KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie broke down in tears after paying her last respects to the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
Speaking to the media at Masing’s residence here, she recalled serving with the late PRS party president and deputy chief minister for 36 years since she first met him back in 1985.
“I’m at a loss for words. As PRS Women chief, I feel a great loss and I believe many people share my feelings.
“I have known Tan Sri Masing since we were in PBDS (Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak) in 1985 when I was only 25 years old. He was humble, down to earth, approachable and a visionary leader and I always feel like I have something to learn from him,” she said on Monday (Nov 1).
Doris said Masing was a mentor, a boss, a leader and a friend. “(Masing) always tell me that whatever it is, we have to move on. Whatever we do for PRS, the people, we must always think of those in rural areas.”
“He said whatever we do, we have to bring development and progress to make sure those who live in rural areas are able to be brought to mainstream development,” she added.
“He was a visionary leader, inclusive and a great loss to PRS, to Sarawakians and the Dayak community.”
Also present were state Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit) Datuk Abdullah Saidol.
Accompanying him were RTM Sarawak deputy director Norjihan Yahya, TVS chief executive officer Suhaimi Sulaiman, Bernama Sarawak bureau chief Hamdan Ismail, Sarawak Public Communications Unit director Samat Junai and Federation of Sarawak Journalists Associations president Jacqueline Atikah.
“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.
“All the things he had done for Sarawak will be treasured for generations to come and I think he is an important individual in Sarawak’s history.”
Jacqueline, on the other hand, said the media had been working very closely with the late Masing.
“(Masing) recently agreed to provide some contributions to the coming Kenyalang Journalism Awards (KJA) as his sign of support to the media fraternity and industry. We will feel his loss and he will be greatly missed,” she said.
