Here is a bit of Malaya history and the Japanese invasion bicycle infantry. It is mentioned in the book “The Japanese Occupation Of Malaya: A Social And Economic History” written by Paul H. Kratoska. The aggressive Japanese soldiers wore khaki or khaki-green uniforms with hobnailed boots or rubber-soled athletic shoes, and some wore local dress to deceive the British troops.
They traveled by bicycles as a rule in groups of sixty to seventy which moved at the rate of 8-10 miles per hour.
It is said that Japanese troops moved quickly down the Peninsula Malaya and their secret was the use of bicycles of transport; providing Japanese soldiers great mobility in the rubber plantations.
Talking about invasion of Malaya by Japanese and bicycles, today I came across an interesting picture in Malaysia latest news, featuring Prime Minister Najib together with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Gerakan’s Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman and 5,000 schoolchildren in 1Malaysia Charity Ride for Education 2011 cycling event to raise money for education.
It is a charity event but many political observers are saying Najib was “pedalling for votes” for the coming 13th General Election. Whatever it is, Najib and the rest managed to raise RM15 million for Chinese schools.
Ride Quote: “Even though we ride non-polluting bicycles to save mankind, we lock our bikes because we can’t trust mankind” – Unknown
Comments are closed.