Malaysia: Malaysia holds ceremony to commemorate WWII victims, Nanyang volunteers.

Malaysia held a memorial ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the victims of the war and the Nanyang volunteers. Began at 8:30 a.m., the ceremony drew hundreds of Malaysian officials, scholars, and members of the public, who observed a moment of silence before laying wreaths. Among those paying tribute was Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan, herself a descendant of a Nanyang volunteer, one of the overseas Chinese youths who traveled to China during the war to serve on the Burma Road, a lifeline for China against the Japanese blockade, and fight the invaders. Taking the anniversary as an opportunity, speakers also sounded warnings that Asian people as a whole should stay vigilant against the reemergence of Japanese militarism. Echoing those concerns, Member of Parliament Tan Kok Wai highlighted Japan's growing defense spending despite the tragic lesson of WWII. Shotlist: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 15, 2026: 1. Various of WWII memorial ceremony in progress; condolence flowers; participants paying tribute, laying wreaths; 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan, Federal Territories Minister (partially overlaid with shot 3): "Standing here today holds special meaning for me. I'm here not only as the minister responsible for the Federal Territories, but also as the descendant of a Nanyang volunteer. My grandfather, the late Mr Yeoh Mah Foo, was one of these courageous men. In 1939, he left Taiping, Perak, to join the Nanyang volunteers and traveled to Yunnan, where he served on the Burma Road. Your names will not be forgotten. Your contributions will be remembered by history." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 3. Various of participants paying tribute in front of WWII Hibiscus Memorial Tower [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 4. Various of participants "The Japanese occupation of Malaya (during WWII) lasted three years and eight months. The period of time brought immense and profound suffering for the Malaysian people. Currently we see the ghost (of militarism) reappearing. The new militarism advanced by Japan's right-wing forces must be watched at all times."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 6. Various of Liberal Democratic Party building, security guard; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2024 7. Various of National Diet building, national flag; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 15, 2026 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tan Kok Wai, Member of Parliament: "Japan's defense-related budget for fiscal year 2026 has increased to nine trillion and 35.3 billion yen. Expanding the defense industry, strengthening military production, and sustaining combat capability, such moves are deeply unsettling and alarming."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date unknown 9. Various of Ministry of Defense. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]