Residents had until 5pm on Sept 30 to submit written views on the Election Commission’s proposed review of Sarawak’s federal and state constituency boundaries. The proposal display, which began on Sept 1, ends on Wednesday, Sept 30. Representations could be submitted online through the EC’s MYSTS portal or in writing to the Sarawak State Election Officer. Completed forms could also be delivered by hand to the Sarawak State Election Office on the 11th floor of the Sultan Iskandar Building, Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching. The Sept 30 deadline mattered to residents who wanted to support or object to the proposed lines: the EC said submissions had to reach it by 5pm that day.

Seven of Sarawak’s 21 monitoring stations were in the unhealthy API band at 4pm Tuesday, Sept 29, with Serian highest at 175. Kuching recorded 158 and Samarahan 157. Lundu was at 161, Betong and Samalaju at 116 each, and Lubok Antu at 108. By late afternoon, Sri Aman and Kanowit had eased just below the unhealthy threshold, while Samalaju had moved into it. Unhealthy air is the 101–200 API band. Kuching and Samarahan remained in that range in the 4pm snapshot, so check the latest reading before spending a long time outdoors; these figures are not live readings.

UCSI University Sarawak Campus won the Overall Best Team title at the Sarawak International Culinaire Challenge, collecting three gold, two silver and four bronze medals, plus three diploma awards. The Kuching-held contest drew about 200 entries from Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines over three days, Sept 25–27. A UCSI Sarawak student also received the Best Young Chef award, putting the campus result alongside individual recognition. The Kuching Chefs Association-organised event brought culinary students and working professionals together across cooking, team and display categories. The organisers said they hope to hold the next edition in the third quarter of 2027.

A 36-year-old man has been remanded for three more days as police investigate the Sept 20 arson at a convenience store on Jalan Green, Kuching. A senior court registrar approved the extension to let investigators continue a probe under Section 436 of the Penal Code. The case remains at the investigation stage; remand is not a finding of guilt. A separate update concerns two other men linked to the Jalan Green case: a 23-year-old was released from remand on Monday, then arrested again in connection with a different arson investigation in Saratok. A 40-year-old suspect was released over the weekend. The incidents at stores in Kuching and Sri Aman on Sept 20 are being investigated as separate cases. The latest court action changes the status of one suspect, but does not establish that either case has been solved.

Emart's Kuching branches have a one-day grocery offer today, Monday 28 September 2026. Fresh chicken without head and feet is RM10.49/kg (limit 2 birds); W.L. sotong rings are RM13.99 each; Dutch Lady UHT milk, selected 850g variants, is RM20.99 each; and Scott kitchen towels, 6 rolls, are RM8.99 each. The poster lists a limit of two each for the squid rings, milk and kitchen towels. [image: 1790561955695-kuching-deals-supermarket-resized.jpg] Illustrative supermarket-shelf photo: Amnesiac86 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (photo taken in Melbourne, not an Emart outlet). Available today at Emart Taman Berlian, Boulevard, King Centre, Moyan, Sejingkat, Summer Mall, Tabuan Jaya, Batu Kawa and Matang outlets. Check the Emart promotion page for the original offer poster and any in-store availability updates.

Drivers using Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin will face a changed temporary traffic arrangement from Sept 28, with the diversion scheduled to run until Jan 21, 2027, during construction. The Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) says the contractor will issue further updates if the affected dates, hours or areas change. The works contract runs from July 15, 2024 to Jan 21, 2027, so the new arrangement spans the coming months rather than a single weekend. Regular users should check LCDA’s latest notice before setting out and allow time for the altered route. For traffic enquiries or feedback, contact LCDA at 082-235944.

DEQLO Frenzy runs from 25–27 September 2026. Spend RM120 in a single receipt at DEQLO Department Stores to receive a free RM10 discount voucher after the qualifying purchase; this is a voucher, not an instant RM10 reduction. Please confirm the voucher’s redemption conditions with the participating branch. Locations: Emart Batu Kawa 24 Hours and Emart Boulevard Kuching. Official posts: Emart Batu Kawa · Emart Boulevard

Still deciding what to do around Kuching this weekend? Here are three very different plans, from a last-night festival stroll to a home-living expo and a Saturday comedy show. 23rd Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September, 5:00–10:00 PM Carpenter Street and Ewe Hai Street, Kuching Make this your evening food-and-lantern walk: the festival brings more than 100 stalls together, with mooncakes, other bites and cultural performances. It wraps up on Saturday, so these are the final two evenings to wander through the old streets and sample what catches your eye. Modern Living Home Expo Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM MetroCity Event Centre (MCEC), Kuching If you are furnishing, renovating or simply enjoy browsing home ideas, this is the big indoor option. The organiser lists more than 500 brands and 400 booths across furniture, appliances, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and more. Give yourself time to compare rather than rushing through. Dr Jason Leong – In Laughing Memory 2026 Comedy Special Saturday 26 September; 3:30 PM show. The 8:30 PM show is sold out; confirm afternoon ticket availability before travelling. Chemsain Building, 172 Jalan Rock, Kuching An English-language stand-up show, around 90 minutes long, built around grief, love and finding humour in difficult moments. Admission is ticket-only and the show is for ages 16 and up; check the afternoon-show ticket page for current availability before making the trip. I’d pair the mooncake festival with a relaxed walk through the old town, then consider the Saturday afternoon show. Which one sounds most like your kind of weekend?

Carimin Petroleum’s 90%-owned subsidiary Sri Borneo Energy has proposed to buy a 7.246-hectare leasehold property in Sejingkat, Kuching, for RM21.12 million. The site includes factory and fabrication facilities, and the company plans to restart metal fabrication and galvanising there. The deal is not yet complete. The title currently restricts the land to dockyard use, and the transfer requires written consent from the Sarawak minister responsible for land. Carimin expects completion within 12 months, subject to approval. The proposed return of industrial capacity is the local point; no production restart date or employment numbers have been announced. A signed sale agreement should not be read as a completed transfer or a confirmed opening.

At 8am Thursday, Lundu’s Air Pollutant Index (API) had risen to 223, in the very unhealthy band. Serian stood at 218 and Kanowit at 216, while Kuching was at 195, classed as unhealthy. Under Malaysia’s API scale, readings from 101 to 200 are unhealthy and 201 to 300 are very unhealthy. These figures are a morning snapshot from monitoring stations, not a uniform reading for every neighbourhood. The stations are updated through the day, so check the latest APIMS reading before planning extended outdoor activity. People with breathing or heart conditions should take extra care while the haze persists.

A historic silk cotton tree at Kuching’s Padang Merdeka could receive formal heritage protection under a wider plan for Old Kuching. Sarawak’s tourism minister said he had asked the Sarawak Museum Department to study gazetting the Pokok Kapas, also known as the kapok tree. He described it as part of Kuching’s living heritage and said specific protection would help prevent heritage assets from being removed or damaged. The proposal sits within the Old Kuching Smart Heritage initiative, which is assessing areas including Gambier Street, Main Bazaar and India Street, along with landmarks such as the Old Courthouse and Round Tower. The review is also expected to consider privately owned heritage buildings, with engagement and possible compensation discussed before legislation. The tree has not been gazetted through this announcement. It is a proposal for assessment, while the wider conservation work is still being organised as Kuching continues to develop.

Sarawak’s tourism sector regained momentum in August, with 439,968 visitor arrivals—up 6.53 per cent from the same month last year—and RM1.137 billion in receipts. International arrivals rose 12.6 per cent to 275,800. But the first eight months still totalled 3,160,448 arrivals, 1.41 per cent below the same period last year, so the August rebound has not erased the earlier shortfall. Sarawak’s tourism authorities expect the final quarter to be stronger, while acknowledging that haze could cause leisure travellers to postpone trips. The more-than-four-million year-end expectation is therefore still a forecast, not a confirmed outcome. For Kuching businesses and travellers, the useful signal is a busier August alongside a season that remains sensitive to air quality and programme schedules.

Sarawak accounted for 11 of Malaysia’s 21 “unhealthy” air-quality stations at 8.30am on Monday, with Kuching recording an API reading of 158. Serian was the highest in the state at 168, followed by Kapit at 166 and Sri Aman at 160. Miri and Bintulu also recorded 158, while Samarahan was 157, Sibu 156 and Samalaju 155. The readings show the haze remains a broad state-level problem rather than being confined to one town. The Department of Environment said it is continuing round-the-clock monitoring. Wind direction and hotspot activity can change the numbers during the day, so residents should check the latest API before deciding on prolonged outdoor activity, especially if they are in a vulnerable group.

Registered senior citizens under the Kuching South City Council programme can collect their RM30 grocery vouchers on Sept 23. Collection is scheduled from 7.30am to 10.30am at the market assigned during registration. The five registration venues were Petanak, Stutong Community, Bintawa, Sungai Apong and Kenyalang markets; recipients should return to the designated venue rather than assume another market can process the collection. The vouchers are meant for daily necessities including vegetables, fish, meat and poultry. The programme is limited to residents within the MBKS jurisdiction, and registration has already drawn a strong response. Anyone who completed registration but is unsure of the assigned market should confirm with MBKS before collection day.

Malaysia’s Health Ministry is pressing agencies involved in Petra Jaya Hospital to keep construction moving towards its planned completion. The deputy health minister made the call during a follow-up site visit on Sept 18. She was briefed by the Public Works Department on the project’s physical progress, completion roadmap and the healthcare facilities planned for the hospital. The latest update does not announce an opening date. For Petra Jaya and nearby communities, the immediate question is whether the coordination now translates into a firm completion timetable and a hospital ready to serve the area.

Water pressure at Kuching’s Kenyalang Food Centre has improved after Sarawak Water carried out a temporary reconnection on Friday. The work followed complaints from hawkers and traders, who said the pressure was especially weak after 5pm. Sarawak Water replaced and installed connection points using an existing connection near the centre. Supply to the food centre and nearby shophouses was interrupted from 10am to 3pm while the work was carried out. Water support was arranged for affected food and beverage operators during that window. The reconnection is an interim measure, and MBKS said it will continue monitoring the supply with Sarawak Water. For traders, the immediate test is whether pressure remains adequate through the evening operating period.

Haze worsened across Sarawak on Friday, with Kuching still in the unhealthy range and Kanowit becoming the state’s first monitoring station to reach the very unhealthy category. Kanowit’s Air Pollutant Index (API) rose from 186 at 8am to 209 at 2pm, according to Sarawak’s API status data. Kapit also moved from moderate to unhealthy at 152. Kuching improved from 192 at 8am to 178 at 2pm, while Samarahan fell from 184 to 171 and Lundu from 176 to 142. Even so, 13 locations remained in the unhealthy band at 2pm, including Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu, Betong and Sri Aman. An API reading of 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy, while 201 to 300 is very unhealthy. Bario was the only location in the good category at 2pm, with a reading of 50. Residents should check the latest station reading before spending long periods outdoors, especially if they are children, older adults or have respiratory and heart conditions.

Sarawak’s haze thickened on Friday morning, with 13 monitoring stations moving into the unhealthy range and Kuching recording an API reading of 192. The 8am reading was up from 174 at 4pm on Thursday. Kanowit rose sharply from 58 to 186, while Samarahan reached 184, Serian 180, Lundu 176 and Tebedu 166. Several central Sarawak stations also saw steep overnight increases: Sibu climbed to 158, Sarikei to 157, Sri Aman and Bintulu to 153, and Mukah and Lubok Antu to 104. Kapit was the only station to move into the moderate band among the locations highlighted in the morning update, at 93. Miri and ILP Miri remained moderate at 61 and 58, while Limbang and Bario were in the good range at 49 and 12. The API is a 24-hour running measure. Readings from 101 to 200 are classified as unhealthy, so conditions can change with the next update. People in affected areas should check the latest readings and cut down prolonged outdoor activity while the air remains poor.

If you are planning a Korean meal in Kuching this month, K Fry Urban Korean's Rasa Kick series is available until 30 September 2026. The menu includes K'rispy Gochu Mayo Chicken, Poppin' Sweet Corn Bingsoo and Velvet Sweet Corn Shake. There is also a challenge with prizes including K Fry merchandise, free boneless fried chicken and Bose headphones worth up to RM1,799. Valid until: 30 September 2026 Location: K Fry Urban Korean, The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching Terms, participating items and prize mechanics may apply, so check with the outlet before ordering. [image: 1789697066549-malaysia-day-food-deals.png] Source: SAYS

The weekend is here — here are three Kuching picks if you are looking for something to do. 1. 易经智慧 2026 (I Ching Wisdom 2026) Time: Saturday, 19 September, 2:00 PM Venue: The Space @ Saradise KCH A Chinese-language I Ching wisdom session listed on Eventbrite. A nice indoor option for anyone curious about traditional Chinese philosophy and self-reflection. [image: 1789689801419-event1.jpg] 2. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Time: Saturday or Sunday; orangutan feeding sessions are usually 9:00-10:00 AM and 3:00-4:00 PM Venue: Semenggoh, about 20 km south of Kuching Go early for a chance to see the semi-wild orangutans during feeding time, then spend the rest of the morning in the rainforest. Feeding is dependent on wildlife conditions, so check before leaving. [image: 1789689801541-event2.jpg] 3. Borneo Cultures Museum Time: Saturday or Sunday, 9:00 AM-4:45 PM Venue: Borneo Cultures Museum, Kuching city centre A relaxed rainy-day plan: explore Sarawak's history, indigenous cultures and natural heritage under one roof. Good for families, visitors and anyone who wants a slower weekend. [image: 1789689801683-event3.jpg] Quick note: The first listing is from Eventbrite; the other two are regular Kuching attractions rather than one-off weekend events. Please confirm ticketing, opening hours and wildlife schedules before heading out. Sources: Eventbrite Kuching events · Sarawak Forestry · Sarawak Museum