Chapter 4 (The Japanese Occupation Of Brunei 1941 - 1945)

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Chapter 4

JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF BRUNEI (1941 – 1945)

“And fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.” Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 190OFF

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4.1 THE JAPANESE INVASION OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

One reason given by the Japanese for the invasion of Asia was that they wanted to free the Asian nations from colonial rule

Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia

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4.2 THE COMING OF THE JAPANESE IN BRUNEI

• Before the invasion, the Japanese had sent spies to Brunei • During the war, these spies acted as guides to the invading army

• 16 December 1941: Japanese army landed in Kuala Belait

• 22 December 1941: Police headquarters and government offices in Brunei Town captured

• After this, the Japanese army advanced to the north and south of Borneo Island

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4.3 THE JAPANESE ADMINISTRATION IN BRUNEI

Brunei, Labuan, Baram, Limbang, Bintulu and Lawas as one territory administered by the Japanese Thirty-seventh army.

• New administration headed by a Japanese

• Little change in structure of government

• Japanese didn’t care about Brunei, hence there was resentment against themSultan Ahmad Tajuddin with Japanese soldiers

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4.3 THE JAPANESE ADMINISTRATION IN BRUNEI

• People lived in hardship• People resented activities of the Japanese ‘Kempeitai’• People disliked ‘Nipponisation’ efforts

Nipponisation

Buildings to fly the Japanese flag

Everybody to learn the Japanese national anthem and the Japanese language

Japanese stamps and currency introduced, Japanese calendar used

Youth exchange programmes set up

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4.4 LIBERATION BY THE ALLIED FORCES

• 16 Nov 1944 - The Allied forces began liberation of Brunei by bombing Japanese forces in Brunei Town and Kuala Belait.• 10 June 1945 – Australian forces landed in Muara and moved to Brunei Town. They did not face much resistance.

After the war, Brunei was temporarily placed under the British Military Administration

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4.5 EFFECTS OF THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Economic and social development stagnated

Local people suffered due to shortage of food and medical supplies

Seeds of nationalist consciousness were

sown

Brunei students in the exchange programme during the Japanese occupation

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CHAPTER 4: SUMMARY

16 Dec 1941: The Japanese army landed in Kuala Belait 22 Dec 1941: Brunei Town occupied

A system of Miri Shyu was introduced

16 Nov 1944: The Allied forces began rescue operations10 June 1945: Brunei placed under British Military Administration

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CHAPTER 4: SUMMARY

• No social or economic progress• People suffered from shortages of food and medicine• Nationalist consciousness grew• Awareness of self rule was created