The Larian Semangat Merdeka brought 2,687 participants to Kuching North’s car-free morning on Sunday, October 4, with people with disabilities joining the wider community. The reported turnout included 21 deaf participants, five blind or low-vision participants and 66 children described as orphans. The figures show who took part, rather than race placings or finishing times. Organisers said participation was not limited to runners: some people walked and others needed assistance. That approach made the community programme different from a gathering only for experienced or competitive athletes. Kuching North City Hall linked the car-free morning to making public space available for walking, running, cycling and community interaction. The turnout gives a picture of how that space was used on Sunday, including by residents whose participation involved walking or assistance rather than running. Organisers also discussed more community activities in DBKU areas, but gave no dates or confirmed schedule for those plans.

Samarahan remained in the Unhealthy air-quality band at noon on Sunday, October 4, with an Air Pollutant Index of 151. Kuching stood at 91, in the Moderate band. The noon figures reported from the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s monitoring table showed only a small change from 8am: Samarahan had fallen from 152 to 151, while Kuching eased from 94 to 91. The neighbouring areas remained in different categories despite both readings declining. Conditions did not improve everywhere around Kuching. Lundu rose from 73 in the morning to 84 at noon, although it stayed Moderate. Serian fell from 99 to 95. The Moderate band covers readings from 51 to 100; Unhealthy runs from 101 to 200. A one-point drop at Samarahan therefore did not change its category. These are midday readings, not a forecast for the rest of Sunday. For a later comparison, check the latest local station and its timestamp on the NREB monitoring portal rather than using Kuching’s figure for Samarahan or carrying the noon snapshot into the evening.

Competition for staff is becoming a challenge for Kuching hotel operators as the city’s accommodation market expands. The Everly Lhesson Kuching says it is recruiting Sarawakians, taking on both experienced hotel workers and newcomers who need training. The hotel’s vice-president described the competition for workers in interviews published on October 4. Kitchen recruits, as well as other operational staff, need time to adapt to a hotel’s requirements and procedures. Meanwhile, operators are seeking demand beyond holiday stays. The Everly Lhesson is developing seminar and function business. The operator behind voco Kuching said it retained substantial meeting and event facilities after considering whether to reduce that space. Corporate travel, government-related stays, weddings and family visits bring different kinds of business. For local workers, the interviews also distinguish two routes into hotel employment: transferring existing experience or entering with further training needed. No vacancy list or salaries were announced in the interviews. The voco operator said its current priority was establishing the hotel and understanding guests before considering further expansion.

A riverside house at Kampung Bintawa Tengah in Kuching collapsed on October 3, leaving a family of five unhurt but also damaging the supports of a neighbouring home. The Fire and Rescue Department said the adjacent house had become unstable after debris struck its support posts. Four people lived there. Firefighters put up safety barriers around the affected house and advised its occupants to take precautions. The family from the collapsed house is staying with a relative. In a later account, the mother said she and her three daughters had been at their kuih stall, while her husband was away at work when the house gave way. Some documents were recovered, but the daughters’ identity cards remained in a submerged bedroom. Bomba received the report at 1.16pm on Saturday. Petra Jaya firefighters arrived at 1.22pm; no rescue operation was needed, and the response with police ended at 2.14pm. The immediate safety concern therefore extends beyond the house that fell into the river. The adjoining structure was also left unsafe for occupation. The family’s temporary accommodation does not resolve that separate structural risk.

Thirty-one young members took office in the Kuching South Child Council on October 3, with parks, safety and other issues affecting children among the matters they are being encouraged to raise. The second cohort will serve the 2026–2028 term. It includes 21 new members and 10 returning members, who will help guide the newcomers. The swearing-in took place at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Chamber. The programme gives under-18s a way to contribute views on their city while learning how local government works. It is a youth-participation and mentoring platform, rather than an appointment to the adult council’s statutory roles. Kuching South’s mayor urged the group to move beyond ceremonial meetings and photographs. Members were invited to point out problems with parks and public spaces, and offer ideas on safety, health, the environment, technology, sport and the arts. For families, the useful distinction is that children’s everyday experience of neighbourhood facilities can feed into council discussions. The new term begins with members sworn in; it does not itself announce a funded park upgrade or a new public service.

Seventy-five storm-hit families in Kuching South have been allocated RM107,000 in Sarawak government disaster aid, separate from the council’s RM1,000-per-family support. The assistance was announced at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) chamber on October 2 for households whose homes were damaged in the late-August storm. The RM107,000 is the total state allocation for the 75 families, not a flat payment of that amount to each household. Approved state assistance will go directly into recipients’ bank accounts through the Social Welfare Department. MBKS helped identify affected residents within its jurisdiction, prepare supporting documents and submit applications; the department handled verification and payment processing. The application process included a police report. The council’s own Caring Programme provides an additional RM1,000 to each affected family. That payment and the state disaster allocation are two different channels of help with repair costs and damaged belongings; they should not be treated as one council-funded grant.

Kuching school and club teams returned with podium finishes from two national aesthetic group gymnastics competitions held in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 26 and 27. Track & Dance’s TD Elite Prime won the IFAGG Short Programme for ages eight to ten in both the AGG Dato’ Malek Cup and the AGG Malaysia Championship. Those are wins in a specific age-group programme, rather than an overall team championship. S.L. Elite from SJK (C) Sungai Apong won the School Under 12 division at the Dato’ Malek Cup. SJK (C) Chung Hua No. 6’s Hexa Legends placed second in the School Under 12 category in both meets, while its Hexa Heroes took third in School Under 10 at both. The Sarawak contingent comprised 69 gymnasts competing in the IFAGG, NAD and Compulsory programmes at Endah Parade. Other podium results included Lubak Phoenix’s second places in the Mixed category and Track & Dance’s Night Stone taking third in Club Under 12 at both competitions. For the local school teams, the results show participation beyond the state-level circuit. The two competitions and their separate age and programme categories matter when comparing placings; these were completed meets, not an invitation to a coming event.

A new RM172 million contract will fund early infrastructure works for an advanced data-storage manufacturing facility at Kuching’s Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone. Kelington Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kelington Group, won the work from a manufacturing company whose name was not disclosed. The scope includes site development, foundations and high-voltage power infrastructure. Work is expected to start immediately and finish by August 2027. The award adds to about RM111 million in earlier contracts and purchase orders from the same customer, taking the project total awarded to Kelington to roughly RM283 million. The company has not announced an opening date or the number of jobs the facility may create.

Hui Sing Park now has a RM1.9 million community centre and library, bringing reading and community activities into the same South Kuching public space as the playground and exercise areas. The facility was launched on Sunday, Sept 27. The library is intended for children’s reading and storytelling, while newspapers and magazines are also planned for older visitors. The council has partnered with Little Bean Storyland to run reading and storytelling activities, giving the building a community programme as well as a place for reading. The opening is a practical addition for families around Hui Sing, but the launch reports did not give regular opening hours or a full programme timetable. Residents should check with MBKS before making a special trip.

The proposed Jalan Stutong expansion in Kuching has been approved, but construction is not about to start. A contractor’s letter of appointment is expected in two to three weeks, after which the project can move into its commencement stage. The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) says a public online briefing on traffic arrangements should be held before work begins. That leaves residents and drivers with an important distinction: the project has approval, while the contractor and work programme are still pending. Jalan Stutong has been the subject of earlier widening and upgrade studies near the BDC junction and SJK(C) Chung Hua No. 2. No start date or detailed traffic plan was included in the latest update, so regular users should watch for MBKS or JKR notices before changing their routes.

Drivers heading into central Kuching should expect staged road restrictions from Sept 28 as crews prepare Padang Merdeka for an Oct 10 programme. Jalan McDougall is due to close or divert from 10am on Sept 28 until midnight on Oct 10 for tent installation and removal. Rehearsals from Oct 5 to 7 will affect McDougall, the RTM signal-junction access, Jalan Wawasan and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg near Carpenter Street, generally between 7am and 11am. A fuller rehearsal is scheduled for Oct 8, also from 7am to 11am, while event-day restrictions are planned from 7am to noon on Oct 10; a night concert is listed for 7pm to midnight. Police advise motorists to avoid roadside parking and use alternative routes. For the detailed traffic plan, Kuching district police can be reached at 082-259900.

Two people suffered minor injuries in a four-vehicle collision near RH Plaza on Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Kuching, on Friday afternoon. Fire and Rescue Department teams from Tabuan Jaya and Batu Lintang found no one trapped in the vehicles. The vehicles included two pickup trucks, a van and an SUV. Firefighters also washed an oil spill off the road to reduce the risk to other motorists. The operation ended at 3.43pm after the scene was secured. The available accounts report minor injuries only and do not describe a continuing road closure. The useful distinction for drivers is that the emergency response included a hazardous-spill clean-up, not just casualty checks; any new traffic restriction would need a separate police notice.

The Kuching Marathon scheduled for Sunday, Sept 27, has been cancelled after the organiser reviewed the haze and consulted relevant authorities and medical advisers. More than 13,000 people had registered. Participants can collect their finisher medal and event T-shirt at Plaza Merdeka’s Alfresco area. The reported collection hours are 9am–9pm on Saturday, Sept 26, and 8am–1pm on Sunday, Sept 27. Bring the physical race bib; one person may collect for up to five runners if they present each bib. Anyone who has not collected a race pack must do that first. The cancellation is final for this edition; the finisher-item collection is the remaining in-person arrangement. Check the Kuching Marathon Association’s official channels for any updated collection instructions.

Kuching Marathon road closures start at noon Saturday, with 26 roads and junctions affected in stages. The first three sections — Lebuh Wayang–Jalan Main Bazaar, Jalan Main Bazaar–Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg–Carpenter Street — close from noon on Sept 26 until 10am on Sept 27. Jalan Barrack–Jalan Pearl follows at 10pm Saturday. From 12.01am Sunday, another 22 points along the route will be closed or diverted until 10am. Affected approaches include the route towards Padang Merdeka and junctions by Jalan McDougall and Jalan Kampung Lintang–Jalan Astana, as well as roundabouts in the city and Samariang. Anyone crossing central Kuching early Sunday should allow extra time and use an alternative route. Police also ask motorists not to park on road shoulders. Traffic enquiries: Kuching District Police Headquarters, 082-259900.

A resurfacing job along Lorong Sungai Tapang 4 in Padawan has been flagged for follow-up after one property entrance was left unfinished. A local constituency statement said the road level outside the property had been raised by at least half a foot, while the section leading to the driveway was left with raw, untarred stones. The unfinished entrance has made it harder for the homeowner to get in and out. The Padawan Municipal Council and the contractor were urged to inspect the spot and complete the resurfacing up to the driveway. The report does not say when the rectification will be done or whether the council has responded. The complaint concerns one section of a wider road job, but it points to a practical test for neighbourhood upgrades: the work should leave affected entrances usable, not just the road surface.

Old Kuching may get heritage zones covering parts of Gambier Road, Main Bazaar and India Street under a proposed Sarawak law. The plan would protect historic buildings, monuments and other heritage sites as the city continues to develop. Landmarks being considered include the Old Court House, Round Tower, Square Tower, India Mosque, St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Thomas’ Cathedral. Privately owned old shophouses are also expected to be reviewed. The state says property owners will be engaged before the legislation is introduced. If buildings are formally gazetted, future rules could include maintenance and beautification requirements. The first stage is to identify buildings and sites, while conservation approaches in Penang and Melaka are being studied. Seeking UNESCO World Heritage recognition is a longer-term ambition. For now, this is a planning announcement, not a new protected-zone map or a confirmed timetable. Shop owners and residents should wait for the proposed list, consultation details and legislation before assuming that a property has been gazetted or that redevelopment rules have changed.

Kota Samarahan police impounded 36 motorcycles and arrested one motorcyclist during an overnight Op Samseng Jalanan operation. The operation ran from 10pm on Sept 20 to 6am on Sept 21 at Taman Rembus and along Jalan Kota Samarahan–Kampung Baru. Twenty-five personnel took part, targeting traffic offences and road hooliganism. Police said the arrest was made under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987, which covers reckless and dangerous driving. The impounded motorcycles were placed under Section 60 for further inspection. The update records enforcement action and investigation steps; it does not by itself establish a conviction. Motorists using the Samarahan corridor should expect checks to include the motorcycle and its documents, not just riding speed. No wider road closure was announced in the report.

A Sunday night fire damaged about 35 per cent of a convenience store on Green Road, Kuching, but no one was injured. Batu Lintang and Padungan firefighters were sent after the call came in at 8.19pm. The blaze started at the front of the shop and spread towards the centre before crews brought it under control. Ventilation at the centre and rear helped limit the spread, Bomba said. The operation ended at 9.03pm. The cause of the fire and the value of the losses are still being investigated, so the damage figure should not be read as a final loss assessment.

Kuching South is preparing to extend designated senior parking beyond markets to shopping malls and other public areas. The move is part of MBKS’s effort to make everyday public spaces easier to use as the city’s population ages. Existing senior bays are already available at markets, but the council has not announced the first mall locations or a start date for the wider rollout. MBKS is also seeking approval for more full-size OKU parking bays. That proposal must go through the full council before it is submitted to the minister, so those spaces are not yet a confirmed rollout. For residents, the practical detail to watch is where the new senior bays will be marked and how access will be enforced once the scheme moves beyond markets.

Japan’s Taiyo Yuden plans to expand its multilayer ceramic chip capacitor plant at Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone, with completion targeted for October 2028. The proposed A2 expansion was announced after a company delegation met Sarawak officials in Kuching on Thursday. The project is expected to add high-quality employment, support human-capital development and deepen the electronics manufacturing base in the state. Taiyo Yuden has operated in Sarawak since 1994, producing electronic components including multilayer ceramic chip capacitors. The latest plan is an expansion proposal, not a claim that construction has already begun or that a final production date is fixed. For Kuching, the significance is in the continuity of Sama Jaya’s industrial role: a long-established electronics manufacturer is planning another capacity increase, with the next useful milestones being project execution and the targeted 2028 completion.