IF there is one characteristic of James Jemut Masing that his political opponents remember most is the way he talked to them.

The Sarawak deputy chief minister died earlier today. He was 72.

Sarawak PKR acting chairman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh in a Facebook post today said: “I know him (Masing) as a politician who, when he spoke with us, will definitely do so in a soft tone.”

He even included a photo of them, both wearing their respective party shirts, in his post, and told The Malaysian Insight that the photo was “taken many years ago” in an event in Mukah.

It was most probably during the Balingian by-election in 2014.

Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party president Lina Soo also recalls Masing’s soft-spoken nature.

“He was always a caring, friendly, humble and soft-spoken person,” she wrote in a post on Facebook, recalling the first time she bumped into him.

It was at the Taman Sri Sarawak Mall in Kuching, where Masing’s first political party Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak had its office, she added.

At the time, the party was in the opposition.

“The first time I met him, he… and our group went for a laksa breakfast. He loved Sarawak laksa,” said Soo.

She said even though they were on opposite sides of the political fence, they still remained in touch.

“He had sent me private messages of support if he felt that my press statements, which he read, hold merit.”

Parti Sarawak Bersatu president Wong Soon Koh said despite their political bickering and differences, he will miss the Baleh assemblyman.

“My wife and I are deeply saddened to learn that Masing passed away this morning,” he said in a statement.

“Despite all our political bickering and differences, I must say that his untimely departure is a great loss to Sarawak.”

Masing was reportedly instrumental in getting Wong kicked out of the cabinet.

Wong said he and his wife both knew Masing since their schooling days at SMK Methodist Sibu, and described the politician as “a bright student who excelled in academic pursuits and had outstanding leadership calibre”.

“Indeed, deservingly, he went on to become a successful politician, culminating in his position as deputy chief minister of Sarawak. We will miss him.”

But to Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, he has “lost a good friend”.

He said Masing’s death “has left a void in our collective souls”.

“We have lost a true statesman, and Sarawak has lost her favourite son. A staunch Sarawak nationalist, Masing was a fine man and good listener.”

Masing died at Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Kuching at 7.05am today.

According to an initial report, he died from “lung complications” and his Covid-19 test came back negative.

His remains are being transferred to Sarawak General Hospital, where a post-mortem is expected to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Other than bringing his body back to his home at Jalan Datuk Ong Tiang Siew, no detail of his funeral arrangement has been disclosed. – October 31, 2021.