By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 7: The late Datuk Song Swee Guan took his final journey past the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) headquarters today, the institution he helped shape as its first mayor, as the council pledged to carry on his legacy of serving the city and its people.
His cortege passed MBKS during a funeral procession and ceremony attended by Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, councillors, management and staff, who gathered to honour the man who played a foundational role in Kuching’s transformation into a city.
In his tribute, Wee described Song as not only Kuching South’s first mayor but also a senior, friend and mentor to him personally.
“Today, I do not want to remember him only by the positions he held. I want to remember the man I knew,” he said in his text speech.
Song devoted a significant part of his life to public service, serving as chairman of the Kuching Municipal Council before becoming the first Mayor of Kuching South when Kuching attained city status in 1988.
He also served as a State assemblyman, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
Wee said Song’s contribution to Kuching began even before the city was formally elevated to city status, when he was already serving as chairman of the municipal council.
“He was there at the beginning. There was no earlier Kuching South City Council administration for him to follow. He and his team had to lay the foundation and establish the direction for the new city administration,” he added.
Wee said successive MBKS administrations continued to build on the foundation laid by Song and his team.
“Today, when we walk into MBKS, when we serve the people of Kuching South, and when we continue to develop this city, we are walking on a path that pioneers like Datuk Song helped to create.
“For that, every mayor who came after him owes him a debt of gratitude. I certainly do,” he said.
Beyond his official positions, Wee said Song was remembered for his humility, warmth and sincerity.
“He did not carry his titles in the way he treated people. He remained approachable, humble, warm and sincere. That was one of the greatest lessons I learned from him,” he said.
Even after retirement, Song remained part of the MBKS family and was regularly invited back to the council, Wee added.
His contribution was also commemorated in 2021 when MBKS renamed the Tabuan Jaya Neighbourhood Park as Mayor Song Swee Guan Park.
“His name is there, but his legacy is much bigger than a name on a signboard. His legacy is in this Council. His legacy is in this city,” he said.
Wee highlighted that Song’s final journey past MBKS was particularly poignant.
“Today your final journey brings you past MBKS once again. This time, all of us are standing here to see you off. As the present Mayor, standing here to bid farewell to our first Mayor is something very difficult for me. Personally, I have lost a mentor and a friend,” he expressed.
Looking ahead, Wee pledged that MBKS would continue the work Song helped begin.
“We will continue the work. We will continue to serve the people. And we will continue to take care of the city that you loved and helped to build. Today, Kuching South says farewell to one of the men who helped shape its history. But we will not forget you.
“Your journey with us may have ended, but your place in the history and heart of Kuching South will remain forever,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
