Petagas Memorial in 1946. -Photo by Chia Yuk Tet
SABAHANS who lived through the Japanese occupation of North Borneo from 1942 to 1945 called it Musim Jipun (Japanese season). I’ve heard about Musim Jipun from my elders. They told me that life was difficult then.
They only ate cassava as food was scarce. It was a reign of terror as the kempeitai (Japanese military police) beheaded those who rebelled.
