Cho Huan Lai Memorial, War memorial monument in Keningau, Malaysia
This is a war memorial monument in Keningau featuring a 4-meter-high stone stele with a rectangular cross-section and red Chinese characters carved into its surface. The structure stands near the former airfield and showcases the straightforward design typical of memorials from that period.
The monument commemorates five individuals, including Chinese Consul General Cho Huan Lai, who were executed by Japanese forces on July 6, 1945. This execution represented one of the most tragic moments of Japanese occupation in Sabah at the end of the Second World War.
The inscriptions visible in both English and Chinese reflect the diversity of Sabah's communities during the Second World War. You can see how different groups in the region shared this place and its meaning.
The memorial is located near the former airfield and can be reached through the main roads of Keningau town. The site is relatively easy to find and accessible from the town center without requiring special transportation arrangements.
A bronze plaque lists the names of five people from different professions: a consul, a chief secretary, a doctor, an engineer, and a planter. This diversity shows how the occupation affected people across different social and professional backgrounds.
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