KUCHING: The former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak Datuk Simon Dembab Maja passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday (Jan 22).
The late Simon is survived by his wife Datin Rosalind Sitie Jemeni, three children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
According to his son, Jimmy Maja, his late father breathed his last at a private medical centre here.
The late Simon is also a founding member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and the deputy chief minister under the Sarawak Coalition government in 1970.
His son said that his late father also served as a School Affairs Officer at the Engkilili District Council in Engkilili before entering politics.
“He was one of the first Ibans to study at a Chinese school and was educated in Chung Hua school in Kuching around the 1950s and later at St Thomas’ School in Kuching before continuing his studies at the university level in Sarawak,” he said.
A wake service is being held at his residence in Tabuan Jaya here until Monday (Jan 24). After that, the cortege will leave for Engkilili where the wake will continue before the funeral service and burial.
