Peace Park or locally known as Taman Damai was built to commemorate the fallen soldiers whom fought in Borneo Island and its surrounding waters during the World War 2. This park also mark as a symbol or prayer to world peace with hopes of building a better relationship and prosperity between two countries, that are Malaysia and Japan.
Peace Park located in Kg Layang – Layangan, near to the beach. If you’re taking public transport, take a ride on bus number 4. Take a taxi or hail a Grab.
The park construction was completed with the collaboration from Malaysian Government, Sabah State, Majlis Perbandaran Labuan (now Labuan Corporation) and Japan Government. The park construction was finalized with contributions from Japan Shipbuiilding Industry Foundation (chaired by Mr Ryoichi Sasagawa) and from the support of the fallen’s families, comrades and industrial firms.
Surrender Point
Next to the Peace Park / Taman Damai, lays a Surrender Point Memorial.
Labuan and the Japanese Surrender
At 9.15 on the morning of 10 June 1945 an Australian assault force commenced landing at Labuan Island’s Victoria Harbour. Supported by the naval gunfire, mortars and artillerty the Australians met no resistance as they came ashore on a strip of sand codenamed ‘Brown Beach’.
As the day wore on, however, opposition increased. The 2/43rd Battalion suffered just a handful of casualties in occupying the airfield and a company of the 2/28th battalion were soimilarly successful in taking the town of Labuan. But elsewhere Australian units found themselves engaged in heavy fighting.
Over the course of the following day the 2/28th Battalion faced the main Japanese force. Making slow progress, Australian tanks and infantry engaged well dug-in Japanese troops who, by 12 June, were retreating into a natural stronghold which became known as ‘the Pocket’. Within two days of the Australian landings this remained the only area of Japanese resistance on Labuan. it became the target of a fierce bombardment from land, sea and air while infantry, supported by tanks, engaged the Japanese on the ground. Fighting for ‘the Pocket’ finally ended when flame throwing tanks supported the final assaults.
Labuan was declared free of Japanese troops on 21 June 1945. Having succeeded in capturing the island, Australian troops remained on Labuan carrying out engineering and construction work.
On 10 September 1945 the Australian Major General George Wootten accepted the unconditional surrender of Lieutenant General Masao Baba, the Supreme Japanese Commander in Borneo and Commander of the 37th japanese Army of the Southern Area, during a surrender ceremony, held at the headquarters on the 9th Austalian Division of Labuan island.
Location of Peace Park & Surrender Point
Nearby attraction
This place is crowd attraction during weekend as there are plenty of food stalls selling grilled chicken wing and satay nearby. Sunset view from this side of Labuan is beautiful on good weather.