'Until the last hour': Remembering veteran journalist and haiku poet John Tiong
KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawakian journalist and internationally published haiku poet John Tiong Chunghoo died in Sibu yesterday (Sept 2), his brother Datuk Seri Patrick Tiong confirmed, as reported by The Borneo Post. He was 66.
KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran journalist and haiku poet John Tiong Chunghoo passed away in Sibu, Sarawak on September 2 at the age of 66, according to his brother Datuk Seri Patrick Tiong. He began his journalism career in the 1980s as an editor at The Borneo Post before working for national newspapers, including the New Straits Times. Tiong was a prolific writer, producing over 3,000 poems that earned him a global reputation for his mastery of haiku, senryu, and free-form verse.
His works were published by prestigious outlets like Oxford University, Marshall Cavendish, and The Times of India, and were included in international literature curricula such as GCE and International Baccalaureate. Despite his global recognition, Tiong remained deeply connected to his Sarawakian roots, remembered as a quintessential figure of the region's early journalism scene.
His last digital message, shared on Facebook, read, "I am recording my own life right here until the last hour," reflecting his commitment to chronicling his experiences throughout life. Tiong's literary legacy, spanning from Sibu to international classrooms and publications, serves as a lasting testament to his dedication to storytelling and his profound impact on the world of literature.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
