Police have arrested a suspect and recovered a homemade firearm after a 17-year-old was shot in both legs in Lawas. The arrest was made on Aug 25, after the teenager was injured at a water catchment area in Long Lidong. Police said the firearm, locally known as a ‘bakakuk’, was found at a hut near the suspect’s home, covered with a zinc sheet. The teenager had earlier been found injured after he failed to return from the forest. He was taken to Lawas Hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Investigators said the teenager had gone hunting with a relative and was accidentally shot by a friend who mistook him for an animal. That is the account under investigation; the arrest is not a conviction, and police have not announced any court outcome. The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code and Section 37 of the Arms Act 1960. Police are still tracing witnesses and gathering information. Anyone with relevant knowledge should pass it to the police and avoid spreading speculation about the case.

Northern Sarawak’s connectivity plan is moving toward a direct Limbang–Lawas link, with the new route intended to reduce reliance on paths through Brunei. The agreement signed in Lawas on Aug 26 brings Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO) together to use communications infrastructure already owned in Sarawak. It includes SESCO’s Virtual Fibre network, with the overall network alignment reported at about 1,926 kilometres. The gap is felt in everyday services. Businesses in Lawas have faced e-payment problems, while the Lawas district police headquarters has also experienced internet issues despite its role in disaster management. Better links would support education, healthcare, government services and emergency response across the two northern divisions. This is an infrastructure agreement, not a switch-on notice. The parties have not given a launch date, coverage map or speed target, so the next meaningful update will be where the route reaches and whether service interruptions ease.

A gas leak reported beside the Northern Coastal Highway at Kampung Dato, Lawas on July 23 prompted firefighters to establish a safety perimeter and stop nearby work. [image: 1784865900417-lawas-gas-leak.jpg] Photo: Fire and Rescue Department via DayakDaily The Lawas fire station received the call at 5pm. On arrival, the team placed barriers about 40 metres from the leak and instructed the contractor to stop activity in the immediate area. The Fire and Rescue Department said periodic monitoring would continue. This was a dated incident report, not a live road warning The original report did not identify the gas involved, the exact cause, the repair completion time or a full road closure. It also did not state that the whole Northern Coastal Highway was unsafe. Those details should not be guessed from the photograph. Anyone encountering a suspected leak should keep away from the marked zone, avoid flames, cigarettes and electrical switches nearby, and follow instructions from emergency personnel. Do not stop at the roadside to take photos. If there is a strong unusual smell, visible vapour or a hissing sound, move upwind if possible and call 999 from a safe distance. People reading this later should check current police, Bomba, Public Works Department or contractor notices before treating the July 23 safety perimeter as still active. Location: Kampung Dato, Lawas Reported: July 23 at 5pm Confirmed action: Work stopped locally; roughly 40-metre barrier established Sources: DayakDaily · Sarawak Public Works Department