What was intended as a day of celebration to mark the end of the Japanese Occupation of Malaya turned into a protest today.

A 30-strong group of Chinese Malaysians submitted a memorandum to the Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur, to protest prime minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to a war shrine that honours soldiers who died during World War II.

Koizumi's visit early today to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours 2.5 million Japanese war dead including 14 top war criminals, came on the 61st anniversary of Japan's World War II defeat.

They handed over a five-point memorandum to embassy officials to condemn the shrine visit.

"As long as the Japanese politicians visit the shrine, it should be regarded as an act of provocation and it should be strongly condemned," the memorandum said.

70-year-old Tan Kai Hee, secretary of Malaysia Patriotic Association - an umbrella organisation representing Chinese societies - said the memorandum was also signed by the Xiang Lian Malaysian Youth Association.

The protestors, who gathered in front of the embassy at 11.30am, left about an hour later.

"It was inappropriate for the prime minister to visit the war shrine because (this is offensive to) people around the world. If he continues to do so, we will show our dissatisfaction by protesting," Tan told reporters.

"Koizumi's visit has a negative impact. He admires the war criminals. If that is so, it may encourage the young to stage another war. This is what we are worried about."

Revival of militarism

He said the memorandum expressed the groups' anger and dissatisfaction over Koizumi's visit, and expressed concern that this signalled the revival of militarism.

Tan also said Koizumi's action would have a negative impact on the relationship between the Japanese and Chinese peoples around the world.

The Japanese army ended its occupation of Malaya on Aug 15, 1945 after three years and eight months. During this time, it had singled out the Chinese community for the brunt of its brutality.

Tan, who witnessed Japanese atrocities during the occupation, said that the old wounds have not yet healed.

"Today is exactly the day the Japanese surrendered. We are all the victims of the war. Our hearts are still bleeding," he said.

China and South Korea view the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of Tokyo's past imperialism and have refused top-level encounters with Koizumi due to his repeated visits.


Additional reporting by AFP