We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.

(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)

Press Cutting - No Stopping The Advancing Japanese

Thumbnail :

Subject :Press Cutting - No Stopping The Advancing Japanese
Published By : New Straits Times 
Location : Kuala Lumpur
Estimated Year : 2009
Media Type : Article
Source : Ian Anderson, Ipoh
Remark :

The press cutting in this entry is the second part (4th February 2009) of a series that began a week ago (27th January 2009) by Sager Ahmad which contains 3 articles;

  • Destroyed bridges fail to slow down invaders

This particular article covers on how the British attempted to destroy bridges in the hope of slowing down the advancing Japanese forces but failed as the Japanese were able to repair and use them. Bridges like the Guillemard bridge in Machang, Iskandar bridge in Kuala Kangsar which was repaired within a week by the Japanese, and a bridge at Parit Sulong, Johor. 

  • Bravery, stupidity and a defeat made by colonial efficiency

This article writes about despite the bravery and heroism among the retreating troops there were others who were oblivious to the gravity of the situation and stuck to their pre-war lifestyle where they insisted on working 5 1/2 days a week.

Britain's greatest "foe" according to the article was its efficiency in governing its colonies. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji, chief planner of the invasion said:

"Thanks to "British Prime Minister Sir Winston) Churchill making good rail lines and motor roads, our troops could travel smoothly all the way to Singapore". "When we captured the Alor Star and Ipoh aerodomes, we used Churchill's bombs and petrol to attack his troops".

  • Fortresses that didn't fire a shot

The final article in this series is about a fortress that was constructed at Tanjung Pengerang, Johor which was to be used as the main defence against the invading Japanese army but did not see any action in the end. 

The assumption was that the Japanese Imperial Navy would attack the British Far East naval headquarters in Singapore. To do so, it was surmised, Japanese warships must sail through the narrow Middle Channel along the east coast of the peninsula and thus become easy targets for coastal guns. As such, the complex had no anti-aircraft guns. As it was, the soldiers stationed there could only watch in dismay when Japanese warplanes flew by on their bombing raid of Singapore at 3am on Dec 8, 1941, a few hours after they landed in Kelantan at the start of the invasion.

According to Ariffin Ahmad, a villager in Pengerang, the coastal battery complex was stripped of large metal parts right after the war ended in 1945.

"The heavy brass doors were the first to go but later on even the electrical wires and metal conduits were stolen."

To see a photograph of Japanese troops using bicycles during the invasion of Malaya, click here.

Filename : 20180418-003