{
  "id": 12106112,
  "title": "Chicken curry, evening drives and a white cat: Song Swee Guan’s family remembers the man behind the Sarawak politician",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/chicken-curry-evening-drives-and-a-white-cat-song-swee-guans-family",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:15:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/05/chicken-curry-evening-drives-and-kuchings-white-cat-song-swee-guans-family-remembers-the-man-behind-the-mayor/237791"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUCHING, Oct 5 — Song Swee Guan, the late Sarawakian statesman and politician, was remembered by his grieving family as a selfless and caring man who managed to balance his professional life with his family responsibilities. According to his niece Kaylene Tan, Song was a devoted son who remained single due to his dedication to caring for his parents. Tan recounted how Song took care of his bedridden grandfather, often helping him with his nighttime needs. Despite his numerous commitments to the community, Song never brought his work home with him.\n\nWhen Song was at home, he was fully focused on his family, enjoying home-cooked meals and spending time together. He was known for his culinary skills, particularly his delicious chicken curry and kacang ma. Tan also shared that Song loved to take his family on long evening drives around Kuching city, staying in the car to avoid the crowds of hawkers and merchants he would encounter. He was well-liked by the people during his tenure as the first mayor of Kuching South.\n\nSong's relationship with his family was strong, with his mother, Song Chai Kim, recalling their close bond during their childhood. They played together and participated in various activities together, despite Song having to study overseas at a young age. His mother also mentioned their continued close connection, even after Song had moved to Singapore for his studies. Chai Kim expressed her gratitude for maintaining their close relationship despite the distance between them.\n\nSong's foster son, Sim Min Min, described Song as a well-mannered man who was always willing to help others. He served as a councillor of the Kuching Municipal Council (KMC) from 1981 to 1988, leading the council until 1988, and became the founding mayor of Kuching South in 1988. He held various political positions, including serving as the Padungan assemblyman from 1983 to 2001, the Bandar Kuching MP from 1995 to 2003, and the DUN Speaker from 1996 to 2000. Song passed away peacefully at Sarawak General Hospital on Sunday at 3.30pm.",
  "summary": "KUCHING, Oct 5 — Sarawakian statesman Datuk Song Swee Guan has been remembered as a selfless and caring man who wa...",
  "key_points": [
    "His niece Kaylene Tan described him as a devoted son who cared for his bedridden grandfather.",
    "Song enjoyed family time, cooking chicken curry and taking evening drives around Kuching city."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Founding mayor of Kuching South, Song Swee Guan, dies at 84",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/founding-mayor-of-kuching-south-song-swee-guan-dies-at-84",
        "published": "2026-10-05T03:19:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}