What's happening around you
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Sarawak haze eases but Serian, Lubok Antu, Samarahan, Tebedu still unhealthy
Air quality in Sarawak improved on Sept 15, with most monitoring stations recording Moderate API readings, but four locations remained unhealthy: Serian (168), Lubok Antu (152), Samarahan (151) and Tebedu (122). Kuching returned to Moderate at 96. The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre warned that hotspots and smoke haze in Kalimantan and Sumatra continue to pose a transboundary haze risk.
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China national denies raping woman in Kuching, remanded at Puncak Borneo Prison
A 53-year-old China national pleaded not guilty at the Kuching Sessions Court to raping a 46-year-old woman inside a room near a food premises along Jalan Tun Jugah on Sept 1. The judge denied bail and ordered him remanded at Puncak Borneo Prison, with pre-trial case management set for Oct 14.
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SNCC Samarahan first phase set for May 2028 completion, RM30m approved
The first phase of the Special Needs Community Centre (SNCC) in Samarahan, Sarawak is expected to be completed by May 2028, with RM30 million approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan. State minister Fatimah Abdullah said the centre will provide lifelong support including early intervention, vocational training and residential care. She also announced 745 children received early intervention services statewide as of Dec 31, 2025, and Sarawak aims to establish nine more One Stop Early Intervention Centres by 2030.
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Rubiah urges village heads to identify school dropouts for TVET
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang asked community and village heads to identify students who have dropped out of school and encourage them to take up TVET. She spoke at a solar street light handover event at Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Tanjung Tuang in Kota Samarahan.
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Hamzah Brahim backs EC Sarawak boundary review despite Stakan polling district changes
Stakan assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim said he supports the Election Commission's electoral boundary review even though several polling districts under his area will move to the proposed N23 Samarindah seat. He spoke to reporters at the DUN N17 Stakan Community Fire Programme in Kota Samarahan. The review, gazetted on Sept 1, would raise Sarawak's DUN seats from 82 to 99, with public objections open until Sept 30.
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Tanker driver injured, trapped in crash at Bulatan ILP Samarahan
A 36-year-old tanker driver injured his right leg after being trapped in a crash with a cargo lorry at the Bulatan ILP Samarahan Expressway junction in Kota Samarahan early this morning. Kota Samarahan fire and rescue personnel used a Rescue Tool Kit to free him before he was taken to IJN Kota Samarahan in an EMRS vehicle.
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13 held, RM15,915 in drugs seized in Kota Samarahan narcotics op
Police in Kota Samarahan arrested 13 people during a special narcotics operation carried out in the area from 7 September until yesterday. Officers seized 1.9 grams of syabu and 88 grams of liquid believed to contain drugs, worth an estimated RM15,915. All suspects were brought to the Kota Samarahan Court for further action.
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HSL buys over 5,000 N95 masks as haze disrupts Kuching construction sites
Hock Seng Lee (HSL) has purchased more than 5,000 N95 masks for its workers in Kuching as persistent haze affects its construction sites. The company has tightened safety measures, including daily briefings on mask use and extra caution for drivers and crane operators, and has extended precautions to its office and retail staff.
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DoE monitors bush, peatland fires in Mukah and Daro amid Sarawak dry spell
The Department of Environment is closely monitoring bush and peatland fires near Jalan Sibujaya Barat in Mukah and Sungai Nai in Daro, Sarawak, amid a dry spell. While the fire in Mukah is mostly controlled, about 2.5 hectares are still burning in Daro. The DoE is also tracking air quality, with Kuching and Sri Aman recording very unhealthy API readings.
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Sarawak haze eases as Serian API drops from hazardous level
Air quality in Sarawak is improving, with no areas recording hazardous API readings as of 1.45pm. Serian, where an emergency was declared yesterday, saw its reading drop to 287, still in the 'very unhealthy' range. Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah said workplaces in Serian may operate with health precautions while the committee monitors the situation.
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Deputy minister urges Sarawak youth to seize leadership opportunities
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, encouraged Sarawak's youth to step forward and take a more active role in leadership. She spoke at the closing ceremony of the Sarawak State Leadership Skills Course at the Rural Development Institute (INFRA) Auditorium in Kota Samarahan. The course was attended by 34 participants from higher education institutions around Kuching and Samarahan as well as registered youth clubs.
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Bank manager jailed, fined RM40M for money laundering, cheating
A former bank relationship manager in Kuching was sentenced to seven years in jail and fined RM40 million after pleading guilty to 24 charges of cheating and money laundering involving over RM1.5 million.
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Fatimah: Stronger childcare support key to keeping Sarawak women in workforce
Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said stronger childcare support can help women stay in the workforce. She was speaking at the 'Sarawak Women @ Work' programme in Kota Samarahan, citing 2024 statistics showing Sarawak's female labour force participation at 52.7 per cent compared to 85.4 per cent for men.
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Informal sector affects women's participation rate
Sarawak's Minister for Women, Children and Community Wellbeing, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the informal sector contributes to the gap in women's labour force participation compared to men. She spoke at the Sarawak Women @ Work Samarahan Division launch at the Sarawak Farmers' Organisation Hall, where financial aid was given to 15 women household heads.
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Sarawak haze eases as hazardous API readings drop to two stations
Haze conditions in Sarawak are improving, with the number of monitoring stations recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings falling to two as of 9am. Kuching and Serian remain hazardous, while several other areas in the state have moved into the 'very unhealthy' category. Air quality in some areas outside Sarawak, including Selangor and Sabah, has deteriorated.