News 📰

Twenty winning entries from this year’s Sarawak Folklore writing competition have been brought together with 13 stories from DayakDaily’s D’Drift expeditions in a new printed volume. Sarawak Folklore Book I was launched at Imperial Hotel Kuching on Oct 17, according to DayakDaily’s report. Persatuan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta) and Amber Publishing House produced the book, working with the DayakDaily team. The collection puts competition writing alongside accounts gathered through field expeditions, giving readers two routes into the state’s storytelling traditions. The organisers describe the move into print as a way to preserve oral narratives, family histories and community roots beyond their digital publication. For local writers, publication gives the winning stories a second home after the contest. For readers, it brings material from different communities into one collection. These are folklore and cultural narratives, rather than a claim that every story is a verified historical record.

A cocoa-processing initiative in Kota Samarahan is exploring how Sarawak growers can move beyond selling dried beans to producing chocolate with a distinct local identity. The Malaysian Cocoa Board is processing beans from four locations at a cluster cooperative research centre in Kota Samarahan using a single-origin approach. Bernama reported the board’s account of the work on Oct 17. The remarks were made at the launch of A Malaysian Cocoa Affair 2026 in Melaka. The board said it could bring processing technology to interested farmers and entrepreneurs, with differences in growing areas and processing methods providing scope for different flavours and aromas. The downstream work is separate from the board’s proposal to expand cocoa cultivation in Sarawak. New trees would first need to bear fruit, with additional local supplies envisaged over the next two to three years rather than immediately. For growers, that separates two different opportunities: adding value to beans through processing, and the longer wait involved in expanding production.

Batang Saribas 2 Bridge is expected to open to traffic on Dec 5, giving the Pusa area another major link in Sarawak’s road network. The 2.43-kilometre crossing is not yet being reported as open. The date was announced in the Sarawak Premier’s speech at Regatta Tandang Sari in Pusa on Oct 17, delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Premier, DayakDaily reported. It is a planned opening, rather than an announcement that motorists can already use the bridge. For Pusa’s farming and fishing communities, the practical importance is access to markets: the speech linked better roads and bridges with easier movement of produce, business expansion and visits to the district. It did not put a figure on journey-time savings. Batang Saribas 2 should also be distinguished from Batang Saribas 1, the separate crossing already in use. Travellers planning a December journey will need the final traffic-opening notice for the new bridge, not just the target date announced at the regatta.

Sarawak has been urged to study a compensation framework for water consumers when specified service standards are not met, with clear rules covering eligibility and payment deadlines. Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong made the proposal during debate on the 2027 state budget on Oct 15, The Borneo Post reported. She called for the state to adapt a service-guarantee approach to local needs rather than deal only with the physical cost of repairing damaged pipes. For Kuching households and businesses, the distinction is important: this was a call to develop rules, not the announcement of a new compensation scheme accepting claims. The report gives no payment amount, qualifying interruption length or application channel. Yong said any local framework should define service standards and make compensation eligibility and payment timelines transparent. Those details would determine which disruptions qualify and how affected consumers could seek redress. The proposal also concerns losses suffered by businesses, a separate issue from the bill for repairing a pipe. No commencement date for the suggested framework was announced in the report.

More than 500 trees are being retained for relocation ahead of the planned dual-carriageway from the Yayasan Sarawak roundabout to Damai Santubong, while more than 1,000 are expected to be felled towards year-end. Kuching North mayor Dato Hilmy Othman said DBKU was handling the transplantation exercise and working with other agencies to identify relocation sites. Some trees could not be saved because of their age and deteriorated condition, The Borneo Post reported on Oct 17. The tree-management work is preparation for the highway project, rather than a sign that the new road has been completed. For people living along the northern Kuching corridor, the next practical details will be the exact clearance dates and any traffic arrangements; neither timetable was given in the report. Hilmy gave the update on Oct 16 at Darul Husnul Khatimah Mosque during a ceremony marking the completion of upgrading works on Jalan Tan Sri Abang Ikhwan Zaini. He said DBKU would also explore flowering plants and potted trees to further beautify that road, subject to securing funding.

A section of Kuching Outer Ring Road will be partly closed from Oct 19 to Nov 18 for road repairs, affecting the stretch from Sungai Entingan towards the Jalan Kuching–Serian traffic lights. The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) notice, reported by DayakDaily on Oct 17, identifies the work area as Q13-4, KM1+100 to KM2+200. This is a half-road closure on that section, not a notice shutting the entire outer ring road. For drivers using this approach to the Kuching–Serian road, the useful detail is the work-zone location as well as the month-long period. JKR advises road users to plan their journeys, follow temporary signs and instructions, and take care through the construction area. Traffic-flow enquiries can be directed during office hours to the JKR Kuching Divisional Operations Office on 082-203400 or the PPESW Sdn Bhd hotline on 1800-88-8666. The notice does not specify a daily closure timetable.

A ceiling collapse at Everbright Park along Jalan Penrissen in Kuching on Oct 16 involved plaster inside a building—not a roof blown off by a storm, according to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department. DayakDaily reported that firefighters received the call at 2.38pm. An initial report described storm damage to the roof, but the Padungan team found that the zinc roof had not been torn off. The collapsed plaster ceiling was believed to be linked to a roof leak. No casualties were reported. Eight firefighters checked the site and monitored it for further hazards before concluding the operation at 3.30pm. The distinction matters for anyone who saw the earlier account: the incident was inside the building, and the fire service did not report a whole-roof loss. The operation had ended on Friday afternoon; the report did not give a roof-repair timetable.

Sarawak students Matthew Cheong and Timothy Cheong have taken second place in the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe in Zagreb, Croatia. The brothers, who attend Borneo International School, competed as team “Malaysia Boleh”. DayakDaily reported their result on Oct 17, following the championship held from Oct 13 to 16. The result is a category placing at the Europe open championship, rather than a claim to an overall WRO world ranking. Their preparation took place closer to home: Miri-based robotics centre TESSLAB trained the team in robot design, coding and competition strategy. The Sarawak government supported their participation through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation. The championship drew more than 220 teams from 45 countries. The brothers’ result gives Sarawak’s school-age robotics scene an international competition milestone, with local training and state-backed participation both part of the route to Zagreb.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has secured another term of recognition under the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard, covering 2026–2028. It is the council’s third consecutive recognition, DayakDaily reported on Oct 16. The recognition was awarded at national level by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC). It is a cleanliness standard recognition, not a new UNESCO designation; Kuching’s UNESCO City of Gastronomy status is separate. The connection for residents and traders is in the places both locals and visitors use: public spaces, markets and dining areas. Cleanliness in those shared spaces supports the city’s food businesses as well as its tourism appeal. MBKS said it would continue improving cleanliness and public amenities, while urging residents, businesses and community groups to help care for shared facilities and dispose of waste properly. The report did not announce a new funding allocation or a dated programme of works alongside the recognition.

Drivers heading into central Kuching on Sunday, October 18, should allow for partial road closures between 6pm and 9pm. The affected roads are Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Jalan Barrack, Jalan Pearl, Jalan McDougall, Wayang Street and Main Bazaar. The restrictions are linked to a 3.8km Eucharistic procession starting from St Joseph's Cathedral. Police and Rela personnel will help regulate traffic. The notice describes partial closures during that three-hour period, rather than a full-day shutdown of every road on the list. For a Sunday evening pickup, delivery or trip through the city centre, check whether the route crosses these streets and leave extra time. Follow directions at the roadblocks; a familiar approach to Main Bazaar or Wayang Street may not be available throughout the procession.

Twelve Kuching landmarks have been turned into three-dimensional paper scenes in a locally designed heritage guidebook, pairing a city map with history and illustrations. The Heritage Pop-Up Guidebook introduces sites including the Borneo Cultures Museum, Sarawak Museum, Fort Margherita, Old Court House, Kuching General Post Office and the Padungan Great White Cat Statue. A map links the featured places, making the book a way to connect individual buildings with the wider city. An October 15 report describes the designer's work from prototype and hand-cut paper components through printing and assembly. The publication was presented to the Sarawak Museum Department, with a focus on making local history more engaging, especially for younger readers. For families or teachers, the format offers a visual starting point for learning about Kuching before looking at the buildings themselves. It is a heritage publication, rather than a notice that the landmarks have changed their visitor arrangements. A second, simpler guidebook is being developed with short introductions and room for stamps, sketches and notes. Its release is still forthcoming; the existing pop-up edition and the planned follow-up are separate publications.

A water sample from Curtin Malaysia's Miri campus has yielded DNA from the non-native common green iguana, giving researchers a lead for biodiversity monitoring rather than a confirmed count of live animals. The result was reported on October 15 as part of the 2026 Curtin Global BioBlitz. More than 100 students and researchers took part across Miri, Perth and Singapore. Across the survey, 26,572 distinct DNA sequences were analysed and 572 species identified; those totals are not a species count for the Miri campus alone. Environmental DNA comes from genetic material organisms leave in their surroundings. It can flag a species without researchers seeing an animal, but the iguana signal does not establish where the material came from or whether live iguanas remain on campus. For Sarawak's environmental monitoring, the useful next step is follow-up checking of the signal, not treating a positive sample as proof of an established population. Results can be explored through Curtin's eDNA Viewer, while the university plans to extend the initiative to all six global campuses for longer-term comparisons.

Fourteen licensed park guides have completed a five-day course on Lambir Hills National Park, combining biodiversity knowledge with safer trail navigation. Held from October 9 to 13, the training brought together experienced guides from Mulu and Miri and newly graduated guides from Niah National Park. Sarawak Forestry Corporation reported the completion on October 15. The programme covered Lambir's geology, forest vegetation, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians, alongside incident prevention. The mix is relevant to visitors who want more than a walk between scenic stops: a guide can help explain the forest while navigating its terrain. Participants also explored the possibility of guided night walks under strict safety procedures. This was a training component, not a confirmed public booking launch. Visitors interested in a guided trip can ask the park about available licensed guides and current permitted activities before arranging their visit, especially if they are considering an after-dark outing.

Bintulu has been identified as one of Sarawak's three planned landing points for the Madani Submarine Cable project, adding a proposed new connection for the port and surrounding businesses. The Salam network is planned with 10 landing points nationwide: three in Sarawak, five in Sabah and two in Peninsular Malaysia. The other two Sarawak locations are still under study, with Buntal and Matu among the places being considered. The October 15 update put the expected start of work at late 2026 or early 2027, followed by an estimated two to three years to complete the project. Salam is intended to complement the existing SKR1M system with extra capacity and connection options. That makes it a telecommunications project, distinct from undersea electricity export links. For households and firms planning around better connectivity, the remaining Sarawak site selections and the eventual construction schedule are the next milestones. The landing-point announcement does not itself change current broadband packages or put the new cable into service.

A proposed upgrade of the Biawak border checkpoint is being assessed under Sarawak's border development master plan, with the study expected to finish by the end of 2026. An October 15 assembly reply placed improvements to the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security complex alongside wider infrastructure and socioeconomic proposals for the Biawak area. Projects would be selected for phased implementation after the findings are reviewed. Priorities, readiness, funding and the required approvals will determine which works can proceed; a construction start date for the checkpoint upgrade was not set in the reply. For travellers and businesses using the Biawak crossing, the immediate point is that planning work is advancing, while any change to facilities still depends on that later project decision. A separate RM3 million scheme covers monuments at five border locations, including Biawak, and is at final design stage. That allocation should not be confused with funding to rebuild the checkpoint itself.

Two newly issued forest carbon licences cover 31,141.2 hectares in Tanjung Manis, Kuala Rajang and Ulu Baram. The licences allow approved projects to be developed, but do not automatically create carbon credits for sale. The October 15 presentation involved a 4,788.2-hectare project held by Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Kuala Rajang and the 26,353-hectare Jalin Forest Carbon Area held by Shin Yang. The former concerns mangrove blue carbon; the latter focuses on forest management and conservation. The presentation took place at the assembly complex in Kuching. The project land is elsewhere, not around the ceremony venue. Projects still have to satisfy the relevant standards, including validation and verification by recognised bodies, before credits may be issued or traded. An approved area is therefore different from a verified volume of carbon or a confirmed sales return. For communities and businesses following the sector, the practical checkpoints are the approved project boundaries, regulatory compliance and independently validated results. The new licences alone establish neither a household payment entitlement nor an investment return.

Sarawak's tourism ministry is overseeing 33 development projects valued at RM486.39 million, but the total is a portfolio figure—not an announcement that 33 new attractions are ready to open. An October 15 update to the State Legislative Assembly divided the work into 21 state-funded projects worth RM408.38 million, one RM52 million Projek Rakyat project and 11 federal projects worth RM26.01 million. Delivery is spread across agencies including JKR, LCDA, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, SEDC and local councils. The projects are statewide; the fact that the update was delivered in Kuching does not place them all in the city. Proposals are assessed for readiness, value for money, sustainability and their expected contribution to tourism and local communities. The assessment also considers associated costs and engagement with utilities and other agencies. For residents and tourism operators, the next useful information is project-by-project progress, location and service availability. The aggregate value alone cannot establish an opening date, a local job offer or an attraction that visitors can use now.

Firefighters extinguished an early-morning fire at Cheng Sian Tong temple in Lorong Bukit Hantu, Westwood, on October 16. About 20 per cent of the building was damaged, Bomba said. The Batu Lintang fire station received the distress call at 3.03am. People at the temple had tried three dry-powder extinguishers before firefighters took over. Crews opened part of the ceiling to check for hidden embers and ended the operation at 4.15am. The published account describes an extinguished fire, not an ongoing emergency at the site. The cause remains under investigation. There is no basis in the report to attribute it to wiring, candles or any particular person. The account also does not establish when normal access or repairs will resume; anyone with plans at the temple should confirm arrangements with its management rather than assume the building is ready for use.

Students and graduates at Swinburne Sarawak have a new on-campus route to career coaching and job-matching support through a MyFutureJobs Career Hub set up with Socso. The hub was launched alongside the university's Careers Fair on October 2. A report released on October 16 puts participation at 1,065, with 30 employers and seven partner organisations involved. The fair has already taken place; it is not an invitation to attend this Friday. Unlike a one-day booth visit, the hub is intended as a dedicated campus resource linking users to employment opportunities and the MyFutureJobs digital platform. The university also exchanged an MoU with Top Glove to explore internships, industrial training projects and graduate recruitment pathways. Initiatives are expected in the coming months, so the agreement should not be read as confirmed placements for every student. For a student planning the next step after graduation, the useful follow-up is to ask the university about hub access and career support, while checking any internship or vacancy against the employer's actual requirements.

The Kuching Autistic Association says this year's Autism Food Fair raised RM400,000 for its ongoing programmes, services and activities for individuals with autism and their families. The result, reported on October 16, combines ticket sales, food-fair cash sales and donations. It is not a single sponsor's contribution, nor a new payment scheme for individual families. Food vendors, volunteers, donors and ticket sellers contributed to the fundraiser. Its public outreach also aimed to build understanding and acceptance of autism beyond the day of the fair. For supporters, the next stage is how the proceeds sustain the association's existing work. The report did not break down the amount by programme or announce new service places. Families looking for support would still need to ask the association about its services and availability; the fundraising total alone does not establish access or eligibility.