James Voon Yong Siang
MIRI (March 5): Former chief reporter of See Hua Daily News, James Voon Yong Siang, 55, passed away this morning at a private hospital here after a long battle with a brain tumor.
He is survived by his wife, Angel Lau, a son, and a daughter.
With over 30 years of experience in the media industry, Voon resigned from See Hua Daily News on July 21, 2023, following his diagnosis in 2022.
Throughout his cancer battle, he chronicled his journey in “My Cancer, My Story” on his personal social media, aiming to raise awareness of cancer healthcare challenges in Sarawak while inspiring others facing similar struggles.
Paying tribute to his predecessor, See Hua Daily News chief reporter Vicky Chang described Voon as a dedicated journalist committed to ethics and the mission of journalism.
“He was often exposing social problems with fair, objective and in-depth reports, and personally, he was like a ‘big brother’ to all of us here,” he said.
“Even though he was suffering from the illness, he still insisted on speaking for the society, highlighting his fight against cancer and the need for more facilities and treatment to benefit the people in northern Sarawak,” he added.
Through “My Cancer, My Story”, Voon passionately called for the establishment of a cancer centre in Miri to meet the growing demand for treatment, especially in the northern region.
“Despite being an oil city which has contributed 113 years of oil revenue, Miri still lacks essential radiotherapy equipment and facilities, and most often, cancer patients had no choice but to travel long distances to Kuching for treatment.
“The government should consider setting up a radiotherapy department in northern Sarawak so that cancer patients don’t have to travel thousands of miles to fight for a glimmer of hope!” he wrote in one of his journal entries.
His passing is a great loss to the journalism industry and the community he touched through his unwavering advocacy and inspiring journey.