Japanese occupation of Malaya
Malaya, then under British administration, was gradually occupied by Japanese forces between 8 December 1941 and the Allied surrender at Singapore on 15 February 1942. The Japanese remained in occupation until their surrender to the Allies in 1945. The first Japanese garrison in Malaya to lay down their arms was in Penang on 2 September 1945 aboard HMS Nelson.
For the occupation in East Malaysia, see Japanese occupation of British Borneo. For the Thai occupation of northern Malaya, see Si Rat Malai.
Japanese-occupied MalayaMalai (マライ, Marai)
8 December 1941a
8 December 1942
31 January 1942
15 February 1942
18 October 1943
2 September 1945
12 September 1945
1 April 1946
Aftermath[edit]
Repatriation[edit]
Japanese troops who remained in Malaya, Java, Sumatra, and Burma at the end of the war were transferred to Rempang and Galang Islands from October 1945 on to await repatriation to Japan. Galang was renamed Sakae by the troops. Lieutenant-General Ishiguro was put in charge of the island by the Allies under supervision of five British officers. More than 200,000 Japanese troops passed through the island under Operation Exodus.[77] A newspaper reported that Kempeitai troops were mistreated by their compatriots. The last troops left the islands in July 1946.[78]
In addition to Japanese troops, some 7,000 Japanese civilians who had lived in Malaya prior to or during the occupation were also repatriated to Japan.[79]