By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 1: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit) Datuk Abdullah Saidol today leads the State media to pay last respects to the late Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
Accompanying him were RTM Sarawak Deputy director Norjihan Yahya, Sarawak Media Group executive director Sarbini Hamdan, TVS chief executive officer Suhaimi Sulaiman, Bernama Sarawak bureau chief Hamdan Ismail, Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) director Samat Junai, Sarawak Information (Japen) deputy director-general Ajes Tuah and Federation of Sarawak Journalists Associations (FSJA) president Jacqueline Atikah.
Speaking to reporters outside the late Masing’s residence in Jalan Ong Tian Swee, Kuching, Abdullah said with Masing’s passing, the State has lost a veteran leader who is very important in the history of Sarawak.
“As a young leader, I appreciate every moment and opportunity that I had in meeting him personally where he also shared the struggle of Dayak politics.
“What I remember the most is that he told me that it is okay to be racial or fighting for the welfare of your own people so long as you never cross the line of racism and bigotry,” he said.
Masing’s passing is also a sad moment for the media fraternity.
As a leader who was in the government administration, Masing was usually approachable and always kept in touch with the media to ensure that information is conveyed perfectly between the government and the public.
Jacqueline who is also a journalist herself said the media had been working very closely to the late Masing.
She also disclosed that Masing had recently agreed to provide some contribution to the coming Kenyalang Journalism Awards (KJA) as his sign of support towards the media fraternity and industry.
“We will feel his loss and he will be greatly missed,” she said.
The late Masing, 72, had passed away around 7.05am yesterday morning at Normah Sarawak Medical Centre, Kuching due to heart complications. His latest Covid-19 test result was found to be negative.
He is survived by his wife, Puan Sri Dato Corrine Masing and two daughters and a son. He has two daughters from an earlier marriage. — DayakDaily.
