by Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 9: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg expressed sadness and conveyed his condolences over the demise of former Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit.
“He had contributed a lot to Sarawak’s politics and he had done a lot for his constituency as well as in his role as the deputy minister in the federal government,” he told reporters after the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2019 closing ceremony at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here this afternoon.
“We sympathise and it is a loss to us but he had been sick for quite some time,” he added.
The late Dawos, who suffered from nasal cancer over the past few years breathed his last at the age of 70 at his residence at Stutong Park around 11.30pm yesterday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the late Dawos was a dedicated leader who had helped immensely in building up Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) especially within the Bidayuh community.
“It is a great loss for all of us especially our party and I wish to convey my condolences to the family over his demise,” he added.
“He was a long-time friend even before he entered politics. He was also my ‘book’ of reference on the environment and a number of times I brought him along to attend climate change conferences overseas, the last one in Copenhagen like maybe in 2009,” he recalled.
Uggah also emphasised that the late Dawos was very knowledgeable about the environment and thus always played an important role in the sector.
The late Dawos, who was also a former Mambong MP, was Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water from 2015-2018.
Prior to that, Dawos was the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 2013-2015, and Deputy Tourism Minister from 2009-2013. — DayakDaily
