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Bintulu Port officially under Sarawak government from 1 September
Bintulu Port has officially transferred to the Sarawak state government effective 1 September 2026 after the takeover from the federal government was completed. The handover of documents was witnessed by the Sarawak Premier and the Prime Minister at Kuching International Airport. The takeover involved RM1.8 billion in compensation and the dissolution of the Bintulu Port Authority.
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Abdul Karim: 23 years of KIMF show Sarawak diversity unites, not divides
The Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival (KIMF) 2026 opened at Carpenter Street, Kuching last night, marking its 23rd edition. Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said in a speech delivered by Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan that Sarawak's cultural diversity is a source of unity and a tourism draw. He said the festival belongs to all communities and welcomed the participation of young traders.
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Kota Sentosa assemblyman hands out food baskets for Malaysia Day
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin distributed food baskets to residents of his constituency for Malaysia Day 2026 in Kuching. He said Sarawak's mix of races and religions should be a strength rather than a source of division, and that no one in the community should feel left out.
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Depo Kitchen wins Grab 5-Star Eats 2025 recognition
Depo Kitchen, a Kuching-based food brand in Sarawak, has been recognised in the Grab 5-Star Eats Awards 2025. Founded by Masduqi Husni Thamrin and his wife Dayang Puspasari Abang Spian, the business began under a 10-by-10-foot blue canopy at home before growing into a restaurant serving kunafa, nasi ayam penyet and other dishes.
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Telcos upgrade BCCK network for 5,000 at Malaysia Day 2026 do
Telecommunications companies have upgraded network capacity at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) to serve about 5,000 guests and personnel at the Malaysia Day 2026 celebration tonight. Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching said MCMC and telcos including TM, Maxis, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Sacofa and DNB have been working at the venue since Sept 13, with TM raising its capacity from 800 Mbps to 2 Gbps. She also said MCMC monitors 3R content on social media with PDRM.
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Kasih@HAWANA aid presented to late journalist James Ritchie's family in Kuching
The family of the late veteran journalist James Alexander Ritchie received a contribution under the Kasih@HAWANA Fund X TM at their home in Tabuan Desa, Kuching. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching presented the aid to his wife, Helen Tan, recognising his more than 50 years in journalism. The fund has so far helped 241 recipients this year, 35 of them from Sarawak.
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Veteran broadcaster in Kuching gets Kasih@HAWANA X TM aid on Malaysia Day
Uleyvia Ubang, a 58-year-old veteran broadcaster with 30 years at Cats FM who has chronic kidney disease, received a contribution from the Kasih@HAWANA X TM Fund at her home in Kuching on Malaysia Day. The fund, backed by Telekom Malaysia's CSR and run by the Communications Ministry through Bernama, has aided 77 media practitioners since June 2026 and 847 since 2023.
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Sarawak to widen JKKN arts collaboration into schools
The Sarawak government is looking to expand its collaboration with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), including through arts and cultural programmes involving schools. Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this after a courtesy visit by JKKN director-general Mohd Amran Mohd Haris to his ministry at Bangunan Baitul Makmur II in Kuching on Tuesday. The visit also saw JKKN Sarawak hand over a Mobile Stage Truck to the Sarawak Arts Council.
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Hajiji arrives in Kuching for Malaysia Day 2026 celebration
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor arrived in Kuching today to attend the Malaysia Day 2026 celebration, which will be held tonight at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). He arrived at the VIP Terminal of Kuching International Airport at 11.05am and was received by Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Mangil.
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Awang Tengah: Sarawak must build forest technology expertise
Sarawak Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan called for local expertise in technology and forest management to be built through partnerships with research institutions, universities and industry. He spoke at the Sarawak Forest Department's Excellent Service Award and Retirees Appreciation Ceremony in Kuching, where 93 officers received awards and 53 retiring officers were honoured.
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Kalimantan delegation to join Festival Gendang Sarawak for first time
Festival Gendang Sarawak will for the first time welcome a delegation from Kalimantan, alongside participants from Brunei, the state tourism minister said in Kuching. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also witnessed the handover of a mobile stage lorry from JKKN Sarawak to the Sarawak Arts Council at Baitulmakmur II.
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Kuching mooncake festival opens for 23rd year on Carpenter Street
The 23rd Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival 2026 opened on Carpenter Street in Kuching on Sept 15. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the festival has become part of Kuching's history and helps tourism, entrepreneurship and the creative economy. He said it gives Chinese, Malay, Dayak, Indian and other traders and visitors a space to meet and appreciate one another.
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IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2028
IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2028. 1 September to 5 September 2028, at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
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Sarawak targets full ePASS rollout to replace paper timber transfer passes by June 2027
Sarawak aims to fully enforce the Electronic Transfer Pass (ePASS) statewide by June 2027, replacing paper-based timber transfer passes with a traceable digital format. The system, developed under the Sarawak Timber and Forest Revenue Tracking System (REVLOG), was launched at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuching and will roll out in three phases starting January 2027 in Kapit, Sibu and Sarikei.
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Sarawak Forest Dept sets MBOR record with 31,260 saplings at Sabal reserve
Sarawak's Forest Department has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records after planting 31,260 saplings of 82 native IUCN Red List species at Sabal Forest Reserve within a year. Director Hamden Mohammad said the department also won the ASEAN Green Initiative award in Manila and a DBKU landscaping gold.
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Sabal Forest Reserve in Simunjan to hold open days on 6-7 November
Sabal Forest Reserve in Simunjan, Sarawak will host Sabal Open Days on 6-7 November 2026 with recreational activities including orienteering, paintball and food trucks. The Sarawak Forest Director said the programme also highlights the Healing Forest concept for physical and mental health. A RM65 million Sabal Complex under construction is expected to be completed by 2028.
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JKKN Sarawak hands over mobile stage lorry to MSS in Kuching
JKKN Sarawak handed over a mobile stage lorry to the Sarawak Arts Council (MSS) at a ceremony in Kuching on Tuesday. Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said cooperation between the state and federal governments in arts and culture will continue to be strengthened, including programmes such as the Gendang Festival held during Sarawak Regatta.
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Sarawak targets local chips for satellites and Mars mission
Sarawak aims to use chips designed by local talent and fabricated in the state for space technology, including low-earth-orbit satellites by 2030 and an engine for a Mars mission. Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is part of efforts to master the semiconductor value chain, with the engineering team targeted to grow to 500 from about 40. He spoke at the Sarawak Semiconductor Flagship Programme at the Sarawak Technical Excellence Centre (CENTEXS) in Kuching.
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Wilfred Yap: respect religious sensitivities, apologise over clergy remark
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has called for religious sensitivities to be respected after an UMNO leader's remark involving Catholic clergy and Christian scripture. He said the person responsible should withdraw the remark and apologise to the Christian community, and separately handed a RM100,000 UNIFOR grant to Christ Baptist Church in Kuching.
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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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Man jailed seven months for smashing mother's belongings in Kuching
A 28-year-old man was sentenced to seven months in jail by the Magistrates' Court in Kuching after pleading guilty to damaging his mother's household items. Mohammad Fitri Abdullah destroyed a dustbin, flower pots, a small table and a table fan at a house near Jalan Batu Kawa on Sept 10, causing about RM250 in damage.
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Ibraco launches NBX Residence I in Kuching with 100 elderly-friendly units
Ibraco Bhd has launched NBX Residence I in Kuching, a 268-unit development inside the NorthBank Business Exchange precinct, with about 100 units designed for senior citizens. The RM216 million project will be linked by a sheltered skybridge to a future 300-bed Regency Specialist Hospital Kuching, targeted to open in 2029. Bookings opened on Monday and the launch was officiated by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian.
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Ibraco and Affin Bank tie up to help NBX Residence I buyers with DSR
Ibraco Bhd has partnered with Affin Bank to offer a financing solution for purchasers of NBX Residence I who face debt service ratio complications. The deal was announced at Ibraco Gallery in Kuching, following the launch of the NBX integrated development. Show units for typical and mobility-friendly residences are now open for viewing.
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Fahmi Hands Malaysia Day Invitation to Sarawak Governor
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil made a courtesy call on Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at Astana Negeri Sarawak in Kuching to present an official invitation to the Malaysia Day celebration. The event will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) tomorrow night, with about 5,000 people expected, including the Prime Minister and the Sarawak Premier.