By Gillian Nesslyn
KUCHING: The Nanyang Volunteers Memorial Monument, located at the Zhu Sze Kung Temple at Tabuan Laru here, stands as a solemn reminder of the bravery and sacrifices made by the Nanyang volunteers during the Second World War.
Each year, it becomes a focal point for the Qingming commemoration, a time when families gather to honour their ancestors.
According to Sarawak Chinese Academic Research (ASCA) president Dr Julitta Lim has played a vital role in preserving the legacy of the volunteers, ensuring the monument continues to serve as a place of reflection and remembrance through her dedication.
The Nanyang Volunteers Memorial Monument is chosen as a key site for Qingming commemorations due to its historical significance in honouring the volunteers who fought during the Japanese occupation.
Lim, who has spent over 35 years researching the history of these volunteers, noted that many young people were unaware of their ancestors’ sacrifices.
“We felt that it was crucial to record and preserve this history, especially since it was not openly discussed in the post-war years,” she said.
During Qingming, families visit the monument to pay their respects with incense and joss paper.
Ceremonies, including speeches, prayers and offerings, honour those who served, especially the fallen, ensuring that the volunteers’ sacrifices are remembered and the past is connected to the present.
“The Nanyang volunteers didn’t fight just for China, but for the whole of Asia,” Lim said, reflecting on the broader significance of their actions.
Qingming, with its focus on ancestral remembrance, becomes the perfect occasion to link the volunteers’ sacrifices to the generations that followed.
Regular cleaning, upkeep, and preservation are essential to safeguarding the monument’s historical integrity.
Lim noted that it serves not only as a physical tribute but also as a cultural landmark that educates future generations.
Efforts to preserve the monument are part of a broader commitment to maintaining the memory of the Nanyang volunteers, with its preservation closely linked to ongoing research and efforts to raise awareness of its historical significance.
Lim has been at the forefront of educating the local community and younger generation about the Nanyang volunteers’ contributions, organising exhibitions, talks and drama performances to share their stories over the years.
Descendants of the volunteers play a key role in preserving the legacy by visiting the monument and participating in Qingming ceremonies, ensuring their ancestors’ stories are passed down.
Through these efforts, the memory of the Nanyang volunteers hopefully will continue to inspire and educate future generations.
The Nanyang Volunteers Memorial Monument stands not only as a tribute to the past but also as an educational tool for the future.
Through Qingming commemorations, dedicated preservation efforts, and the tireless work of individuals like Lim, the legacy of the Nanyang volunteers remains a vital part of Sarawak’s history.
