KUCHING: Esteemed reporter and journalist, James Alexander Ritchie, pays homage to the late Chief Minister Adenan Satem with the release of his latest book, ‘The Legacy of Adenan Satem’.
With a friendship spanning over 35 years, James aims to capture and honour Adenan’s remarkable legacy through this publication.
“As a reporter myself, I have been collecting information on Adenan since the very beginning. The contents of the book draw from my personal experiences, conversations, and a wealth of photographs featuring Premier Abang Jo, Tun Taib, and the late Adenan Satem,” James shared.
Presenting a comprehensive account of Adenan’s life, the book recounts his formative years in Kuching, his political career, educational background, and his influential tenure as Chief Minister.
Comprising 110 pages divided into 17 chapters, James hopes this book will serve as a poignant reminder of Adenan’s enduring impact.
“This book is a memento, a way to remember him. It is all too easy for people to forget our leaders, and this work aims to ensure Adenan is remembered,” James said.
During the book launch event held at Telang Usan Hotel yesterday, 100 complimentary copies of ‘The Legacy of Adenan Satem’ were distributed to attendees.
Their relationship began during the ‘Ming Court Affair’ in 1987, a fiercely contested political battle in which Adenan, representing the ruling party, narrowly triumphed over the opposition.
Having commenced his journalism career in Kuala Lumpur with the national paper New Strait Times, James dedicated a decade to his work there before venturing into Sarawak.
Born in Penang, James relocated to Sarawak and enrolled in St Thomas’ Secondary School, Kuching, in 1969. In 2002, he further pursued his Master of Arts in Mass Communication at the Atlantic International University in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Recognised for his compelling crime stories during the 1970s, James has authored over 100 stories on Sarawak’s indigenous communities, contributing to publications such as the New Strait Times, The Star, Eastern Times, and New Sarawak Tribune.
Throughout his illustrious career, James has been honoured with approximately 20 journalism awards, including the prestigious Ang Lai Soon Gold Award in 1985 and three Shell Kenyalang Gold awards in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Additionally, he has received six Shell Kenyalang Runners-Up awards.
In 2020, James was bestowed the title of ‘Tokoh Media Sarawak,’ and at the age of 68, he was honoured with the Shell Kenyalang Gold Award for feature writing in 2018.
James currently has several projects in progress, including forthcoming stories such as ‘Bruno Manser – At Peace with the Spirits,’ ‘Forever Green: The History of the Sarawak Forests,’ and ‘BAREFOOT IN THE FORESTS: A Writer’s 40-Year Chronicle.’
