KUCHING – In a ceremony at Astana Negeri Sarawak on 9 September 2025, the 1945 Japanese Surrender (Original Document) was formally handed over to His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar by Michael Eastick, grandson of Brigadier General Sir Thomas Eastick, who commanded the Kuching Force that accepted the surrender of Japanese forces in Borneo in September 1945.
The handover marked the symbolic culmination of Japanese occupation in Borneo on 11 September 1945, when General Eastick received the surrender from Japanese General Yamamura aboard HMAS Kapunda.
Tun Pehin Sri expressed gratitude for the document, highlighting its value in augmenting Sarawak’s historical archives and serving as a reference for future generations.
To deepen public engagement and preserve wartime heritage, he has asked Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to assess the feasibility of establishing a War Museum dedicated to the Japanese occupation, the communist insurgency, and the period of confrontation with Indonesian forces.
He envisioned the museum as a commemorative space for both local and foreign veterans and fighters, featuring displays of books, photographs, journals, military uniforms, official documents, and other archival materials. Contributions from historians, local and international, were welcomed to enrich its collection.
Following the handover, Tun Pehin Sri and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi inspected an exhibition of colonial-era medals and Sarawak government flags from the British period.
The Governor also extended his appreciation to delegations from Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, who accompanied Michael Eastick and represent descendants of veterans who fought alongside Sarawakians during the liberation.
