BANTING: Warrior's Day on July 31 is highly revered for the sacrifices and services rendered by past and present veterans.
The Malaysian Armed Forces Indian Veterans Welfare Association (MAFIVWA) did likewise by paying tribute to the tens of thousands of Indian troops, who answered the call by British allied forces to defend Malaya during World War 2.
The amphibious landing on Sept 9, 1945, was codenamed "Operation Zipper", and was one of the largest to mark the return of the Allied Forces to liberate Malaya from the Japanese Imperial Army.
MAFIVWA president Sergeant (Rtd) Datuk V. Sundaraju recalled the many Indian soldiers who joined Malayan and Commonwealth forces to resist the Japanese army (who occupied Malaya and Singapore during from 1941 to 1945).
"Many of them risked life and limb to defend our nation. We owe them our gratitude and salute them for liberating us from Japanese rule," said Sundaraju, who is also a Kuala Langat town councilor.
Recalling the amphibious landing by Indian and British troops at Morib beach in Banting, Selangor, on Sept 9, 1945, Sundaraju said it was a very successful tactical operation after the official surrender of Japan.
"It boosted the morale of our local troops and led towards the laying down of arms by Japanese forces in this region, which allowed peace to return," said Sundaraju.
MAFIVWA and the Indian High Commission recently organised a yoga session at Morib beach for veterans, their families and locals in Banting.
It was in conjunction with the International Yoga Day and India's 75th Independence Day. The event was near the site of a memorial erected to mark the amphibious landing of the allied troops.
Present were Kuala Langat member of parliament Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Indian defence adviser Colonel Sanjeev Vijayakumar Sarma and yoga master Sandeep Kumar Wankhade.
The veterans and Sanjeev earlier paid tribute to the late Jacob Mathews, a former teacher who was instrumental in erecting the memorial.
Meanwhile, Sanjeev said the amphibious landing comprised largely of the 23rd and 25th Indian Divisions, with a total of 42,651 troops, 3,968 armoured vehicles and 11,224 tonnes of stores.
"Among those involved in the amphibious landing were two distinguished officers -- Lt-Col K.S. Thimmaya (later General K.S. Thimmaya of the sixth Indian Army chief) and second lieutenant Zia ul Haq (later General Zia ul Haq, who became the sixth president of Pakistan).
"A wreath-laying ceremony is carried out at the memorial every year on Sept 9 to commemorate this historic event," said Sanjeev.
Sanjeev added that Indian troops had also fought and defended Malaya against Japanese assaults during WW2 in Jitra, Slim River, Kampar and Kota Baru.
"The struggle of these troops and their sacrifices merit recording in the annals of Malaysian history for the benefit of future generations," said Sanjeev.
"Operation Zipper" was initially planned to recapture Port Swettenham (now Port Klang) and Port Dickson, but was scaled down after Japan officially surrendered on Sept 2, 1945.
