KOTA KINABALU: Prominent Sabah adventure guide Tham Yau Kong was overjoyed upon learning that he will be awarded with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II.
The honour, which is the third highest ranking order of the British Empire award, was to recognise his contribution in researching and retracing the World War 2 Sandakan-Ranau Death March route.
"The MBE means so much to me in providing walking tours on the death march especially to those from the United Kingdom.
"The award shows that their government has recognised our commitment and contribution to keep their history," said a delighted Tham upon receiving news from the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur on Valentine's Day (Monday).
Tham said he would be getting an official letter from the British High Commission with more details on why such an award was given to him.
"The MBE will be given at British High Commission Kuala Lumpur. The official letter may arrive in the next few days," said Tham.
On April 2021, he said the High Commission Australia had given him a letter of appreciation.
"And on Monday, I received the message from the British High Commission and the news of the MBE. Our efforts to keep the 'Spirits of Prisoners of War (POWs)' alive has been recognised," said Tham who manages TYK Adventure Tours.
The recognition comes about in August 2020, after 15 years of opening up Sandakan Ranau Death March in 2005.
And due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions in travelling, he said both the Australia and British High Commissions had contacted him directly to show them the route after a virtual ceremony on Aug 15, 2020.
"I had shown them from Beluran right to Kampung Muruk, then staying a night at Sabah Tea Garden. I had given a detailed briefing to those from the Australian and the British High Commissions.
"On Aug 16, 2020, I took a walk across Marakau Hill, then visited the last campsite and the Kundasang War Memorial," said Tham, vowing to do more relating to the second world war history.
The death march route, Tham said, had now been covered by jungle foliage since there was no international tourists due to Covid-19 restrictions.
However, Tham said, they were ready to clean up the route two weeks before the arrival of tourists especially now there was a proposal by National Recovery Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reopen Malaysia's international borders as early as March 2022.
For the death march route, Tham said majority of his visitors were from Australia including relatives of the prisoners of war (POW) while from the UK it was mostly members of the armed forces.
"Usually the British armed forces come for full trek of 240km in 11 days, while the Australia civilians will opt for six days' trek of 110km.
"On average we had four to six groups coming here each year," he said.
The death march route was cut in January 1945 to move the first group of 455 POWs, followed by second group of 536 POWs in May 1945. All POWs from the third group, which left Sandakan in mid-June, died after reaching Beluran.
Of the 2,434 POWs involved in the forced marches, only six men survived after they managed to escape assisted by the locals.
The historical war trail was officially opened in March 2006 and was also documented by the Australian television network - ABC Channel Nine.