In 1957 he traveled to America on an Eisenhower Scholarship, which was provided to leaders of Malayan youth to give them exposure to the American environment. That same year, Malaya declared independence, and Sim was made a Johan Mangku Negara (Defender of the Realm).
1957 年沈慕羽得到美國艾森豪提供馬來亞青年領袖獎學金赴美考察；同年馬來亞宣布獨立後，沈獲頒建國有功勳章 JMN。