James Wong Kim Min

He began his political career in 1951, when he was elected to the Limbang District Council.[1]

In 1956, Wong was elected to Sarawak's legislature, the Council Negri, which is now known as the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.^[1] He continued to hold office in the Legislative Assembly until his retirement in 2001.

Malaysia became an independent country in 1963. Wong had been a member of the

Wong retired from politics in 2001. He continued to author new books and poems during his retirement. Wong authored The Price of Loyalty, a book about his imprisonment at the Kamunting detention center under the Internal Security Act.[1] By 2003, Wong had published the third addition of The Birth of Malaysia, a history of the country.^[1] He also released a third book, Memories of Speeches at the Council Negri.^[1] In addition to his books, Wong also wrote poetry during his later life. His poetry collections included A Special Breed in 1981, Shimmering Moonbeams in 1983, Buy a Little Time in 1989 and Beautiful Butterfly in 2009.^[1]

Wong also spearheaded the push to have

James Wong suffered a heart attack on 18 July 2011. He died shortly after 10 a.m. at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, at the age of 90.^[2] Wong was survived by his wife, Datin Amar Valerie Bong; five daughters; three sons; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.^[1]

He was buried in Limbang at the family cemetery in Jalan Pandaruan.^[4] Dignitaries in attendance included members of each of Sarawak's major ethnic groups, including the Chinese, the Kedayan, Bruneian Malays, Bisaya, Tabun, Lun Bawang and Iban.^[4]

Sarawak government announced that it will put together an exhibit of Wong's documents at the state museum.^[5]

Electoral record

References