What's happening around you
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Teen tried to pass a stick but could not reach uncle feared drowned in Sungai Perak
A 38-year-old man is feared drowned after jumping into Sungai Perak to retrieve a drifting boat at Batu 18, Kampung Kuchai, Bota Kiri, Perak, yesterday evening. His 13-year-old nephew said he tried to hand him a stick but it did not reach before the man went under. A search-and-rescue operation involving 26 firemen, including divers and a K9 dog, began this morning.
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AIM 25 heads to Kuching for the first time, RM950,000 in prizes
The 25th Anugerah Industri Muzik will be held in Kuching, Sarawak, for the first time on 26 September, tied to Malaysia Day celebrations. The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching show will feature Siti Nurhaliza, Hael Husaini, Hujan and Indonesian singer Fajar Noor, with RM950,000 in funding for 16 main categories.
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Malaysia Day musical theatre spotlights nationalists' sacrifice
A musical theatre production titled 'Malaysia MADANI Kesejahteraan Dinikmati' will be staged for Malaysia Day on 16 September at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching. Director Cikgu Zakaria Hassan said the 18-minute show highlights the sacrifice of nationalists, unity and national development, involving about 70 people.
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Sarawak Energy reviews 24 viral electricity bill complaints
Sarawak Energy is reviewing 24 electricity bill complaints that went viral on social media and has contacted the affected customers. SESCO chief executive Yusri Safri said each case is assessed on its own circumstances and adjustments or waivers may be made where warranted. Special bill counters are open in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu throughout September.
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Deputy minister: digital transformation must improve public services
Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong said at the Digital Government Exchange 2026 in Kuching that digital transformation must make public services more seamless, accessible, inclusive and responsive. He said 445,000 civil servants are targeted for training under Nationwide AI Network 2.0, covering generative AI, productivity and workflow automation. The event, organised by Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd, focuses on AI and data-driven governance.
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DAP Sarawak questions 99-seat DUN expansion without more parliamentary seats
DAP Sarawak has questioned the rationale for raising the number of Sarawak state seats from 82 to 99 without a matching increase in parliamentary representation. Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party objects on three grounds, including unequal voter distribution and unfair ethnic representation, and spoke at a press conference at the party's Sarawak headquarters in Kuching.
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Abdullah Saidol: Malaysia formation facts must be told in proper perspective
Sarawak Deputy Minister Datuk Abdullah Saidol said facts about Malaysia's formation must be presented in proper perspective to avoid confusion, especially amid conflicting interpretations on social media. He spoke in Kuching after a preview of the Malaysia Day 2026 Exhibition at Plaza Merdeka, which runs from Sept 10 to 16 and displays key documents including the Cobbold Commission Report and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
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Kuching police arrest 14, seize RM1,720 in drugs under Op Tapis Khas
Kuching district police arrested 14 people during a three-day Op Tapis Khas operation from 7 September. Seizures included 1.09 grams of methamphetamine and 569 grams of ganja worth about RM1,720. The cases are being investigated under Sections 39B, 12(2) and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
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Elderly man in Kuching loses RM220,000 to fake stock investment scam
A 74-year-old man in Kuching, Sarawak lost RM220,000 after falling for a non-existent stock investment advertised on Facebook. The victim made eight online transfers to four different bank accounts before realising he had been cheated when he could not withdraw the profits shown. Kuching police are investigating under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
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Startup Village Borneo ends with two Sarawak teams in top five
The five-day Startup Village Borneo builder residency in Kuching drew over 100 participants from Malaysia and abroad, including Vietnam, Korea, India, Nepal, Singapore, the United States and Europe. Two Sarawakian teams placed in the top five, with projects on construction-payment retention and Bario Rice provenance. Organisers said the programme shows Sarawak can attract global tech builders rather than only send talent away.
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Daro assemblyman: digital tech widens reading access at Sarawak literacy event
A Sarawak-level National Reading Decade 2026 and World Literacy Day 2026 celebration was held at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Gallery in Kuching on Thursday. Daro assemblyman Dr Safiee Ahmad said digital technology has made reading materials more accessible and called for continuous efforts to build a reading culture.
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21 detained in Ops Mahir at two Kuching industrial areas
Twenty-one individuals were detained by the Sarawak Immigration Department in Ops Mahir at Demak Laut Industrial Park and Sejingkat Industrial Estate in Kuching. The operation inspected 72 individuals at three factory premises and issued three witness summonses.
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Kuching PR conference examines strategic communication in AI era
About 60 public relations practitioners and media representatives gathered in Kuching for The PR Show 2026, themed "WHO ARE WE? Understanding Public Relations Beyond Publicity". Speakers including AZAM Sarawak chairman Datuk Ismawi Ismuni discussed how communication can bridge policy, development and community, and how AI is reshaping the profession.
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SIDC targets Q3 2027 launch, aims to be regional pandemic preparedness hub
The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) is targeting an official launch of its facility in the third quarter of 2027, according to CEO Prof Dr Ivan Yap Kok Seng. He spoke at the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 at Imperial Hotel, Kuching, launched by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Five strategic cooperation documents were signed, including with Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and BIOTEC Thailand for infectious disease research and regional pandemic preparedness.
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10,000 cups of Milo to be given out at Malaysia Day celebration in Kuching
A total of 10,000 cups of Milo will be distributed free to visitors at the 2026 Malaysia Day Celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Sarawak on Sept 16. The initiative is part of Milo's target to give out 100,000 free drinks nationwide during National Month, and the celebration will feature cultural performances and be broadcast live.
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Abdullah Saidol: distortion of Malaysia's history on social media a key challenge
Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol said the distortion of Malaysia's formation history on social media is a key challenge ahead of Malaysia Day. He said the government will not hesitate to act against statements that break the law, are defamatory or could stir unease. He spoke after a preview session for the 2026 National Malaysia Day Celebration Exhibition at Plaza Merdeka, Kuching.
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Sarawak strengthens innovation ecosystem through SHInE 2026
In Kuching, Sarawak is strengthening its research and innovation ecosystem through the SHInE 2026 conference held from 9 to 11 September at Imperial Hotel Kuching. Organising chairman Dr Peter Morin Nissom said SRDC aims to move Sarawak from being a technology user to a creator and owner of intellectual property. Sarawak's geographical challenges were also discussed in ensuring equitable access to science and healthcare.
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Hari Malaysia 2026 exhibition at Plaza Merdeka Kuching
The Hari Malaysia 2026 exhibition is being held at the Main Atrium of Plaza Merdeka, Kuching from 10 to 16 September, presenting the history of Malaysia's formation through the Corridor of the Era of Malaysia's Formation concept. Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol and Sarawak JAPEN director Sabri Said visited the exhibition. Mini exhibitions are also being held in 10 divisions in Sarawak as well as in Sabah and Putrajaya.
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Keringkam Kenyalang unites Sarawak women of all ethnicities
The Keringkam Kenyalang programme at Dewan Wisma Wanita Kuching serves as a platform to empower Sarawak women economically across ethnic groups. It will continue to Miri, Bintulu and Lawas, focusing on skills sharing and economic networking.
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Abang Johari: Haze cooperation with neighbours handled via Asean, diplomacy
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said cooperation with neighbouring countries on transboundary haze is being handled through Asean mechanisms and diplomatic channels. He spoke in Kuching after launching the Sarawak SHInE International Conference, as Sarawak continues to experience haze linked to fires in Indonesia. Serian, Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman have been worst hit, with schools closed and a brief state of emergency declared in Serian from Sept 4-7.
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Abang Johari: Sarawak to study biodiversity for regenerative medicine research
Sarawak is exploring its biodiversity as a source for regenerative medicine research, Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said after launching the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 in Kuching on Thursday. He has asked medical research experts to study whether bio-based cells from the state's forests could help treat diseases such as cancer, and called for collaboration with outside talent, citing Singapore's research strength.
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DBKU holds two-day public speaking course for KIK members
Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) ran a two-day public speaking and presentation skills course at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). The course involved members of DBKU's Innovative and Creative Groups (KIK), including preparation for SCSICA 2026 and the DBKU KIK Convention 2026.
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Kuching gourmet group, Chef Muluk to publish halal Sarawak recipe book
A Kuching food association and Sarawak chef Abdul Muluk Rambli signed an MoU to produce a Halal Sarawak Cuisine Recipe Book documenting traditional recipes and indigenous ingredients. The signing took place at the association's third anniversary Rainforest Empurau Charity Night in Kuching.
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Dr Sim: Chefs representing Kuching abroad must uphold Unesco gastronomy standards
KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said chefs and culinary groups representing Kuching overseas must maintain high standards to protect the city's reputation as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy. Speaking at the Persatuan Peminat Gourmet Kuching third anniversary Rainforest Empurau Charity Night on Wednesday, he stressed that representation involves heritage, local ingredients, communities, creativity and sustainability.