Royal Australian Army Engineers in Sabah

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH (Special Edition)

Royal Australian Army Engineers in Sabah

Brief Description of the Role Played by Royal Australian Army Engineers in Sabah during the Indonesian Confrontation of Malaysia (1)

The formation of Malaysia by Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya in 1963 was strongly opposed by Indonesia under President Sukarno.

Indonesia instituted a diplomatic and military Confrontation of Malaysia ("Konfrontasi) in which included armed incursions by ground, sea and air.

Operations by Malaysian military and paramilitary forces, assisted by armed forces of Australia, Britain and New Zealand, countered Indonesian aggression and its intelligence and propaganda activities

Sabah's interior, with its poor communications, infrastructure and government services, was vulnerable to hostile

Indonesian activities from across the border with Kalimantan.

Sabah's Chief Minister at the time, Dato Donald Stephens, was a key player in requesting the deployment of Australian Army Engineers to Sabah.

The Engineers' tasks were to construct an airfield near Kuamut River (completed as a priority) and an all-weather road from Keningau to Sepulot, which is near Pensiangan and the border with the Indonesian province of Kalimantan.

The first Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) unit arrived in Sabah in 1964.

The first main RAE camp was set up in Keningau (near the airfield) and road construction began with assistance from Sabah's Public Works Department (PWD).

Five RAE squadron groups, each of up to about 250 men, served in Sabah on six-monthly rotations (2).

They also employed local people, mainly Muruts, on tasks such as assistance with surveying the road alignment and with jungle clearing.

The RAE road led from Keningau (3) (a short distance across the Pegalan River) through Sook, Pandewan and Tampusison. However, when Konfrontasi ended in August 1966, all Australian Army units,including the RAE groups working on the road project, were withdrawn.

By then about 120 km of road had been constructed to a point about 15 km short of reaching Sepulot and the mountainous road sections past Sook were passable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles.

As part of its civic action program, RAE constructed the first, small public library in Keningau, and a classroom and playground in Pandewan (4).

Four Australian soldiers lost their lives during the road project

Australian soldiers enjoyed very friendly, warm and respectful relationship with local Sabahans, and RAE veterans remember their time in Sabah with great fondness.

Tomasz (Tom) Ciesniewski

Lieutenant Colonel RAE (Retired)

(Served on the road project in Sabah from November 1965 to June 1966 as Second Lieutenant in 21 Construction Squadron Group RAE)

August 2016

1. Much More detailed information is contained in a book by Keningau historian Abednigo Chow titled Heritage and Legacy in the Interior Residency published in June 2016 by Opus Publications. The book can be purchased through https/www.nhpborneo.com/book/keningau

2. The units were:7Fd Sgn Gp; 1 Fd Sqa Gp; 24 Const Sqn Gp; 21 Const Sqn Gp, and 22 Const Sqn Gp

3. A military equipment kit Light Tactical Raft (L.TR) was constructed by 7 Fd Sqn Gp to use as a ferry across the Pegalan River. In August 2016 the reclaimed ferry ramp area, owned by the Foo family, became the site of a museum commemorating the RAE's role in Sabah during Konfrontasi. This was the initiative of Dr Agnes Foo whose father, Akut, often served as the Ferry Master. Many of sappers stayed at his home when the river was in flood. The home now houses RAE memorabilia from those days. Two recovered LTR pontoons and a memorial plaque are also installed at the site-Foo Akut Memorial Park. RAE veterans and their families are especially welcome

4. The present-day school maintains the plaque placed there by 21 Const Sqn Gp in 1966

Credit to : Tomasz (Tom) Ciesniewski, Rodney Bramich, Connie Lupang,Judith Bramich, Abednigo Chow, Azlan Mohd Jaffar

Edited by : Kumis Kumis

Miaw Sing : The Japanese Occupation Resistant Fighters and Warrior from Sipitang

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH  Special Edition :

North Borneo World War Two Series

Miaw Sing : The Japanese Occupation Resistant Fighters and Warrior from Sipitang

Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohamad Yassin Bin Haji Hashim, a Brunei Malay of high status and aristocratic bearing was born in Sipitang in 1916 and received his education at a Roman Catholic Missionary School.

He was appointed a District Chief in 1938 with the title Orang Kaya Kaya (OKK) where he developed his administrative experience .

As a District Chief made him a natural leader in his district and probably contributed to his success in mustering support from the local population to take up arms against the Japanese Army.

In 1943, Mohamad Yassin even before the arrival of the SRD already led an indigenous guerrilla movement in Sipitang Brunei Bay area of a mix Brunei Malay, Chinese, Murut and Dusun of which an organised armed resistance that harassed the Japanese Army.

Mohamad Yassin led fighters later emerged as a vital guerilla forces in the southeast area after the failure of the 1943 "Jesselton Uprising" and had played an important role in providing assistance to the returning allied forces.

In late 1944, Mohamad Yassin and his combat unit (AGAS Ops) started through the initiatives, encouragement and cooperation of the Allied officers who were part of the Services Reconnaissance Detachment (SRD), a branch of the Special Operation Executive (SOE) in Australia .

The effort was part of the wider allied war plan to prepare for a reoccupation of Sabah. His unit later became part of the Allied setup and fought distinguishably against the retreating Japanese army.

Apart from gathering of intelligence, the SRD was also involved in mobilising friendly locals to form guerrilla forces to harass the Japanese Army.

In 1945, Major Tom Harrison managed to link up with Mohamad Yassin Guerilla unit in Sipitang, a small town on the southeast coast of North Borneo. During the operation the European officers mispronounced his name from Mohamad Yassin to "Miaw Sing" and also mistakenly thought the he was a Chinese Guerilla Chief of Sipitang.

At the time, Tom Harrison was operating under the auspices of the "Z Force". Harrison and his assistant, Warrant Officer Colin Mac Pherson, met Mohamad Yassin when they went to survey the area around Sipitang and Brunei Bay to prepare the landing by Allied Forces.

The main Japanese force of the 37th Army under General Masao Baba started to moved to the interior making Sipitang as an active operation area. With all this development, Mohamad Yassin area of operation became a vital part of the Allied forces strategic planning.

Tom Harrison had a very good impression of Mohamad Yassin who was known to him as Miaw Sing and recalls, "In the shadows sat a man, pale skinned and large eyed, unaffected by our effusive entry". MacPhearson only known him as a local leaders. Mac Pearson said "we spent a relaxed one hour with this excellent man, who I thought was Chinese who spoke fluent Malay and Mohamad Yassin was as good as his word "

.

Mohamad Yassin joined forces with Tom Harrison and harassed the Japanese Army in the Area. According to Harrison, he did not know that Miaw Sing was Mohamad Yassin actually a Malay until much later. Tom Harrison said " I ought to have known that from his composure, squatting at ease in the shadow of an abandoned hamlet".

Mohamad Yassin continued to work with MacPhearson to rid the Sipitang - Weston area of Japanese forces. His unit was also involved in harassing the retreating Japanese Army.

Tom Harrison said, "I understood our gallant and shadowy friend to be called Miaw Sing, a good Chinese name. After the war I included him in a long list of citation which were accepted. Anyway, he got the MBE twice, for his coolness. " He was twice recommended The Most Excellent of the British Empire once under Miaw Sing and second time under Mohamad Yassin.

In recognising his immense contribution to the Allied forces cause in fighting the Japanese Army, Mohamad Yassin was recommended for honors. He was later awarded the The Most Excellent of the British Empire (MBE) and was part of the North Borneo contingent to London for the Victory Parade in 8th June 1946.

Mohamad Yassin forged a good friendship with Datu Mustapha and were together during the London trip.

Mohamad Yassin distinguished contributions and leadership qualities during World War Two were given due recognition that went beyond medals and honors as he was given the honour for North Borneo Post war reconstruction efforts. He was made an Assistant District Officer and later a member of the State Advisory Committee and was subsequently appointed a member of the State Legislative Council.

Mohamad Yassin attended the Commonwealth parliamentary course in the United Kingdom and upon his return he was appointed various positions of responsibility, including District Officer of Tenom and later became a politician and a Sabah Cabinet Minister as Minister of Coordination during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Source :

1. World War Two : The Sabah's Story published by Sabah State Archives

2. Historical Sabah : The War by Professor Danny Wong

3. World Within A Borneo Story by Tom Harrison

4. One Crowded Moment of Glory The Kinabalu Guerillas and The 1943 Jesselton Uprising by Professor Danny Wong

Edited by : Kumis Kumis

Pangiran Osman Bin OKK Pangiran Omar was the Deputy Assistant District Officer (DADO) of Putatan District.

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH (Special Edition) Educational

25.8.2018 - Pangiran Osman and OKK Pangiran Omar of Sipitang

Mohon Izin : (Pangiran Mohd Yacob) ( Kok Yun Lim)

Pangiran Osman Bin OKK Pangiran Omar was the Deputy Assistant District Officer (DADO) of Putatan District.

Also, the Pangiran's father, OKK Pangiran Omar, had earlier served as DADO of Putatan District for several years. Pangiran Osman Bin OKK Pangiran Omar was a member of a Brunei Malay family that was traditionally recognised as one of the Native Chiefs in Sipitang and the Padas Damit area.

His father, OKK Pangiran Omar, was first appointed by the Chartered Company as Head Native Chief Sipitang of Province Clarke in 1911, even though he had already been the de facto chief for the area long before that. In 1912, he was made Head Chief of South Keppel District, which covered two sub district of Putatan and Papar.

In 1915, after the Charted Company introduced series of reforms to the native administration, Pangiran OKK Omar was appointed Deputy Assistant District Officer of South Keppel District. It was the first appointment by the Charted Company. As one of the preferred Native Chiefs trusted by the Charted Company, OKK Pangiran Omar was also appointed to the newly established Advisory Council.

He continued to serve as DADO until retirement on the 2nd September 1923. OKK Pangiran Omar passed away in 1925. For most of his tenure as DADO of South Keppel, OKK Pangiran Omar was based in Putatan.

Pangiran Osman was born in 1884 and was 37 years old when he was first appointed AS DADO of Labuk and Sugut. As there was only a European Assistant District Officer in the district, Pangiran Osman had to shoulder the burden of administering the district two river basins with the assistance of other Native Chief and clerks.

Apparently, he was a good administrator and was duly recognised by the Charted Company; in 1925, he was appointed DADO of the larger district of Kinabatangan. As there was no European officer stationed in the District, he was the sole representative. In 1927, Pangiran Osman was transferred back to Labuk and Sugut. Once again, Pangiran Osman was given responsibility to administer a District without the presence of European officers.

This was surely a testimony to the ability of the man. After 10 years of service on the east coast, Pangiran Osman was transferred to his father's old District on the West Coast the Putatan District. In 1932, Pangiran Osman was appointed DADO of Penampang but still looking after Putatan.

In the late 1932, Pangiran Osman was transferred to Tuaran as DADO. In 1937, Pangiran Osman was transferred to Tenom. In the same year Pangiran Osman younger brother, Pangiran Ahmad Raffae was appointed Native Chief Grade 2 for Sipitang. Thus the cycle was complete that OKK Pangiran Omar family once again recognised as the leading family in Sipitang.

OKK Pangiran Omar was instrumental in compiling a Code of Mohamedan Custom written in 1912 and Pangiran Osman like his father compiled the Dusun Adat or Customs in 1932...

GC Woolley, probably first became acquainted with the Pangiran's family through a meeting with Pangiran Omar in 1907. According to Whoolley, the old Pangiran was "quite a nice old man", the meeting took place on the second day after Whoolley was appointed District Officer for Province Clarke which cover Pangiran's home base of Sipitang and its vicinity. Whoolley was appointed acting commissioner of lands in 1910.

Pangiran Omar appointed Head of Native Chief for Province of Clarke in 1911. GC Woolley have close relationships with Pangiran Osman and Pangiran Omar. Whoolley was present at Pangiran Omar's House during Hari Raya in 1909 when he took photographs of the Pangiran and family.

This photographs were mounted and given to Pangiran Omar. When Whoolley heard that Pangiran Osman was getting married in Sipitang in July 1910, he wrote to Pangiran Osman sending his best wishes and attaching a cigarette case to him as a gift. In return, Pangiran Osman sent a wedding memento a Brunei cigarette case with gilt band and butterfly.

This was the only instance of Whoolley mentioning having sent a wedding gift to a local. Even after Whoolley was transferred to Jesselton, Whoolley treasured his ties with Pangiran Omar and Pangiran Osman. In March 1912, Whoolley ordered a fountain pen from Robinson of Singapore for Pangiran Omar.

Source : Dusun Customs Putatan District by Prof Danny Wong. 

Photos : George Whoolley Collection / Sabah State Museum 

Edited by Kumis Kumis.. (Photos of Pangiran Mohd Yacob of Sipitang the Grand Son of Pangiran Osman and the Great Grand Son of OKK Pangiran Omar who has requested SNBS to source George Whoolley book special thanks to Datuk Chan of National History Publications for his assistant to source the book.) Rowe GoneAAzlan Mohd Jaffar

KINARUT MANSION : New German Township and Administration Centre at North Borneo after World War One ??

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH 

Special Edition Untold History

KINARUT MANSION : 

New German Township and Administration Centre at North Borneo after World War One ??

Mark Whitton of North Borneo Trading in 1946-1947 had to visit the Estate for a Lloyd's insurance claim but had a most interesting visit to Kinarut.

This was his recollection:.......

‘Hornet’ Williams was an occasional, but welcome visitor to the mess, a rubber planter from an estate some way up the railway line at Kinarut.

As with all commerce, rubber estates had been left to go to ruin during the occupation and the estate he managed was no exception.

Hornet, who wore the thickest of pebble glasses, had decided to inspect a remote part of the estate which had last been visited in 1941, to see if it was worth opening up again for tapping, provided labour was available.

He was pushing through the overgrown track when a branch rebounded, hooked over his glasses and flipped them off.

Being quite blind he spent some hours crawling round very carefully feeling for them. “No one knew where I was and I would have died there if I hadn’t found them.”

It transpired that he had bought an Electrolux kerosene refrigerator from us and it had arrived damaged but nonetheless in working order. To enable us to claim for the damage against insurance we had to provide a Lloyds Survey which certified the damage and the probable value or cost of repairs, and how the damage had occurred.

The responses to the printed questionnaire were more or less routine in a case like this which involved a dent or two and little else.

The procedure was however designed to take in such minor accidents as this, up to the grounding or loss of a vessel.

None the less I was designated to go up the line to examine the refrigerator and fill in the report one Sunday.

Hornet met me at the estate station, a short platform with a shed for storing rubber prior to being shipped down to Jesselton for overseas shipment.

The estate had a light railway used to take the rubber from the factory some four miles away to the station as roads were non-existent at that time and vehicles were expensive to buy and run. We seated ourselves on a bench fixed to a four wheel trolley and two of the labour force push started it then sat on it, keeping the momentum with an occasional kick on the rails from time to time. The track was level, mostly through swamp land, so while leisurely, our progress was relaxed all round.

Hornet seemed more anxious that I tour his factory and coolie lines than examine the fridge. Personally, suffering from a hangover from Saturday night I was more interested in the fridge, and more particularly in its contents. As a guest I perforce deferred to my host and had my first of many visits to rubber factories, which processed raw latex into sheet rubber.

That over we repaired to the place where Hornet and the refrigerator lived.

“This estate employed four European assistants; two hundred tappers all controlled by one manager, pre-war.” Said Hornet. “Now I have about forty tappers and do everything else myself with the assistance of two overseers and a clerk in the office. All the accommodation was destroyed during the war, the tappers and families live in temporary accommodation and I live in the old estate club.”

We walked there and as we came out of the shade trees fringing the sea there appeared what I suppose would have been called a hut, but what a setting. It beat our Tg Aru house hands down. A white coral beach, coarse grass lawn up to the building with a headland at one end of a crescent bay and a small island at the other.

Going closer there was a verandah from which to take in this view and two immense cannons mounted one each side of the steps leading up to it. We entered and I finally viewed the refrigerator which had a couple of scratches and a bit of paint off the outside and cold beer inside.

We settled on the verandah and took in the view and a beer while I filled in the Lloyds survey and my host arranged a cold lunch and told me a bit about the estate.

It appeared that during the period prior to the First World War, when rubber was a boom crop, and communications were slow between Borneo and Europe, the manager, a German national, had had the tip that, when the ‘Drang nach Ostern’ was achieved, it would be necessary that a more suitable centre of government be located on North Borneo for the incoming German administration.

The manager, a patriotic gentleman, did what he thought was right. He selected a site on the hills overlooking the estate and the sea as a suitable place for Government House, designed an impressive mansion and arranged for the shipment of suitable materials and artisans from Hong Kong to build it. He laid out the adjacent flat land between hills and the sea, behind Hornet’s present abode as the future capital, built roads and installed street lights on hardwood posts, lit by oil lamps.

The directors in London began to have misgivings after a year or more with no money coming from the far east and after eighteen months sent an inspector out who soon discovered that the proceeds of the sale of rubber had been diverted to the building of an alternative capital for North Borneo. Hornet showed me some of the marble columns from the house.

“It had fifty Tukan ayers (water carriers) which gives you some idea of the size of the place.” He said as we walked up one of the streets, the old lamp posts topped by skeletons of the lamps marking the route through the high lalang grass.

“The management couldn’t do much with the marble columns, but built four pretty luxurious bungalows with the timber and other materials they salvaged after the first war, so I expect I’ll have to live in the old club for the rest of my time.”

“There’s no job for an overseas assistant and prices are very shaky at present with the American stockpile liable to be released at any time and synthetic at a price comparable with natural.”

We walked back to the factory along the seaside into the shade of huge mangroves over the path. “Those are the wharves where lighters berthed to carry our rubber to Jesselton before the railway was built.”

The dry stone walls reminded me of the Inca ruins in South America though smaller and still in good condition, though the berths had silted up and the mangroves were taking over.

A long narrative and written by my father's colleague and dear friend Mark Whitton at North Borneo Trading, but when he was new to BNB in 1946 or 1947 and working for Harrison & Crossfield courtesy David Porter.

Edited by : Kumis Kumis

YAMAZAKI KENJI - KENINGAU APIN APIN STRAIGHT ROAD

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH 

SPECIAL EDITION

SECOND WORLD WAR

A JAPANESE OCCUPATION UNTOLD HISTORY

YAMAZAKI KENJI : KENINGAU APIN APIN STRAIGHT ROAD   

KENINGAU APIN APIN STRAIGHT ROAD

"Generally from a very Australian point of view, with the Australian tending to be painted as heroes and the Japanese as a vile race incapable of normal human feelings and obsessed with pointless cruelty. As comforting as it might be for some, the world is not that simple". Richard W. Braithwaite 

During the Japanese Occupation of North Borneo in 1942, Yamazaki Kenji, the Japanese Prefecture Governor in Keningau the Interior Residency under West Coast Governorates of Seikei Shiu, wish to win the heart and mind of a North Borneo people by focusing on the infrastructure developments and making a documentary films of the sacred Mount Kinabalu.

One of Yamazaki Kenji most memorable contributions as mentioned in the Memoirs of Yamazaki Aen, Minami Jujiseiwa Itsuwarazu [ The Southern Cross Never Deceives] (Tokyo: Hokushindo 1952) was the construction of a 14 miles uniquely amazing "Straight Road" from Keningau to Apin Apin including a bridge at Liawan River, to represent their straightforward feelings when running the administration and aspire the peoples to see straight to the wonderful future.

1. "Future of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"

2. "Future of an "Anti Colonist"

3. "Future of an Asia for Asians".

The locals of course thoughts otherwise.

Apart from the Apin Apin Straight Road, Yamazaki Kenji also given the instruction to construct an airfield at Liawan and Bingkor, he also developed Poring, Hot Spring at Ranau, as a Japanese soldier retreats area and encourage several Mount Kinabalu expedition by the Japanese Soldiers and doing some documentary films a year later.

Yamazaki Kenji married to a local born wife a sino Dusun by the name of Aen. Her father was a Cantonese Chinese Businessman who had a shop in Sandakan, while her mother was a Dusun from Jesselton. Her father left the family and returned to China and Aen was later sent to Keningau to live with her relatives. Aen initially working as a maid for Yamazaki but eventually become his wife. Aen contributed a lot by suggesting and proposing to Yamazaki Kenji on how best to handle the local natives and she love him dearly.

Yamazaki Kenji did some contact with the guerrillas in the aftermath of the double 10 uprising in Jesselton when Albert Kwok's mother was sent to Keningau. Yamazaki made her time at Keningau much more pleasant by getting her to do a gardening work. This gesture of good will was not lost among the guerrillas as after the end of the war he received some much needed food and milk powder from some of the former guerrillas before boarding the ship at the Jesselton Wharf for Japan.

Yamazaki was repatriated after the war and active in politics. Yamazaki Kenji was known as an agriculturist and very active in farmer association whereby he actually represented the local farmer Union. He was later elected as a legislator among the circles of post war Japan.

The love stories of Aen the Sino Dusun wife of Yamazaki Kenji was just a beginning and later becoming more challenges when she reached Japan. She found out that before WW2, Yamazaki Kenji actually already legally married to a local Japanese wife. Aen had to face extreme hardship and struggle firstly to live in a foreign country and now to become a second women in Yamazaki Kenji life at Japan. Yamazaki's Japanese wife and her family not given Aen an easy time but Aen with her sincerity and love to Yamazaki persevered.

Yamazaki Kenji out of his love to Aen made a controversial decision at the time in Japan by divorcing his Japanese wife and decided to made Aen his legal wife at the height of the domestic conflict between Yamazaki Kenji Japanese wife and Aen.

Yamazaki and Aen having 4 children. They later moved to Brazil in an attempt to set up a Japanese agricultural settlement. Yamazaki Kenji died at the aged of 57. Aen eventually have to go back to Japan and come back to Jesselton. She found a second love when she married a Japanese executive who was attached to Yaohan Departmental stores.

Aen outlive her second husband and her love stories of a Sino Dusun lady from North Borneo who survived extreme hardship and struggles became a top movies in Japan in the 40s. Aen also wrote a memoir of her life and the book was famous in Japan.

Source :

1. Historical Sabah, The War by Prof. Danny Wong

2. Star of the Southern Cross, by Prof. Hara

3. Sabah Under The Rising Sun Government, Stephen R Evans

4. Keningau Heritage and Legacy in the Interior Residency by Abednigo Chow

5. Interviewed Junichi Taniyama

Photos :

1. Credit to Google Images

Edited by :

Kumis Kumis

A Short Story of a local woman named "Aen" during the Second World War in Sabah , North Borneo

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH SPECIAL EDITION

A Short Story of a local woman named "Aen" during the Second World War  in Sabah , North Borneo

Yamasaki Aen

 We wish to share a short story of a Japanese accounts during the Second World War in Sabah, North Borneo from the eye of a local woman named Aen @ Yamasaki Aen, a local perspective, who first worked as a housekeeper for a Japanese Civilian Administrator, Yamasaki Kenji, (the famed Apin Apin, Keningau, Straight Road) the Prefecture Governor of Keningau and later became his wife.

"Most of the existing writings on the war in Sabah, North Borneo are either based on local accounts or an official records collected by the Allied forces, especially the British and Australian. Thus in many ways, the accounts presented tend to have quite a similar perspective, especially with regards to some significant events such as Kinabalu Guerrillas and the Jesselton Uprising of October 1943." (Prof. Danny Wong)

"Of the 50 Million people who died in the Second World War, more than half were Asian people and Allied serviceman and women, the victim of Japanese Aggression. But it is absurd and wrong to 'hate' a whole Japanese people, as during First World War the Japanese was an ally and treated German and Russian prisoner of war with exemplary care and restraints. I, therefore appeal to our shared sense of humanity, which recognises no social or cultural distinctions, transcends race, religion and colour of our skin, and reaches out to embrace the higher attributes of human nature of justice, compassion and mutual good will. " (Paul Ham)

Aen @ Yamasaki Aen

Aen was born on the 10th June 1925 in Sandakan of a Cantonese father and peranakan cina's mother.  Her father a businessman who had a shop in Sandakan, left the family and returned to China after his business failed.  After the father left the marriage suffered . The 8 year old Aen and her mother returned to Jesselton. Aen was adopted by a Dusun couple and when she was 15 years old, she was sent to Keningau to live with her relatives. Aen had a very difficult childhood.

Aen eventually worked as a housekeeper to Yamazaki Kenji and later became his wife in 1943. They have a son born in 1944 named Kohnan. Aen was very sympathetic to the plight of the locals living under the Japanese rule but as the same time cared much for her husband safety and well being.

Aen claimed to have warned her husband to constantly remind his subordinates not to be harsh towards the workers at the Keningau's road and airport construction sites especially the forced labourers. Aen suggested to the husband that the officers should treat the workers with smile, and listen to complaints and try to solve the problems.

Aen claimed to have played a part in the allaying the prevailing anti-Japanese feelings to her interactions with wives of Chinese and Malay government employees in Tenom and Melalap, she  served as a link between a locals and the Japanese. Aen tried to harmonise Japanese-locals friendship. She mentioned that, due to their effort, the Muruts, Dusun and Chinese were willing to bring their problems to the prefecture office.

Yamasaki Kenji

Yamasaki Kenji was born on the 19 September 1902 (23 years older than Aen). He grown up in Nino-oka, Gotenba, Shizuoka and studied as an Auditor of Agriculture in Tokyo University. He worked several years in Manchurian Railway in Manchu. He had a case of a love affair in Manchu. 

Yamasaki Kenji married Michiko Saito on the 1st May 1925 and became an elected member of Parliament on February 1936 under the Socialist Party.  Yamasaki Kenji and Michiko Saito had a son named Ryoichi and a daughter named Emi before his departure to Borneo.

The Imperial Military Government declared National Mobilisation and force all political parties to unify under One Party. This decision which made Yamasaki Kenji fed up politics and stowed away to Borneo arriving in Kuching in June 1942. Since he was an ex-member of parliament, Military Headquarter in Miri could not return him back to Japan, so they appointed him as Keningau Prefecture Governor.  The Japanese invaded Labuan on January 1942. Yamasaki Kenji before he left to Keningau ordered the construction of Labuan Airport, which completed within 2 months by employing locals native and Javanese.

Yamasaki Kenji arrived in Keningau in October 1942 and worked as a Prefecture Governor of Keningau until April 1945 and later was instructed as Japanese Mayor in Jesselton until the surrender of Japanese Army on 15th August 1945.

In the aftermath of the Kinabalu Uprising, Albert Kwok's mother was sent to Keningau under detention.Yamasaki Kenji, however, made her time in Keningau much more pleasant by asking her to be a gardener. This gesture of goodwill was not lost on those associated with the Guerrillas.

Yamasaki Kenji and Aen 

( Haran- No Minanmijuujisei - Yamasaki Kennji - No Isshou)

Yamasaki Kenji was released from Jesselton by the Japanese Army and returned to Keningau. During the confusing time in Keningau and Jesselton after the Japanese surrender, Yamasaki, Aen and their son Kohnan got away to Penampang crossing the Crocker range from Tambunan with the support rendered by several Ketua kampung namely from Apin-Apin, Tambunan, Sinsuron and others. The journey was so difficult and at the time Aen was into her second pregnancy. Yamasaki and Aen settled themselves in Inanam, where Aen gave birth to a second son Einan on the 3rd January 1946.

Yamasaki and Aen received some much needed food and milk powder from some of the former guerillas before boarding the ship at the Jesselton wharf to Japan.  Yamasaki and Aen left Jesselton with Kashima-Maru on the 23rd March 1946 and reached Hiroshima on the 1st April 1946.

In Japan, Yamasaki Kenji's first wife, Michiko Saito won in the election as a first lady member of Parliament. Aen, a young women from North Borneo, after the second world war had to endure the most difficult moment of her life having to raise a young children, to adjust her life to a new country, new environment and living in Japan as an illegal wife to a married Japanese man.

On the 19th June 1947, Aen gave birth to their 3rd Son named Sannan. On the 29th December 1950, Aen gave birth a daughter named Akemi. A tragic accident occurred when her 1st Son named Kohnan was drowned in Numazu City Japan at the age of 6 years old.

Yamasaki Kenji stood by Aen side through the difficult time and gave her his unconditional love and moral support despite all her hardship,suffering and challenges.

Michiko finally  announced in the Japanese newspaper that she will divorce Yamasaki Kenji. Yamasaki Kenji submitted registration to declare the marriage of Aen on 11th April 1950 to the Mayor of Numazu City, Japan.

In April 1951, Yamasaki Kenji  elected as a member of the municipal of Numazu City. In October 1952, Yamasaki failed to win the National Election.

On 25th September 1954, Yamasaki Kenji and Aen migrated to Brazil on board of America-Maru with Yamasaki Kenji's eldest son Ryoichi , Sannan (3rd Son) and Akemi. While their other children named Einan was adopted by Michiko Saito.

On the 31st January 1958, Yamasaki Kenji died of liver cancer at the age of 57 at Sao-Paulo Brazil.

Aen and Akemi returned to Japan in March 1964 with Yamasaki Kenji remains. Akemi was adopted by Michiko Saito at the age of 14.

Aen remarried Hishinuma Tsuneharu (then the vice Chairman of Yaohan) in December 1964. Hishinuma died in 1990.

It was said that Aen had returned to Sabah and left her children in Japan.

Do any member of Sejarah North Borneo Sabah knows Aen current  whereabouts ??

Photo Credit :

1. Fung Tzee Ping

2. Junichi Taniyama

Source Credit :

1. The Southern Cross Never Deceives (1952) by Yamasaki Aen (Tokyo : Hokushindo).

2. Historical Sabah. The War (2010) by Prof. Danny Wong. Published by Opus Publication.

3. Sandakan-The Untold Story of The Sandakan Death March (2012)by Paul Ham. Published by William Heinemann: Australia  (Courtesy David Porter)

4. Keningau-Heritage and Legacy in the Interior Residency (2016) by Abednigo Chow. Published by Opus Publication

5. An Articles Southern Cross Never Deceives , translation by Junichi Taniyama

Edited By :

1. Kumis Kumis

(Note : Apology if there is any mistake due to translation, please highlight for immediate rectification or amendment)

THE NEW SACRED HEART CHURCH AT JESSELTON

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH - SPECIAL EDITION

THE NEW SACRED HEART CHURCH AT JESSELTON

IMPRESSIVE OPENING CEREMONY

An event of historic importance at Jesselton was the formal opening  of the $14,000.00 building of the Sacred Heart Church on Sunday the 14th August 1938. Though the "finishing touches" (painting etc.) are yet to be given , the spacious edifice measuring 140 ft by 42 ft with a seating accommodation for over 500 people  and its surrounding presented an attractive appearance when a great concourse of our cosmopolitan population arrived before the appointed time. In addition to a large number of Catholics for whom it was indeed a red-letter day, the gathering was representative of many Non-Catholics and Non-Christians including a couple of beturbaned Sikhs, and the ladies in their multicolour dress added to the glamour of the occasion. Prominent  among,  those present were Mr. Tay Bee Chuan and family, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. H. Speedy, Mr. James Beatty, Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Round Turner, Mrs. E. R. Baker, Mr. A. E. Tremenheere and representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and other Associations .

The opening ceremony commenced punctually at 8 a m. when Monsignor A. Wachter, the Prefect Apostolic of North Borneo, with his, two assistants and Rev. Fathers, Francis Sint and John A. Van Haaren proceeded from the Sacristy of the old Church to bless the new Church. The choir under the capable direction of Sister St. Luke chanted the Litany of All Saints. After the blessing a Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in spacious sanctuary, the tile-flooring of which is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. H. Speedy.

Monsignor Wachter in glowing terms alluded to Mr Tay Bee Chuan's very generous donation of $7,000.00 in the memory of his elder brother Tay Bee Yong who passed to the Great Beyond in China in 1934. It was very largely due to the generosity of this philanthropist that the erection of the building was made possible and the fact that he is a Non-Catholic himself makes his contribution all the more appreciative. The Right Reverend Monsignor also referred  to the liberal contributions made by  members of the congregation and to all of whom he expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation.

That evening the event of the day was commemorated by an interesting dinner party at which some forty persons participated. In the convivial atmosphere of this representative gathering  a special letter of thanks  and appreciation was sent to Mr. Tay Bee Chuan  who was unavoidably unable to attend the party. The speeches veered from the serious to the lighter vein as Monsignor Wachter, Fathers  Arnold Verhoeven, Francis Sint and John A. Van Haaren spoke in turn. Mr Paul Lee Ah Onn took this opportunity to voice the feelings of the local Catholic community in general and old Boys of Sacred Heart School in particular, towards Rev. Father V. Weber who has now retired to Penampang and it was regrettable that in view of his advanced age he was unable to present there in person. It was he who founded the Jesselton Mission more than 30 years ago and was mainly instrumental in the erection of the original Convent and School building. The value of his work in the cause of local education could hardly be overstressed and in his Mission work he has been truly like the "Shepherds who do not drive but lead the way".

A sad note in rejoicing was the reminder of the very unfortunate accident which befell Brother Gregory who was principally responsible for the designing of the building. While supervising the raising of some heavy rafters a scaffolding gave way and he was precipitated into space from the roof and landed on a heap of spars and scantlings. His left knee was seriously injured and he was obliged to proceed home to his Native Tyrol where he will remain a cripple for the rest of his life. It was decided to send him a message conveying the thanks appreciation and sympathy of the local Parishioners and wishing him a speedy recovery. Brother Alexander who took over the work of supervision carried out his duties satisfactorily and an expression of thanks was tendered to him the Rector on behalf of the parish.

A well deserved tribute was paid to the present Rector, Rev. Father Arnold Verhoeven who had been a 'Live Wire" behind the scene and whose efforts and energy were mainly responsible for the completion of this building scheme within a year of commencing work.

Source :

1. The British North Borneo Herald , 16th September 1938

2. The Building of the North Borneo Railway and the Founding of Jesselton by Ross Ibbotson - Published by Opus Publication

3. Colonial Townships in Sabah : West Coast by PAM Sabah Chapter

Photos Credit to :

Father Cosmos Lee

PAM Sabah Chapter

Edited by : Kumis Kumis