FATHER’S DAY is not an easy occasion when the person you wish to celebrate is no longer around.
For me, it is a day filled with emotion, a mixture of joy and longing. My father was more than just a statesman.
To the public, he was the late Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) of Sarawak. But to me, he was simply “Dad” – a man who carried his responsibilities with dignity, who showed strength wrapped in gentleness, and who gave his all to his family and his people.
Growing up as his daughter gave me a unique window into a life of service. I remember the helicopter rides to Baleh, his beloved constituency deep in the heart of Sarawak’s interior.
The helicopter was simply a necessity. Dad needed it to reach his constituency in Baleh more quickly. Baleh is a vast area filled with dense jungles, and as DCM, he had an overwhelming schedule – meetings, events and functions, not to mention his primary duty: to serve the rakyat (the people).
Whenever he made these trips into the interior, he would often drag me with him because he needed company. I think he wanted to show me the work he was doing, to help me understand how he was shaping the future of Sarawak.
During those longhouse visits, I witnessed the real depth of his character. He spoke to villagers with respect and sincerity. He gave time to the elderly, joked with the children, and listened carefully to every voice.
People looked up to him not because of his title, but because of his heart. That same warmth and attention he gave to the rakyat, he also gave to us at home.
One of the achievements he took the greatest pride in was the Kapit-Song road. It connected previously isolated communities, transforming lives.
He once insisted I drive from Kuching to Kapit, just so I could see what that kind of development really meant for the people. It was not just a road. It was an opportunity. It was progress. It was a promise fulfilled.
Dad believed wholeheartedly in education. He did not care what course we, his children, chose to pursue. What mattered to him was that we gained knowledge and experience outside of our comfort zones.
All he asked was that we study overseas, learn from the world, and come home with ideas to give back.
When I moved to Perth, Australia, for university, I realised how much he had prepared me for independence. He gave me a weekly allowance, but the cost of living was high, so I found a part-time job at Nando’s.
I started out as a cashier, eventually moved to the grill, and learned the value of every cent I earned. My toughest moment came when I had to clean a blocked toilet by hand, with nothing but a garbage bag to protect me.
It was humbling, but it made me stronger. He did not know the details at the time, but when he found out I had been working, he was quietly proud.
He did not buy me a car right away. After finishing my late-night shifts, I would walk 10 minutes to the bus stop, ride the bus for 20 minutes, then walk another 15 minutes to my accommodation through a poorly lit area known for crime.
When he found out, he finally bought me a car in my third year. He told me if I could handle the fuel expenses, he would handle the rest.
That was the kind of father he was. He believed in letting us struggle a little so we would grow, but he never stopped watching over us.
During the final month of his life, he fell ill but refused to see a doctor. That was his nature – strong and stubborn.
Eventually, I convinced him to get a check-up. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for quarantine and treatment. We were not too worried at first. He had been vaccinated, and we believed he would recover.
I stayed with him in the quarantine cubicle while we waited for the ambulance. I held his hand and reassured him everything would be fine. That was the last time I saw him awake.
Once he was hospitalised, I continued our tradition of writing letters. I attached notes to the food I sent him, leaving him little messages of encouragement and love.
After the quarantine period was over, Dad was then moved to Normah for further treatment.
He did not use his phone much in the hospital. The nurses had advised him to rest. In the early days, he still tried to work from his bed, giving instructions, reading messages. As the illness progressed, he became quieter. Eventually, they put him to sleep to ease his breathing.
I will never forget the phone call I received at 1:00 am. I woke Mum and we rushed to Normah. Seeing him lying there, struggling for breath, felt like my world was collapsing.
I held his hand and reminded him of his promise – to get better and come home. Just a week before, we had shared a video call, with my sister joining in. We cried, we laughed, and we told him how much we loved him. He promised he would pull through.
But he did not.
The day he passed away, everything stopped. Not only for us, his family, but for everyone who had ever known him or been touched by his leadership and kindness.
Almost four years later, as Father’s Day comes around, I reflect not only on the grief of losing him, but also on the deep gratitude I feel for having had him in my life. He taught me the value of service, the strength found in humility, and the meaning of love expressed through actions, not just words.
I wish I could send him a Father’s Day card or hear his voice one more time. But since I cannot, I will say it here.
“Thank you, Dad. For the lessons. For the memories. For your love. I hope you know how proud I am to be your daughter. And I hope that wherever you are, you are still watching over us, smiling the way only you could.”
(Editor’s footnote: Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing (5 March 1949-31 October 2021) served as Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development under three Chief Ministers, the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, and Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (now Premier of Sarawak), as well as Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Baleh since 1983 until his demise. He was a member of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and later Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a component party of the current ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. He also served as President of PRS from its founding in March 2004 until his passing in October 2021. He was revered for the significant contributions he made to the people of Sarawak, especially among the Ibans and Dayaks.)
