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The newly completed Lawas Hospital is expected to gain more staff and services as human resources become available. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said not all positions have been filled because of current manpower constraints. She said the ministry hopes specialists can eventually be stationed there permanently instead of visiting on a scheduled basis. The 76-bed hospital recorded 14,083 emergency and trauma patients in 2025, while 693 patients were transferred elsewhere, including 440 to Limbang, 151 to Miri and 102 to Kota Kinabalu. Those figures explain why local specialist access remains a work in progress rather than an immediate promise. The hospital has two operating theatres, four high-dependency beds and nine additional haemodialysis machines. More facilities and services will be introduced in phases.

Sarawak’s first phase of a Special Needs Community Centre in Samarahan is targeted for completion by May 2028. Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the state government has approved RM30 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan for the first phase. The centre is intended to provide support ranging from early intervention and rehabilitation to skills development, employment preparation and longer-term residential care. The minister said the residential component is meant to address future needs of people who may no longer have parents or guardians able to care for them. The project is planned in phases, so the May 2028 target is not a claim that the full lifelong-support system will be ready by then. The state also reported that 745 children had received early-intervention services by the end of 2025, including 673 in Kuching and the remainder at OSEIC Dalat.

A new operational guidebook is being introduced to make cross-border transport procedures between Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah clearer for operators. The guidebook sets out key documents, permits, regulatory authorities and travel conditions for commercial buses, tour buses and freight vehicles. It was launched in Kuching alongside a two-day review of two BIMP-EAGA land-transport memoranda of understanding. Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the review is intended to improve coordination and understanding between jurisdictions, not to impose identical laws. Industry participants are contributing practical problems from the border and transport process, while future work is expected to include regular guide updates and digitisation. For businesses and travellers moving through Borneo, the immediate value is a clearer checklist of documents and permits; the workshop itself does not announce a new single border rule or promise an instant end to delays.

Miri police traced and issued two summonses to a driver after a video showed a Toyota Hilux travelling against traffic in Jalan Taman Tunku. The video circulated on the Miri Community Facebook page and showed the vehicle failing to follow directional signs. Police from the Miri Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division located the driver at about 3.20pm on Monday, Sept 14, Sarawak Tribune reported. Police said the driver admitted taking the nearest route to avoid waiting. The case concerns an alleged breach of Rule 13 of the Road Traffic Rules 166/59, and two PDRM Form K257 summonses were issued. The incident is a useful reminder for Miri drivers that a short cut across a marked traffic flow can create a danger for other road users and still lead to enforcement action.

Kuching police seized 99 motorcycles and issued 222 summonses during a weekend road-safety operation. The operation, held from Saturday night into Sunday morning along Jalan Tun Salahuddin, involved more than 30 police officers and personnel, according to Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu. Police said a 17-year-old local boy was arrested after officers alleged that he used a fake licence plate. His case is being investigated under Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The statement did not say that he had been charged or convicted. The 99 motorcycles were impounded under Section 60 of the same Act for various traffic offences. For Kuching motorists, the operation is a reminder that weekend enforcement is also targeting vehicle documents and road behaviour, not only speeding.

Bintulu Port has officially come under Sarawak’s control, ending its status as a federal port. The transition took effect on Sept 1 after a three-year process, with the port now operating under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak government. The change places one of the state’s key gateways for energy and bulk cargo within the state port system. The immediate message for shippers and businesses is continuity: port operations are expected to continue without disruption during the handover. The longer-term test will be how the new arrangement supports Bintulu’s role in Sarawak’s energy, industrial and export plans. For Sarawak readers, this is an administrative change with practical economic consequences rather than a change of port location or a shutdown. Companies using the port should continue to follow notices issued by Bintulu Port Holdings and the relevant state authorities as the new governance arrangements settle.

Sarawak is pursuing up to US$1 billion in downstream gas investment, with Bintulu identified as the proposed industrial hub. The proposal involves Indorama Ventures and Highchem developing higher-value products from Sarawak’s gas resources. Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said the plan could support skilled jobs and the state’s move towards lower-carbon industrial development. The money is not committed yet. Sarawak Petchem and the companies are expected to work through the details, with another discussion planned in Bangkok in October. For Bintulu and the wider Sarawak economy, the next milestone is whether those talks produce a defined project, timeline and investment agreement.

Sarawak-based United Asiapac Energy Bhd made its debut on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market on Monday, opening at its initial public offering price of 35 sen a share. The listing gives the oil-and-gas services company more room to expand its well-intervention business in East Malaysia and beyond. Its services cover work such as well integrity, fishing and plug-and-abandonment operations for upstream operators. The company said its IPO raised RM47.83 million. It plans to use part of the proceeds for new equipment, workforce expansion and engineering capability. The firm has completed more than 200 projects since 2021, according to the company’s listing information reported on Monday. For Sarawak, the development is also part of the state’s push to bring more Bumiputera companies into the capital market. United Asiapac is the first of a state target of three Sarawak Bumiputera companies listed on Bursa Malaysia by 2030.

Air quality improved across several parts of Sarawak on Monday morning, but Lubok Antu remained the state’s only station in the very unhealthy band. The 8am reading there was 205. Kuching recorded 132, while Sri Aman, Tebedu, Serian and Betong were also in the unhealthy range. Samarahan, Kanowit and Lundu moved back into the moderate category, with readings of 98, 97 and 94 respectively. Sarikei was at 75 and Sibu at 83. The readings are time-specific and can change as smoke and weather conditions shift. People with breathing or heart conditions should check the latest official API reading before spending long periods outdoors.

The Health Ministry will review every helicopter contract linked to Sarawak’s Flying Doctor Service after last week’s fatal crash in Long Lellang, including the RM30 allowance paid to FDS personnel for each flight. The review covers the service’s contracts, governance, operational safety, coverage needs and whether its current delivery model is working. Flying Doctor Service operations in Sarawak have also been temporarily suspended while the safety and operating arrangements are assessed. Police are separately examining the helicopter’s movements before the crash, including where it last refuelled and its departure from Miri. The technical cause remains with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau; police said they have found no indication so far of anything other than an accident. For rural Sarawak communities, the review matters because FDS is a key link to medical care when roads are long or inaccessible. The immediate question is how replacement access will be maintained while flights remain suspended; the ministry has not announced a full timetable for the review or a return to service.

<p><strong>Air quality changed quickly across Sarawak on Saturday morning.</strong> Four areas moved back above 200 on the Air Pollution Index (API), after rain had briefly improved readings the day before.</p> <p>At 10am, Serian recorded 252, while Lundu and Lubok Antu were both at 217 and Tebedu at 214. Kuching was 189; Sri Aman 198, Samarahan 193 and Betong 189. Miri, Lawas, Limbang, Kapit and Bario remained in the moderate range at that snapshot.</p> <p>The practical point is that one reading is not a day-long forecast. Smoke and wind can change the number within hours, so anyone planning outdoor work should check the <a href="https://eqms.doe.gov.my/" rel="nofollow ugc">Department of Environment Malaysia air-quality portal</a> for the latest reading before leaving. People with breathing conditions, children and older adults should avoid prolonged exertion when the reading is unhealthy or worse; seek medical advice if symptoms become serious.</p> <p>This update reports the Saturday 10am snapshot, not a permanent condition for every town. The next useful check is the live reading for the specific area you are travelling to.</p>

A three-storey shop near Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce in Kuching caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, with crews from three fire stations taking about an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control. The call reached the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) at 3.42am. Firefighters from the Batu Lintang station responded first, with support from the Padungan and Tabuan Jaya stations. When they arrived, the first floor was fully engulfed and about 80 per cent of the second floor was affected; the ground floor was not involved. The building, roughly 40 feet by 80 feet, was fought with a 200-foot hose line running three nozzles. Low water pressure from the nearby hydrant forced crews to bring in a water tanker from Tabuan Jaya to keep the supply steady. The fire was brought under control at around 5.18am. Bomba reported no casualties, and overhaul work continued through the morning to clear the affected floors. The cause of the fire has not been stated. While damage is still being assessed, shop owners and workers in older commercial buildings nearby may want to double-check their own fire alarms, extinguishers and exit routes.

A 37-year-old man from Kampung Tabuan was jailed for 11 months on Friday for assaulting his wife, after pleading guilty to causing her hurt over suspicions that she was seeing another man. The sentence was handed down at the Magistrate's Court in Kuching on a single charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read with Section 326A. Court facts put the assault by the roadside in Kampung Tabuan Melayu at about 6.30pm on Jan 31, when the man blocked his wife's motorcycle, grabbed her by the neck and pushed her into a metal road divider as she rode home. The attack was driven by his belief that his wife was involved with another man. A child of the victim's friend saw what happened, and the woman went to hospital for treatment before lodging a police report. Her medical report confirmed soft tissue injuries to the left side of her neck, her left sternum and her right wrist. He was not represented in court, and the prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan. With the guilty plea and sentence, the case is closed; the court did not disclose the victim's identity or any further family circumstances.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will use Malaysia Day in Kuching on Sept 16 to announce an interim measure on Sarawak's longstanding claims, after the federal Cabinet approved in principle adding parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak to improve their representation ratio. The seat decision was announced on Sept 11 after Anwar chaired the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu. Any increase in seats lies with the Election Commission, and peninsular seats could grow as well — the key condition is that Sabah and Sarawak end up with a higher share of representation than today, not simply more members. The Dewan Rakyat currently has 222 seats: 25 for Sabah, 31 for Sarawak and 166 for the peninsula. Under MA63, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak together once held about a third of parliamentary representation, a proportion that has slipped since. The mechanics still have to be worked out with the Election Commission, state governments and parties, and Anwar said he could not promise the change would be in place before the general election expected next year. On the payments side, Sabah's interim allocation was raised to RM1.5 billion this year while talks on Sabah's claim for 40 per cent of net federal revenue from the state continue. For Sarawak, Anwar backed the state's proposal for a clearer formula, telling the Ministry of Finance and Sarawak to discuss the details against the country's financial position, capacity and the minimum and maximum amounts that could be considered. He noted that Sarawak's claims do not fall under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, but said the same spirit should apply. Anwar said he will keep refining the matter with Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg over the coming days. Abang Johari welcomed the outcome as a win-win formula. The concrete numbers — seat arithmetic and the interim figure — now depend on the Election Commission's consultation process and the negotiations due before the Sept 16 announcement.

Serian haze worsens again as API reaches very unhealthy level Serian’s Air Pollutant Index (API) rose to 202 by 11am on Friday, pushing the district back into the very unhealthy range after rain brought lower readings earlier in the morning. The Natural Resources and Environment Board readings show Serian climbing from 197 at 9am to 202 two hours later. Lundu recorded the second-highest reading at 192, followed by Tebedu at 185, Kuching at 182 and Samarahan at 181. At 8am, Serian and Lundu were at 195 and 177, respectively. The later figures show that the morning improvement was not holding across all monitoring stations. For people in Kuching and nearby districts, conditions can change within hours. Check the latest API reading for the area you are heading to, and limit prolonged outdoor activity when readings remain unhealthy or worse.

Sarawak is preparing a 2026–2035 roadmap to turn research and biodiversity into commercial opportunities. The plan was announced in Kuching on Sept 10 as the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) joined BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd to develop the state’s first 10-year Bioeconomy and Biotechnology Roadmap. The work will cover research, innovation, investment and commercialisation, with stakeholder discussions, scientific studies and industry engagement scheduled as part of the process. The scope reaches beyond laboratories: healthcare, agriculture, food security, environmental sustainability and other bio-based industries are named as possible areas for growth. The roadmap is also intended to sit within SRDC’s Innovation Corridor, linking researchers, talent, companies and investors. For Sarawak, the immediate news is the start of planning, not a completed investment pipeline. A stakeholder roundtable is due on Sept 11, while the final priorities, projects, funding commitments and delivery timetable have yet to be announced. The state’s biodiversity is being treated as an economic and research asset, but any future use will depend on how the roadmap balances commercial development with conservation and measurable public benefit.

Sarawak’s Flying Doctor Service has been temporarily suspended after Tuesday’s fatal helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram. The Health Ministry said the pause will allow authorities to investigate the crash and review the service’s safety and operating arrangements. The service reaches interior communities that have limited access to fixed healthcare facilities. Emergency medical evacuations will continue through cooperation between the ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department. The ministry is also discussing the possible use of Malaysian Armed Forces assets for patients who need urgent transport to healthcare facilities. The review will cover contracts, governance, operational safety, coverage and whether the current delivery model remains effective. The ministry said it is also looking at alternative ways to reach remote communities while the suspension is in place.

Search and rescue teams resumed looking on Thursday for a 51-year-old man who went missing in the Ulu Sebuloh forest in Song. Freddie Manggie entered the forest on Tuesday with his brother-in-law to collect daun sabung. After they finished gathering leaves, Freddie complained of stomach pain and walked away to find a place to relieve himself. He did not return. His family lodged a police report on Wednesday afternoon. Four longhouse residents searched the area that morning before Bomba, police, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force and local residents joined the operation later in the day. The initial search covered a 3km radius but produced no sign of Freddie. The site is reached by a forest road near SK Nanga Temalat, a journey of about three hours from the junction. The search was suspended at 6pm on Wednesday and resumed on Thursday; his whereabouts remained unconfirmed in the latest reports.

Sarawak Energy and SESCO have been told to investigate reports of sudden electricity bill increases and explain the findings publicly. The directive follows complaints from some customers after digital meters were installed. The utility companies are expected to compare account histories, billing records and meter readings before deciding whether any discrepancy occurred. Sarawak Energy said its billing-support arrangement, first opened at Wisma SESCO in Kuching from Sept 2 to 4, will continue through October and expand to Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. It said 22 cases raised on Facebook had been identified: 20 customers had been contacted, one case was being followed up and one customer could not be reached. Customers with concerns can request a review through Sarawak Energy’s existing customer-service channels and submit supporting information. The company also says flexible payment arrangements may be available while an account is being assessed. No public explanation has yet established whether the reported increases came from digital-meter readings, billing errors or other account factors. The next substantive update is expected from Sarawak Energy and SESCO.

Sarawak is expected to remain a major focus for infrastructure spending when Budget 2027 is tabled next month, with the Kuching Urban Transportation System among the projects analysts are watching. A TA Securities preview says the federal government could continue funding projects that narrow the development gap, including Pan Borneo Highway phases, rural roads and bridges, port and airport upgrades, flood mitigation, water treatment and electricity networks in East Malaysia. For Greater Kuching, the report singles out KUTS as a project that could receive continued support as it moves towards commercial operations. The next phase is expected to involve not just the autonomous trains, but also feeder buses, integrated ticketing, park-and-ride facilities and passenger information systems. That is an analyst forecast, not a confirmed allocation. The Finance Ministry’s pre-budget statement identifies regional development, infrastructure delivery and stronger economic resilience as priorities, but the actual projects and amounts will only be known when the budget is presented in Parliament on Oct 9. For Kuching commuters and businesses, the useful marker is whether the final document attaches firm funding and delivery milestones to KUTS and other transport links, rather than simply repeating broad development commitments.