James Yong – Sarawak's heritage advocate and poet

Borneo Post

20-06-2025

James handing over his new book to the columnist during an outing.
SARAWAK-born writer, heritage advocate and former business consultant James S.L. Yong has just added another title to his accreditation, a poet, by publishing his latest book called 'Rhyme & Reflection in the Rainforest – A Poetry Collection inspired by Life in Sarawak, Malaysia'.
I was honoured to be one of the first recipients of this work, his fourth publication since 2003.
James' previous works are 'E-Government in Asia' (two volumes: 2003 and 2005) and 'Padungan: History and Humanity in a Heritage Precinct of Kuching, Sarawak' in 2023.
On Monday, I met up with the author, whom I have known since we became friends on Facebook more than a decade ago, but only met in person after he had returned and retired from his consulting career work in Singapore sometime in 2015.
I reminded him that it should have been the 'Kai Joo Lane' book, which he had been working on for the past two years, that he should be launching.
His response: 'That was a much bigger research job than I had anticipated when I had first started on it!'
He promised that publication would definitely be forthcoming but as for when, he could not be more specific.
I certainly look forward to that book very much!
The new book, which I have short-named here as the '3Rs' (for 'Rhyme, Reflection, Rainforest') is a 106-page hardcover publication, with artwork illustrations by local artist Gabrielle Lim and additional photographs mostly taken by the writer.
It is priced at RM75 per copy and it is now available.
For those eager to get their hands on this 3R book, James will be personally on hand to sign copies at the lobby of Meritin Hotel at Jalan Padungan in Kuching tomorrow (June 22) from 10am till noon; and at the Telang Usan Hotel Kuching next Saturday (June 28) – also from 10am till noon.
For those who have pre-ordered, they can also collect their books. For new orders, email to [email protected].
The book will also be on sale at this weekend's Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong – specifically at the stalls run by Meritin Hotel and Telang Usan Hotel.
James' latest book is a 106-page hardcover publication, now available for purchase.
James' latest book is a very personal collection drawn from a lifetime of experiences from a happy childhood in multicultural Kuching, his late teenage years spent in England and a later career in management and public sector consulting throughout Asia.
His influences, according to him, have ranged from nursery rhymes and Malay 'pantun' (rhyming verses) to Shakespeare, Seuss and poets like Pam Ayres and Brian Bilston.
His book is divided into five sections: 'Kuching Then & Now' (which is also the forum that he has successfully promoted and administered on Facebook since 2017, and has attracted 90,000 followers to date); 'Sarawak History & Heritage'; 'Food & Festivals'; 'World Views'; and 'Personal Reflections'.
He writes with a fluidity and such ease that the readers, in turn, are rewarded by what I would term as 'easy reading' in the same wavelength as those who love their music and songs listed under 'easy listening'.
With his obvious wealth of experience and accrued intellect and various scholarly achievements one would have expected a writer more inclined to use bigger words and write in a more academically uppity tone, but no – lest you be turned away (or indeed turned off) by any such expectations.
James writes for the everyman.
That's the most difficult thing to do, which just shows how accomplished a writer he is.
There are many pages, themes and subjects that would appeal to children; some to teenagers; and many more to adults – but they all dwell on topics and subjects close to our personal experience and would be of universal interest.
Most of his poems and writings are on local people going about living their ordinary lives; there are history and geography, and there are topics light and heavy.
I especially enjoy the ones about people's behaviour, the places and the food, the sights, sounds and personal recollections of Kuching through James' own experience which, although he is almost a decade my junior, does nudge at my nostalgic memory as well.
The book is very well illustrated – the drawings by Gabrielle Lim are beautiful, albeit fundamentally basic, in colour and black-and-white, while the photographs are well selected and serve their purpose well.
There are pictures on almost every page and besides being a treasure trove of personal anecdotes, the 3R book is a worthy gift for anyone from the age of 10 to 90.
Yes, it's that good!
I have my own personal favourite parts of course. I find his re-imagining of the popular song 'My Favourite Things' from the musical 'The Sound of Music' rather delightful.
I can actually imagine children singing it on a stage at a school concert. Its opening goes:
'Belacan with Midin and Hong Boi for dinner,
'Lau Ya Keng porridge – always a winner,
'Kolo mee from a Sin Ban Chong stall,
'Madam Lau's Laksa, I'll savour them all!'
Then there is a poem that he calls 'The List', which reminds me of what my sometimes OCD nature would inevitably be at work (truth be told, I've always loved and enjoyed lists).
James has it down pat with his writing here:
'Many lists now govern my day,
'They smoothen life in countless ways,
'Ensuring that tasks are seen to the end,
'Fewer 'oops I forgot' emergencies to attend.'
At a certain age, lists assist no end to ensure all appointments and tasks are met!
James and his wife Jacqueline Voon with the columnist, seen at a recent event in Kuching.
At the end of the book, on Page 102, James' epilogue 'Is that it?' gives us his own reflection on life in general, which echoes through my own mind as it poses the same old eternal question.
It's a perfect ending to a beautiful work of poems by an accomplished writer.
James founded the Facebook public forum called 'Kuching Then and Now in 2017, which serves as a living digital archive of Kuching's history and cultural memory and has attracted almost 90,000 followers to date.
When not writing, consulting, travelling or pursuing his pet heritage causes, James can be found walking his five dogs, exploring the 'kopi' culture, or fine-tuning a stanza.
His interests span history, travel, genealogy, theatre, music, poetry and tech gadgets – proving that life after corporate boardrooms can be both rich in reflection and satisfying in variety.
I have no reservation to recommend his latest book to anyone who loves reading.
* The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. James Yong Kuching poetry Rhyme Sarawak heritage