As reported in Sinchew
南僑機工奮鬥‧二戰紀念碑園地1111嶄新落成塑像待移
北馬
2011-10-24 17:11
彭春松、莊耿康、黃漢偉、黃振部,和程福隆在研究檳榔嶼華僑抗日殉職機工暨罹難同胞紀念碑園地新建設。(圖:星洲日報)
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(檳城23日讯)二戰期間南洋華僑奔向滇緬邊界深山野嶺,在日本戰機轟炸下,為中國大後方從印度運輸物資的景象,將以真人比例的塑像,重現在亞依淡交通圈的檳榔嶼華僑抗日殉職機工暨罹難同胞紀念碑園地。
管理該紀念碑的檳城公民學校信理會主席拿督莊耿康、信理員彭春松和程福隆,及黃漢偉州議員週六上午在新聞發佈會上宣佈,該紀念碑園地的一系列建設於1個月前動工,並鐵定於今年11月11日之前的國際和平紀念日舉行落成儀式。
檳榔嶼華僑抗日殉職機工暨罹難同胞紀念碑是由檳華籌賑會於1951年興建,迄今已一甲子,即60年。檳華籌賑會是戰前檳城各華團華僑,為賑濟中國難民而成立的一個臨時組織,和平之後已失去其成立目的,故於1952年解散前,將紀念碑管理權委託公民學校信理會接管紀念碑。
60年來獲保養和維修
根據史料所載,紀念碑底層埋著數百名遭日軍殺害的華裔骨灰。60年來,該管委會一直負責紀念碑之保養和維修、園地之美化責任,並且每年11月11日上午11時舉行公祭。
今年是建碑60年,為吸引更多後來者及遊客,探索紀念碑所負載的戰爭史績,及慘痛歷史教訓,喚醒世人維護世界和平的願望。該管委會發起重新美化紀念碑園地,增加有關史實的建設,提高紀念碑的可觀性及歷史價值。
耗資逾40萬令吉進行紀念碑園地新建設
(一)塑造一座標示當年南僑機工在滇緬公路懸崖硝壁,把大卡車推上峻嶺的高3米長8米的塑像。
(二)興建一道長墻,上雕南僑機工卡車隊在滇緬路上宛延而行,上有日機在轟炸及機鎗掃射,下有萬丈深淵,
形勢險惡,氣勢宏偉。墻身長20米,高2.5米。
(三)豎立一座以和平為主題的和平柱,有11隻飛翔的白鴿浮雕,刻畫世界人類及我國人民期盼世界和平。柱高2米,周長1.2米。
(四)洗刷整座紀念碑,並將碑名文字由平面改為浮形,以便一勞永逸保存原來之字形。
(五)周圍廣植花草灌木,綠化環境。
保存史蹟喚醒後人警惕‧管委會先撥5萬盼公眾接力捐
該管委會率先捐獻5萬令吉,事關保存南僑機工及罹難同胞一段既光輝且悲壯的戰爭史蹟,喚醒後人對戰爭歷史的認知和警惕,希望公眾大力支持,慷慨捐輸。聯絡電話為013-6189838,傳真04-8262297。支票抬頭The Board OfTrustees Of Kong Min School。(星洲日報/大北馬)
As reported in The Star
RM400,000 facelift for Penang anti-Japanese war memorial
By HAFIZ MARZUKHI
hafiz@thestar.com.my
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese War Memorial at the Air Itam roundabout is undergoing a RM400,000 facelift in conjunction with its 60th anniversary.
Kong Min School board of trustees chairman Datuk Chuang Keng Kung said work was expected to be completed by Nov 11.
The memorial was originally built by the Penang China Relief Fund, a Penang-based fund-raising organisation, in memory of the Penang Chinese who died under Japanese occupation in World War II.
New look: The war memorial at the Air Itam roundabout in Penang undergoing major upgrading works.
However, after the organisation was disbanded in 1952, the responsibility of managing the memorial was passed on to the Kong Min School board of trustees.
The whitewashed obelisk commemorates the almost 800 people who are buried nearby.
They consist of martyrs who joined the anti-Japanese resistance movement in China in the 1930s and 1940s as well as victims of Japanese atrocities during the occupation.
Chuang said three features would be added to the memorial to enhance its historical value and tourist appeal.
"They will highlight the memories and painful lessons of the war and instil awareness among the people in promoting peace in the world," he said at a press conference here yesterday.
Chuang said there would be a model of Chinese transport volunteers pushing a truck up a slope along the Burma-Yunnan Road.
"There will also be a relief wall with carvings featuring volunteers and trucks being bombed and shot at by Japanese aircraft as well as a column featuring pigeons circulating around them," he said.
Chuang added that two display panels would also be installed at the entrance to the monument with inscriptions introducing the monument in Malay, English, Chinese and Japanese. Also present at the press conference was Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai.