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.

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has taken over a RM9.98 million purpose-built store for seized goods at Muara Tebas, Jalan Bako. The government-owned complex replaces rented premises and includes three storage areas, a vault, an exhibit room, an open-air incineration area and a secure storage system. It also has offices, parking and supporting mechanical and electrical facilities. The facility was built by the Public Works Department and received its Certificate of Practical Completion on May 26. The handover gives Customs a permanent site for goods held during enforcement operations, while the department says the arrangement should reduce long-term rental costs. The project was re-tendered after no company joined the initial tender. Authorities said it was completed within the stipulated cost, quality and timeframe; the handover report does not disclose how much seized material the new store currently holds.

Kuching’s Air Pollutant Index (API) rose to 95 at 8am on Sept 17, moving close to the unhealthy range but remaining moderate. Serian recorded 92 and Tebedu 90 at the same reading. Samarahan and Lundu were both at 77, while Lubok Antu and Betong stood at 76. The readings were higher than the previous 8pm figures in most of these areas. Samalaju also moved from good to moderate at 58, while Kanowit and Mukah improved into the good range. API readings from 51 to 100 are classified as moderate, and 0 to 50 as good. Conditions can change through the day, so people planning prolonged outdoor activity should check the latest official reading rather than rely on this morning’s snapshot.

Sarawak is exploring wider arts and cultural programmes involving schools as part of a stronger partnership with the National Department for Culture and Arts. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between the state tourism and creative-industry ministry and JKKN officials. Existing cooperation includes the annual Gendang Festival, whose preliminary rounds cover northern, central, Samarahan and Kuching zones. A Mobile Stage Truck used for grassroots arts programmes was also handed over by JKKN Sarawak to the Sarawak Arts Council. The truck had served rural programmes from 2010 to last year. The update signals a direction for future school and community programmes, but it does not yet set out participating schools, dates or a new curriculum. Those details will determine how widely students can take part.

Pending Jetty Hawker Centre has seen some improvements, but further infrastructure work will depend on continued funding and planning. The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor said toilets had been renovated, a monument installed and upgrading work around the jetty was under way after a site visit on Sept 16. MBKS will continue working with federal agencies on better facilities and development opportunities for the centre and its surrounding community. The council also said it would gather feedback from residents, hawkers and other stakeholders. No final cost or completion schedule was announced in the update. For traders, the immediate takeaway is that the centre remains an active community project rather than a finished redevelopment package.

More than 900,000 Sarawakians have benefited from Rahmah cash assistance, with 88,855 recipients recorded in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency. The figures were announced in Kota Samarahan on Sept 16 as the government promoted the combined support of Rahmah Cash Aid and Rahmah Basic Aid. Eligible households in the most-needy group can receive up to RM4,600 a year through the two schemes, according to the minister cited in the announcement. The Rahmah Madani Sale programme is also being expanded through shops, supermarkets and mobile outlets. The stated target is at least three such programmes each month in every state constituency, giving rural communities more ways to access lower-priced daily necessities. The cash-aid figures are a record of beneficiaries, not a new application deadline. Households should rely on official government channels for eligibility and payment updates.

Five rural markets in the Mas Gading constituency will receive a combined RM1 million redevelopment allocation. The package covers a new Tembawang Sauh rural market, sales stalls at Kampung Grogo and upgrades to the Jagoi, Duyoh and Stenggang farmers’ markets in the Bau area. The implementing agency, UDA Holdings, will handle planning, delivery and monitoring. Before work starts, the project scope, land status and bill of quantities must still be reviewed. The announcement gives traders a clearer list of which sites are included, but it is not a completion date. The allocation forms part of Sarawak’s wider rural-market programme, which recorded 61 projects worth RM13 million from 2024 to Aug 31, 2026.

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.

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.

Part of Jalan Tun Razak will be closed nightly from Sept 9 to Nov 8 for tree-cutting work linked to Kuching’s ART project. The closure will run from 9.30pm to 4.30am throughout the 61-day period. The affected stretch is part of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Phase 1 Red Line, which is being developed between Kuching Sentral and Pending. The work is tied to the future dedicated ART corridor, so the disruption will affect late-night journeys through this busy Kuching route. Sarawak Metro said traffic-management and safety signs will be placed along the route. Drivers using Jalan Tun Razak at night should allow extra time, follow the temporary arrangements and watch for further notices if the work schedule changes.

Kuching remained in the very unhealthy air-quality band on Sunday morning, even as readings improved in four other Sarawak areas. The API reading in Kuching was 235 at 8am, down from 276 at 8pm on Saturday. Sri Aman was also in the very unhealthy range at 216, while Lubok Antu, Lundu and Kanowit recorded 237, 215 and 215 respectively. Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu and Samalaju moved into the unhealthy band after their readings fell to between 184 and 200. No Sarawak station was above the hazardous threshold of 300 at the 8am update. The improvement is uneven. Smoke haze from Kalimantan was still drifting into parts of Sarawak on Sunday, and conditions may change with wind and rainfall. For Kuching residents, an API reading between 201 and 300 remains a signal to reduce prolonged outdoor activity and keep vulnerable family members away from smoky air.

MBKS probes dry hose, locked-away extinguishers after Stutong Market vehicle fire Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is investigating concerns over emergency firefighting equipment at Stutong Market after a vehicle was destroyed by fire on Thursday morning, with a dry fire hose and missing extinguishers hampering efforts to put out the blaze. Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said during his ShallWeeTalk live session on Saturday that the council had directed the relevant personnel to investigate and submit a report. He acknowledged that several fire extinguishers at the market had gone missing, calling it an internal security issue. Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who was distributing N95 masks at the market when the fire broke out, posted on social media that the fire hose had no water supply and that extinguishers were locked inside an office and not readily accessible. He urged MBKS to inspect all firefighting equipment at markets under its jurisdiction. Wee said it would be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed, adding that the cause of the fire itself must also be established. The fire started around 5am on Sept 3 and was eventually extinguished by firefighters. MBKS councillors have visited the affected hawker to check on their well-being and are assisting with police reports and other matters.

Serian remains under haze emergency for three more days as API drops, workplaces allowed to operate The Serian Division will stay under a state of emergency for the next three days despite an improvement in air quality, with businesses and government offices permitted to continue operations under health precautions. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said it is monitoring the situation closely after Serian's Air Pollutant Index peaked at 521 on Sept 4. By 10am on Sept 5, the reading had dropped to 334, still within the hazardous band of 301-500. SDMC warned that API levels could fluctuate depending on wind direction and hotspot activity. A full assessment will be made after the three-day monitoring window before any recommendation is submitted to Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on whether to lift or extend the emergency. Industries, plantations, construction sites and quarries in the affected area may continue operating provided all necessary health safeguards are in place. The public has been advised to avoid outdoor activities where possible, and to wear N95 or at minimum 3-ply masks when going out. Particular care should be taken for children, senior citizens and vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, the Department of Environment reported that nine of Malaysia's 16 detected hotspots on Friday were in Sarawak, with the remaining five in Sabah and two in Terengganu. ASMC satellite data showed 139 hotspots in Kalimantan, with moderate to thick haze moving northeast towards Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei. Six Sarawak locations recorded very unhealthy API as of 1pm Sept 5: Serian (287), Kuching (267), Sri Aman (251), Samarahan (242), Samalaju (202) and Bintulu (201). Seven more registered unhealthy readings.

Sarawak housing law amendments remain under legal review, no tabling date set Proposed changes to Sarawak's key housing laws are still with the State Attorney-General's Chambers (SAG), with no firm timeline for their tabling in the State Legislative Assembly. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the proposed amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Ordinance 2013 (HDO 2013) and the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulations 2014 (HDR 2014) are currently undergoing legal review and refinement. Speaking at the SHEDA Property Expo 2026 in Kuching, Dr Sim was responding to SHEDA president Augustine Wong, who sought assurance that the amendments could be tabled before the current assembly term ends. The Deputy Premier said legislative processes can take time, pointing to another state ordinance that took about two years to complete. He reiterated the government's willingness to continue engaging with the industry on regulatory issues. Location: Kuching

Sarawak Forestry steps up patrols in fire-prone areas as haze and heat threaten wildlife Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has intensified monitoring in high-risk forest areas as the prolonged hot, dry and hazy weather increases the risk of forest fires and puts additional pressure on wildlife. SFC general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said field patrols are being carried out particularly in peat forest areas and areas close to human activity, with hotspot detection technology used to identify early signs of fire. Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) that have previously been affected by fires are receiving extra attention. Among the sites being closely monitored are Bako National Park, Kuching Wetland National Park and Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kuching region, as well as Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary, Lambir National Park, Niah National Park and Mulu National Park in the Miri area. The corporation has also prepared emergency equipment and trained personnel, including veterinary officers, to respond to wildlife injuries or health problems caused by smoke exposure. SFC is coordinating with private veterinary centres and the Department of Veterinary Services. Location: Kuching, Miri

Sarawak to launch SAMUDAH platform to streamline business-to-government dealings The Sarawak government will soon introduce the SAMUDAH Management System, a coordinated digital platform designed to improve communication and issue-resolution between businesses and government departments. Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said the system will provide a structured mechanism for resolving business-related issues, with clearly recorded data to help policymakers identify and address system-level problems. His speech was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian at the opening of the SHEDA Property Expo 2026 at voco Kuching. The initiative is part of a broader push under the 13th Malaysia Plan to streamline government delivery. It will complement the Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) system, which manages the performance of 13MP commitments including the construction of 20,000 affordable homes. Location: Kuching