Perang Dunia Kedua ajar kita jangan bergantung kuasa asing, kata sejarawan

The legacy of World War II, as recounted by historian Clement Liang, serves as a reminder to Malaysians to look beyond differences and rely on each other during crises, such as the air raids on Penang by American forces in late 1944. These raids, targeting Japanese-occupied George Town, resulted in the destruction of numerous iconic buildings, including St Xavier's School and Fort Cornwallis.

The complex known as Quadrangle also suffered significant damage, with only a small portion of its structure remaining intact. The attack left the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower leaning. Liang, also president of Penang Heritage Trust, emphasized that the raid taught an important lesson to Malaysia: one cannot rely on foreign power for protection.

Instead, individuals must rely on themselves to endure. He attributed the low morale of Penang residents to the British colonial government's withdrawal in 1941, following Japan's attack. Fort Cornwallis had previously been used by Japanese forces to store ammunition before being attacked by Allied forces. "They didn't care about us," Liang said.

He noted that subsequent generations in the country had borne numerous hardships under colonial rule but were ultimately abandoned when facing adversity. Today's growing rhetoric of division and communalism seemingly overlooks the lessons of the war, where one's identity no longer mattered as everyone faced the same destruction.

Liang believes that the experience should teach Malaysians to live together, safeguard the nation, and maintain security. "Without security, this country cannot endure," he stated.