KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran journalist James Ritchie passed away today at the age of 75 due to illness.
According to The Borneo Post, former Sarawak speaker Datuk Seri Jacob Robert Ridu confirmed the matter.
“We are saddened to inform you that veteran journalist James Ritchie, who is also a family member of mine, has gone to be with the Lord.
“He passed away peacefully at Sarawak General Hospital today. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Ridu was quoted as saying by the news outlet.
Ritchie, a long-serving journalist based in Sarawak, was the recipient of the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) Award last year.
The award was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in recognition of Ritchie’s contributions to journalism spanning over five decades since 1971.
He began his career as a cadet journalist with The Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 23, steadily rising through the ranks of the profession, particularly in Sarawak.
Among the positions he held were: journalist for the New Straits Times in Sarawak (1981), Public Relations Officer at the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department (1998), and Media Consultant for Sarawak Digest (2022).
He also served as a special writer for the Sarawak Tribune in 2022, Editorial Advisor and Executive Director at Eastern Times (2006), and Executive Director at the New Sarawak Tribune (2010).
His outstanding contributions to writing and journalism earned him numerous accolades, including the Shell Kenyalang Gold Award, AZAM Press Award, and the Ang Lai Soon Gold Award.
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