Memorial held in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate people massacred during Japanese occupation

People from all walks of life in Malaysia gathered at a monument in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to commemorate victims massacred during the Japanese occupation period during World War II.

The event was held at the Monument to the Malayan Victims of the Japanese Occupation in KL Hokkien Cemetery, the resting place of the remains of hundreds of resistance fighters who laid down their lives during the occupation (1942-1945).

Wreaths adorned the monument, while the banner reading "lest we forget" served as a solemn reminder of that heavy memory.

On January 11, 1942, Japanese forces captured Kuala Lumpur. During the Japanese occupation period, the people of all ethnic groups of Peninsula Malaya, currently known as Peninsula Malaysia, suffered brutal mass killings and cruel rule.

Representatives from diplomatic missions of China, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries in Malaysia attended the memorial event.

Participants called for greater vigilance against the revival of militarism and a shared commitment to remembering historical truths and safeguarding peace, especially in light of the complex and volatile international landscape.

"Malaysia was subjected to Japanese occupation for three years and eight months. During this period, the atrocities committed by Japanese forces against the people of Malaya filled us with profound sorrow. To this day, the Japanese government has yet to issue a formal apology for the suffering inflicted upon the people of Malaya. For us, this remains unforgivable," said a participant.

"We hope Japan will learn from its lesson as a defeated country in World War II and acknowledge the undeniable fact that its acts of aggression resulted in the senseless slaughter of millions of innocent lives," Tan Kok Wai, member of parliament for Cheras.

Regarding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, Tan said Takaichi's comments are causing trouble and that she should apologize.

The international community should remain vigilant against the resurgence of Japanese militarism, he added.

"History has repeatedly proved that the resurgence of militarism rarely begins with war, but rather with language and narratives. For Asia, should Japan return to the military forefront under the pretext of 'other countries' emergency,' it will inevitably stir historical memories, undermine the post-war consensus, and heighten regional tensions," Tan said.

Memorial held in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate people massacred during Japanese occupation

Memorial held in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate people massacred during Japanese occupation

China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.

The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.

Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.

Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.

The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.

Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.

"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.

China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth