Sandakan

Sandakan War Memorial Park

The Sandakan memorial park is sited on the original POW (Prisoners of War) camp which was set up during the WWII Japanese Occupation in 1942 - 1945. The camp was set up with 2 main sections; 1 section for the British POWs and the other for Australian POWs . The current size of the Memorial Park is only fraction of the original camp. In 1942 and 1943, the prisoners numbered some approximately 750 British and more than 1650 Australian soldiers and civilians. Many were transferred from Singapore to be used as labour to build the military airfield in Sandakan .

In 1945, the Japanese army on realising that they were losing the war and the allies were closing in, marched the prisoners from camp at Sandakan to Ranau, some 250kms away. There were 3 separate marches, the first one began in January 1945 these marches were known as the Death March.. The last March comprised of the remaining prisoners at camp in Sandakan , numbering 537. Invalids at camp who couldn't leave, were shot. There was no account of what happened at camp after the last march. There simply were no survivors to tell the tale. Those who were sent on the Death March were to trek through thick jungle, treacherous routes and some prisoners had no boots. Those who could walk no further, were killed. The march took almost a year to complete. Of the 2700 prisoners, only 6 survived of which 2 had escaped during the 2 nd march and 4 escaped during their stint at Ranau. No British prisoners survived.

The war memorial has a pavilion dedicated to the prisoners of war that spent their days at the camp. The wall mounted displays of documented accounts of the prisoners' lives at the camp, a model of the camp itself and accounts of the death marches is worth the time. The sufferings of war should never be forgotten and for generations who have not witnessed the atrocities of war, it is a gruesome teaching of what must not happen. ever again.

The Park was officially opened on 15 February 1999 .

The motif used in the Park depicts flowers representing people of the three nations who suffered at Sandakan during the Second World War. The design is taken from the stained glass window within the pavilion and is repeated on the granite memorial and decorative gates.

Opening Hours : 9.00am - 5.00pm everyday

Entrance fee: free

Location: Mile 8, Jalan Labuk Utara

The New Sandakan town

After the war, the locals wasted no time in rebuilding the smoldering town. It was devastation - the infrastructure , businesses , homes, families - all in shambles. According to reports, the only buildings left standing was St Michael's Church and part of a barn. The striving fishing trade was non existent, and there were no boats left for fishermen to go out on.

Today Sandakan has expanded from the old town into several suburban areas. Many of the local residents moved away from the main town area as the illegal immigrants moved in. The old town closes early. By 5.30pm , the shops close except for a few shopping malls. If you're looking for areas to shop or pubs for a drink later than that, then head to 4 1/2mile. This is the newer part of town where there occurs some sort of a night life.

The fishing community still exists. The chinese fishing village at Kampung Sim Sim is where the locals go to buy fresh seafood at cheap prices. The famous Sandakan Salted fish can be bought at a fraction of the price in KL or even in KK. Next to the chinese fishing village is the Malay fishing village. The villages sit along jetties that are built out from the seafront. The villagers pay a nominal sum for their lot and if extension of the jetty is required to add more houses, the villagers can apply to the council.

In the old town, there are several seafood restaurants that serve the freshest and cheapest in Sabah. The upgraded Ocean King Seafood restaurant is a little pricier but try the older, more rustic restaurants along the wharf area, where the wooden shophouses are located.

The early activities at the old town area are fascinating. At the central market and the fish market (of which I'm told, will be moved soon to make way for a waterfront development) , life starts early. The baskets load of fish will be brought in from trawlers docked at the jetty nearby. All types of marine life can be seen from large rays to hammerhead sharks. Sharks of all sizes and shapes are caught, even the pups and all have their fins sliced off and sold to chinese middlemen and sold as sharksfin delicacy. The rest is ground and made into fish paste.

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