Fatimah (centre) flanked by Talib on her left and Hatch, Chan (fourth left), Liwan (fourth right) and others cut the anniversary cake at the special gathering. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: There is need for conscious efforts to remember the wartime dead, particularly the soldiers who fought for our freedom and peace.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said one way of doing that was to emulate the Australian government in incorporating wartime history into the school curriculum.
“It is interesting to note that the students have to visit the National War Memorial’s Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne as part of their curriculum. This presents them an opportunity to see the contributions and sacrifices of the soldiers and peacekeepers during the Second World War.
“Besides being a memorial, it is also a museum where replicas of war weapons are displayed. It is an effective way to educate the young people about history as they are not just reading about it but going through an interactive experience.
“It will be good if Malaysians can emulate the curriculum. I believe we can have something similar someday,” she told reporters at a special gathering and dinner for a group of visiting Anzac veterans and Australian student exchange participants on Monday. The gathering was hosted by Australian Business Centre (ABC) director Rodger Chan and was held in conjunction with Sarawak’s 70th anniversary of liberation from the Japanese Occupation after the Second World War this year as well as Anzac’s 100th anniversary of landing at Gallipoli.
Fatimah also said that making conscious efforts to ensure the past was not forgotten through education would inculcate a sense of gratitude among the young people.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang, DBKU Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai, director of Women and Family Department Noriah Ahmad, Anzac delegation leader Ryan Rowland, Sarawak Veteran Affairs Department director Lt Col Monday Juhid, Sarawak Tourism Federation Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock, Anzac veteran Ronald Hatch and a former child prisoner of war Jeli Abdullah were among those who attended the gathering.