Malaysia holds ceremony to commemorate WWII victims, Nanyang volunteers

Malaysia held a memorial ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the victims of the war and the Nanyang volunteers.

Began at 8:30 a.m., the ceremony drew hundreds of Malaysian officials, scholars, and members of the public, who observed a moment of silence before laying wreaths.

Among those paying tribute was Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan, herself a descendant of a Nanyang volunteer, one of the overseas Chinese youths who traveled to China during the war to serve on the Burma Road, a lifeline for China against the Japanese blockade, and fight the invaders.

"Standing here today holds special meaning for me. I'm here not only as the minister responsible for the Federal Territories, but also as the descendant of a Nanyang volunteer. My grandfather, the late Mr Yeoh Mah Foo, was one of these courageous men. In 1939, he left Taiping, Perak, to join the Nanyang volunteers and traveled to Yunnan, where he served on the Burma Road. Your names will not be forgotten. Your contributions will be remembered by history," said Hannah.

Taking the anniversary as an opportunity, speakers also sounded warnings that Asian people as a whole should stay vigilant against the reemergence of Japanese militarism.

"The Japanese occupation of Malaya (during WWII) lasted three years and eight months. The period of time brought immense and profound suffering for the Malaysian people. Currently we see the ghost (of militarism) reappearing. The new militarism advanced by Japan's right-wing forces must be watched at all times," said historian Tan Choong Cheng.

Echoing those concerns, Member of Parliament Tan Kok Wai highlighted Japan's growing defense spending despite the tragic lesson of WWII.

"Japan's defense-related budget for fiscal year 2026 has increased to nine trillion and 35.3 billion yen. Expanding the defense industry, strengthening military production, and sustaining combat capability, such moves are deeply unsettling and alarming," he said.

Malaysia holds ceremony to commemorate WWII victims, Nanyang volunteers

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said he sees a brighter future for DPRK-Russia ties in a reply to Russian President Vladimir Putin, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.

Kim, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, sent the reply on Saturday after receiving Putin's message on Friday, which marked the 81st anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II in 1945.

In his message, Putin said the DPRK and Russia were actively cooperating across all sectors and working together to safeguard regional security and stability, according to the KCNA.

Kim also expressed confidence in the reply that Russia's armed forces and people, under Putin's leadership, would succeed in defending the country's sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity, and in building a strong Russia. He wished Putin further success in his work.

The Liberation Day, observed on Aug 15, commemorates the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule.

Separately, the KCNA reported that Kim visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mount Taesong in Pyongyang on Friday to pay tribute to anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters.

A wreath in Kim's name was laid at the cemetery as a ceremonial wreath-laying song was played, the KCNA said. Kim said the fighters' firm convictions and unyielding spirit continued to inspire the DPRK people’s efforts to build the DPRK into a prosperous country.

Kim sees brighter future for DPRK-Russia ties in reply to Putin