Chicken curry, evening drives and a white cat: Song Swee Guan’s family remembers the man behind the Sarawak politician

KUCHING, Oct 5 — Datuk Song Swee Guan, a Sarawakian statesman, was remembered by his grieving family as a selfless and caring man who balanced work and family life. According to his niece Kaylene Tan, her uncle was a good son who sacrificed much for his parents, who were bedridden for many years. Tan described Song as a good cook, who loved to cook chicken curry and kacang ma, and took family outings for evening drives around Kuching city.

The family also shared that Song was a white cat lover and may have been the inspiration for the famous white cat statue in Padungan. Tan's mother, Song Chai Kim, remembered a close-knit family and the close bond they shared despite the distance between them. Song's foster son, Sim Min Min, remembered Song as a well-mannered man who loved to help people and often spent time with him over coffee.

Song served as KMC councillor, its chairman, founding mayor of Kuching South, and was a Padungan assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, passing away peacefully at Sarawak General Hospital on Sunday.