KUCHING — Veteran journalist James Ritchie, renowned for his decades of contributions to journalism in Sarawak and Malaysia, passed away today at the Sarawak General Hospital. He was 75. His passing was confirmed by Robert Jacob Ridu, former Sarawak state assembly speaker and a family member.
“We are saddened to inform you that veteran journalist Mr. James Ritchie, who is also family to me, has gone to be with the Lord. He passed away peacefully at SGH today. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Ridu said in a statement to the media.
Ritchie’s career began at age 23 as a cadet journalist with the New Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur. Over the years, he became a respected voice in Sarawak’s media landscape, later serving as a public relations officer in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department in 1998 and as a media consultant for Sarawak Digest in 2022.
He was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Shell Kenyalang Gold Award, the AZAM Press Award, and the Ang Lai Soon Gold Award. In 2024, he was honoured with the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) award in recognition of his lifetime achievements in journalism.