TKY Adventure Tours manager Tham, 60, said the letter signed by the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski, dated April 29, was presented by the Australian Honorary Consul to Sabah, Andrew Sim, recently.
He said the letter mentioned that his research had created new interest about chapters in Australian military history that had yet to be explored, especially the Sandakan-Ranau death march, and helped to provide valuable insight into that World War II incident.
“The letter also said that my research had strengthened Australia-Malaysia military and community ties, promoted bilateral relations, and helped preserve the memory and courage of the fallen heroes, and their contribution to the liberation of Malaysia.
“The Sandakan-Ranau death march began at the Sandakan prison camp at Batu 8, and ended at the Ranau prison camp, spanning a total distance of 265km, and took 10 days to complete,” he told reporters here today.
The Sandakan-Ranau death march route was used by the Japanese army in 1945 to move Australian and British prisoners of war, and in which a total of 2,428 prisoners died.
Tham said he was appointed by NGO Sabah Society to identify the route, based on maps drawn by a team searching for war graves in 1947, and his expedition to identify the route lasted from 2005 to 2006.
“In-depth information and details provided by villagers were the main sources in locating the Sandakan-Ranau death march route. Wartime artifacts and remains were found in Lolosing Forest, which is a restricted area as it was the Japanese army’s ammunition dump,” he said.
He added that the historic Sandakan-Ranau route was opened officially in March 2006, and documented by ABC Channel Nine, an Australian television channel.
Tham hoped that the route would be promoted as a tourism product so that Sabah would be better known in the historical tourism sector, capable of attracting Australian and British tourists.
“Locals are less interested in historical tourism compared with the Australians and British, especially those from the military who enjoy exploring the route,” he said.
He added that he felt lucky to have had the opportunity to show part of the trail personally to Goledzinowski during his visit to Sabah from Aug 15 to 16 last year, in conjunction with the Sandakan Memorial Day.