National Museum to mark 67th year of the end of Japanese occupation

SINGAPORE: The National Museum is marking the 67th anniversary of the end of Japanese rule in Singapore on Wednesday by helping visitors re—live the heroic experiences of those who braved the occupation years.

It added four permanent exhibits to its World War Two display at the Singapore History Gallery, showing portraits, documents and accounts from living relatives that have never been shared before.

The first exhibit details the heroic tale of a volunteer truck driver, Mr Teo Tian Soo, when he was working on the notorious Yunnan—Burma Highway.

Thousands like Mr Teo died keeping this vital supply line open so that soldiers of the Allied forces in China could keep fighting the Japanese invaders.

Another exhibit tells the stories of war victims, including Mr Teo Beng Wan, who was the grandfather of Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

He was among thousands of Chinese men rounded up and killed during the Sook Ching Massacre for suspected anti—Japanese activities.

There is an exhibit that recounts the tragedy for Chinese community leader, Neo Tiew, who had supported the anti—Japanese resistance movement.

35 members of his family, including a two—month old baby, were massacred by the Japanese.

The fourth new exhibit highlights the sufferings of Eurasians in Singapore through an account of the Bahau land settlement project by the Japanese.

The project to resettle Singapore’s Eurasian community in Malaya failed and many settlers died from disease and malnutrition.

— CNA/xq