AUSTRALIAN, NEW ZEALAND WAR VETERANS GATHER IN KUCHING FOR COMMEMORATION SERVICE
KUCHING, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The Independence Month celebration reached another peak when a commemoration service to mark the 57th anniversary of the end of the Indonesian Confrontation in 1966 was held at the Sarawak Heroes’ Memorial Park here today.
Attended by 30 Australian veterans and 28 from New Zealand as well as members of the Sarawak Veterans' Association, the event marked Malaysia’s continued recognition of the Commonwealth military’s contribution during the confrontation period, said New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia Pam Dunn.
“Malaysians have not forgotten your (the veterans) service and you are all heroes in their eyes. Today is a day to remember and reflect, to honour your contributions and sacrifices, and to commemorate those who fell,” she said when delivering her speech here, today.
The program was also held to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Malayan Emergency in 1960.
During the Confrontation from 1962 to 1966, Australian and New Zealand units fought in Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia as part of a larger Commonwealth force under the overall British command.
Meanwhile, President of the South Australia and Northern Territory Branch of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Australia (NMBVAA) Major (Rtd) Paul Rosenzweig said 71 Australian servicemen lost their lives on operational service during the Malayan Emergency and Confrontation.
“This includes 11 of them who died in defending Sarawak during the Confrontation,” he said, adding that the family of the veterans also gathered to pay tribute with a total of 12 wreaths presented in front of the Sarawak Heroes Memorial Park.
-- BERNAMA
