IPOH: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to a cemetery in Kuala Lumpur for all members of the Japanese community who had lived and died in Malaysia, has come under heavy criticism.
"On Oct 26, from 13.42pm, for approximately 5mins, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited the Japanese Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur and offered flowers to pay tribute to the Japanese nationals who lost their lives in Malaysia.
"Following this, from 13.57pm for approximately 10mins on the same day, she visited the National Monument of Malaysia (Tugu Negara) and laid a wreath," said the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry on its official website.
Takaichi was in Kuala Lumpur for the 47th Asean Summits and Related Summits.
However, social media users were quick to question Takaichi’s actions, calling them ironic, as many soldiers and civilians were killed resisting Japan’s invasion of Malaya in 1941.
A user by the name of ‘Lucas The Black Walla’ said honouring Japanese soldiers without acknowledging the atrocities they committed in Malaya was profoundly offensive.
Another user, who went by the name ‘Malaysian IGOT7’, also wrote: “Have you as a country, ever publicly apologised for the invasion and occupation of Malaya, while inflicting sufferings and trauma to the people which some still carry to this very day(?)”
Meanwhile, netizen ‘Malaya Singapore’ pointed out that the visit was not a good look for the newly elected Japanese prime minister.
During Japan’s invasion and occupation of Malaya from 1941 to 1945, the Japanese Army carried out numerous acts of brutality against civilians.
Among them were executions, rape and forced labour, especially targeting communities suspected of aiding anti-Japanese movements.
