Former The Borneo Post editor and Sibu haiku poet John Tiong Chunghoo died on Wednesday at the age of 66. His brother confirmed the death. No cause was disclosed. John began his journalism career with The Borneo Post in the 1980s, serving as an editor before later working with national newspapers. He also wrote travel pieces and remained active as a poet. His PoemHunter biography lists more than 3,000 poems and records that his work was used by schools and universities in several countries, including material connected with GCE and International Baccalaureate examinations. His writing also appeared in international literary and education publications. Former colleagues and readers remember a Sibu newspaperman whose haiku found an audience far beyond Sarawak. Condolences to his family and friends.

Open burning along the Sibu Jaya bypass has been ordered to stop after a Tuesday fire was linked to nearby farming activity. Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) said its chairman inspected the site with Natural Resources and Environment Board officers and firefighters. Sibu’s Air Pollutant Index was 327 — in the hazardous range — when the fire was reported. NREB officers told the council that people believed to be involved ran into nearby bush when enforcement personnel arrived. No suspect has been identified publicly and no charge has been announced. SRDC will ask the Land and Survey Department to verify the affected plots and their registered owners. Landowners along the bypass have been urged to check for unauthorised farming, while the council plans a multi-agency meeting over repeated burning in the area.

Jalan Oya Health Clinic is still operating at its present site while authorities assess a rented building for a possible temporary move. A Sept 1 inspection covered both the existing clinic and the proposed rental premises. The move is being considered because of the present building’s condition, with rising patient numbers and staff workload also putting pressure on the clinic. No temporary address, move date or change to appointments has been announced. Sarawak health authorities and the Health Ministry still have to decide whether the proposed premises are suitable and how services would be transferred. Patients should continue using the arrangements already given by the clinic unless an official notice says otherwise.

A five-year-old boy has died in Sibu, while Sarawak welfare agencies move to support his family as police investigate. Police said they received a report at about 1.45pm on Friday, Aug 28, over an incident in which the boy was believed to have suffered a neck injury. He was taken to Sibu Hospital and was later pronounced dead at the Emergency Department. A 49-year-old man identified as the boy’s uncle was remanded until Sept 4 to assist a murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The remand and investigation do not establish guilt; the circumstances and any court outcome have yet to be determined. The Social Welfare Department, Early Childhood Development Division and Social Development Council have been directed to monitor the family and provide psychosocial and welfare assistance. Authorities have also urged the public not to share unverified photographs or speculation while the investigation continues.

Sibu police say the new synthetic drug known as “Piu Piu” has not been detected locally, but monitoring has been tightened. [image: 1785384278911-sibu_piu_piu_20260730-resized.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post Sibu police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the drug is believed to be mixed with vape liquids, and police are watching entry and exit points to prevent it from entering the district. He said police are still waiting for confirmation from the Health Ministry on the exact composition of the substance. Commercial crime and narcotics remain key policing priorities in Sibu. Police also said index crime has dropped by about 7%, equal to around 35 fewer cases. Location: Sibu Details: Police monitoring tightened over emerging synthetic drug threat Hot Score: 22/30 Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?

A smart traffic light trial has started at the Jalan Salim/Jalan Bukit Penyau T-junction in Sibu. [image: 1785373583494-sibu_smart_traffic_20260730.jpg] The temporary system began its month-long trial after its electricity metre was connected on Tuesday. Trial operations started at about 8am on Wednesday. Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng said the lights use sensors to detect vehicles. If no vehicles are waiting to exit Jalan Bukit Penyau, traffic along Jalan Salim can continue moving. What drivers should know The system is still being fine-tuned. Chieng said several adjustments are needed, including extending the lane and relocating a streetlight pole so vehicles turning into Jalan Bukit Penyau do not block straight-moving traffic. A yellow box is also planned to improve road safety at the junction. Location: Jalan Salim/Jalan Bukit Penyau T-junction, Sibu Details: One-month smart traffic light trial to ease congestion and improve safety Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?

The Sibu shoplot fire that destroyed 13 units has triggered a review of fire safety and firefighting issues. [image: 1784855138081-sibu-shoplot-fire-safety.jpg] Source: DayakDaily / TVS SIBU: Sarawak will raise concerns from the Fire and Rescue Department with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government after the Jalan Khoo Peng Loong shoplot fire. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the issues and recommendations from Bomba will be documented and brought up at a KPKT meeting in Kuala Lumpur. What made the fire harder to control Sibu Fire and Rescue Zone 4 chief Andy Alie briefed Dr Sim on the firefighting challenges at the site. Among the issues were ageing shoplot structures, including wooden floors, ceilings and internal parts that allowed the fire to spread faster and made containment harder. The Sarawak government will also look at the need for better firefighting equipment, building design improvements and fire safety features. Location: Jalan Khoo Peng Loong, Sibu Details: 13 shoplots were destroyed; Bomba concerns will be raised with KPKT Hot Score: 22/30 Source: DayakDaily Should older shoplots get stricter fire safety checks? What do you think?

Sibu is just RM3 million away from becoming Sarawak’s next city — its council reserves have more than doubled since 2019. Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting announced today that the town’s financial reserves have grown to RM47 million, up sharply from RM19 million when he took office in 2019. The threshold for city status is RM50 million. [image: 1779861795348-sibu-city-status.jpg] SMC chairman Clarence Ting speaking at a press conference after launching the WAK Sibu Festival 2026 calendar at Wisma Sanyan on May 26. The second requirement — a population of 300,000 — is also being gradually met as Sibu sees demographic shifts and steady growth. “When I became chairman in 2019, people often asked why Miri could be upgraded to a city but not Sibu. After reviewing the criteria, we were only short of two main requirements,” Ting said. Sibu, long seen as a predominantly Chinese-majority town, is now becoming increasingly diverse, with a growing Iban population and broader ethnic representation. Location: Sibu, Sarawak Reserves: RM47M (up from RM19M in 2019) Target: RM50M reserves + 300,000 population Source: DayakDaily What do you think — will Sibu finally get city status this year?