KUCHING: Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud paid his last respects to Tan Sri James Masing as tributes continued to pour in for the late deputy chief minister.

       Taib and his wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib arrived at Masing’s residence off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here shortly before noon on Monday (Nov 1).

       The Governor said he was “very sad” to have lost a friend and colleague.

       He recounted how he persuaded Masing to enter politics and serve in the state Cabinet while he was Chief Minister.

       “One day I called him, he was working at (state utility company) Sesco I think, to ask him nicely to resign.

       “ ’What have I done?’ he said. ‘I want you to become one of my ministers.’

       “ ‘Oh, I don’t know whether I’m a good politician,' he said. But I said you’re sincere, you love your people, you will do well.

       “And he did very well,” Taib told reporters later.

       He added that Masing also served his area well and had many friends in Kuching.

       “He was such a nice, polite man. I’m happy to have been associated with him and to have him as one of my ministers.”

       Earlier, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian described Masing as a partner in politics as well as a personal friend.

       “We will miss his wisdom, leadership, kind manner and humour.

       “He always put people at ease and thought of others first,” he added, conveying his condolences to Masing’s family.

       Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said he had lost a friend and mentor in politics.

       He recalled working closely with Masing to plan and implement projects under the Upper Rajang Development Agency as they both served on its board.

       He also said Masing was known as a Dayak leader who spoke up for the community’s interests.

       Masing, 72, passed away at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre here on Sunday (Oct 31).

       He was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital here on Sept 28 after testing positive for Covid-19 and later transferred to Normah.

       His cause of death was reported to be heart complications and his last Covid-19 test was negative.