LINDETEVES-JACOBERG LIMITED 荷蘭公司

1973 to 1974 I worked in LINDETEVES-JACOBERG LIMITED 荷蘭公司 as a costing clerk. The head office of this company at that time was in Singapore. This branch office in Sabah is under general manager Wong Chien Hin.

Decades later, I learned that Wong Chien Hin 黃全興 was regarded by China as a  young hero during the Japanese War in the 1942-1945.

Wong Chien Hin was born in 1929 in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu)

During WW2 when Japanese conquered North Borneo (now Sabah), Wong Chien Hin was a teen age 16-19. He would cycled several miles from home to the 3rd Mile POW Detention Camp in Jesselton to deliver foods for his father 黄永清.  His father and several other local Hakka Chinese were detained in the POW camp by the Japanese army for their involvement in Overseas Chinese Salvation Association
Overseas Chinese Salvation Association (Oversea Chinese Defense Association) was an Anti Japanese that support the defeat of the Japanese Army.

Together with Wong Yen Chin 黄永清 group in the prison cell were also a group of captured 12 Western solders. One day a POW from China was also joint them in the prison. He was not an ordinery local Chinese but  is Cho Huan Lai 卓還來領事,  the Consul General for the Chinese in Borneo based in Sandakan. He looks after the welfare of the Chinese and an ambassador for the Chinese Nationalist government in China since 1940.

The Japanese entered Sandakan on 19 January 1942 and the first place they went was the Consulate office of Cho Huan Lai卓還來領事. He was beaten up first by the Japanese and then arrested along with the rest of the European community. Dr Stooke and Harry Webber were also arrested at the same time.

Cho Huan Lai卓還來was put into Batu Lintang camp in Kuching for some time before transferring back to camp in Kota Kinabalu. In Batu Lintang camp all the internees were put into working parties as force labors doing construction work. Cho 卓還來, who was detailed to work outside of the camp started to received news sheet from the local Chinese about the progress of the war. He translated and distributed the news to other internees until he was found out in May 1944. Cho 卓還來, along with Dr Stookes, Donald, Cyril and Webber and four others were arrested and tried, found guilty and sent to Kuching. Later on they were transferred to Jesselton at Batu Tiga Prison in January 1945.

In was in Kota Kinabalu camp Cho Huan Lai卓還來 was put together with Wong Yen Chin 黄永清 groups in the same prison.
Foods being shortage during the war, to reduce food consumption, the Japanese camp allow the POW to receive daily meal supply by the family members and friends. This was how Wong Yen Chin 黄永清 and his group got their meals every day - from their sons and wife who took turn to deliver to them in the prison.
They share their foods with Cho Huan Lai卓還來 (and most probable with the other 12 Western POW in the same prison room )

Cho Huan Lai卓還來 was frail and gaunt when just arrive from Batu Lintang Camp. By now in Jesselton, because of adequate daily supply of food, Cho's physical strength improved. This was greatly due to the risk taking volunteering food delivery services of this young Wong Chien Hin 黃全興, the son of Wong Yen Chin 黄永清.

Wong Chien Hin 黃全興 was only 16 years old, living in plantation in Menggatal in 8th mile. Twice per day he would cycled from home at Mile 8 to Batu Tiga Prison at Mile 3 to deliver foods to the POW.

January 5, 1945, Wong Yen Chin 黄永清 was released from prison but he continue to arrange his son to sent foods to Cho Huan Lai卓還來 in the prison. At this time of 1945, Allied Army were in the process to liberate Borneo with regular air bombing.  Many unprotected civilian were killed and injured during bombing. Concerning about the young man's safety, Cho Huan Lai卓還來advised Wong Chien Hin 黃全興 to stop delivery foods.  But the young man did not timid out, he insisted supplying foods every days.

Touched by this young man courage, Cho Huan Lai卓還來 offer to help him to go to further study in China as soon as the war end.

But Cho Huan Lai卓還來 was unable to live to see his promise come true.

In March 1945  Batu Tiga Prison in Jesselton was bomb and strafed by Allied planes and the Police Compound was not sparred. Cho and 4 other were moved to Bulu Silou in Keningau for further internment
On July 6 1945 at 6:30am, Cho and four others were woken up and loaded into the back of the lorry. They were brought to a ditch in an open field just opposite the Keningau airfield, a location not far from Keningau town. The Japanese dragged the five from the lorry as their hands were tied behind their backs and beating them savagely before delivering the final act. After much beating, they were beheaded and their bodies were kicked into the ditch.

July 10, 1945 The War ended with the landing of the Australians 9th Division on Labuan Island. Just only 4 days before freedom, the Japanese murdered Cho and the 4  to ensure that they will not live to see the great day of freedom. What a cruelty on human being.

But Cho Huan Lai卓還來's promise to Wong Chien Hin 黃全興 was picked up by the Chinese Government in Nanjing immediately after the war.

The  postwar Nanjing Government invited Wong Chien Hin 黃全興 to further study in China.
Although there was this opportunities to China, Wong felt Singapore was more suitable for his interest in electrical and mechanical engineering. So he give up the Chinese's  offer.

After graduating from the University of Singapore, Wong 黃全興 return to Kota Kinabalu and started his own company and joint venture with LINDETEVES-JACOBERG LIMITED 荷蘭公司. The  business as distributor of heavy equipment, motors and wood working machineries.

I was born 8 years after the war. 1973 to 1974 I worked in LINDETEVES-JACOBERG LIMITED 荷蘭公司 as a costing clerk.