Taganak, Timbayan Anam, reached Sandakan in a Kumpit accompanied by his family, the island’s police chief and four constables
THE Brunei Sultanate ruled over most of Borneo, the Philippines and many of the kingdoms in the Sulu archipelago going back to the 14th century, including the Sulu Sultanate