What's happening around you
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Sarawak Trade Fair 2026 in Kuching draws China, Bangladesh exhibitors
The Sarawak Trade Fair 2026 will run from Oct 2 to 4 at the Ang Cheng Ho Sports and Community Hall in Batu Kawah, Kuching. Organised by the Sarawak Manufacturers' Association, the three-day fair will feature exhibitors from China and Bangladesh alongside companies from across Sarawak.
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SGH Kuching gives East Malaysia's first targeted prostate cancer therapy
Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching administered East Malaysia's first targeted radionuclide therapy for advanced prostate cancer on Aug 27, using Lu-177 PSMA-617. The hospital says the treatment saves patients in Sarawak and the wider region from flying to Peninsular Malaysia for advanced cancer care.
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Sarawak halal certificates now total 1,256, JAIS says
Sarawak has 1,256 halal certificate holders to date, with more than 20 certificates approved today, according to the state Islamic Religious Department's Halal Division. Its head, Ustaz Jamaludin Taim, said 71 per cent of applications are completed within the 30-day KPI, and blamed delays on cleanliness, kitchen practices and difficulty sourcing items such as gelatin and food colouring. He spoke after a certificate handover ceremony at iCafe Sarawak Chinese Muslim Seafood in Kuching.
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Kuching marks 81st anniversary of Sarawak's liberation from Japanese occupation
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Sarawak World War II Liberation Monument near Pending Hawker Centre in Kuching on Sept 11, marking the date Sarawak was liberated from Japanese occupation in 1945. MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng paid tribute to soldiers, prisoners of war and civilians who suffered, and urged Kuchingites to remember the monument as where peace began in Sarawak.
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iCafe Chinese Muslim Seafood in Kuching receives halal certification
The iCafe Chinese Muslim Seafood restaurant in Kuching, Sarawak, has obtained halal certification after about 20 years in operation and a year of improvements. Its owner, Muhammad Lukas Lim Abdullah, hopes the certification will boost customer confidence, especially among Muslims from Peninsular Malaysia and tourists.
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Daughter lays wreath in Kuching for father held at Batu Lintang POW camp
Anne Read, 73, visited Kuching to lay a wreath at the Sarawak World War II Liberation Monument near Pending Hawker Centre, honouring her father Arthur Hugh Peters Humphrey, a British civilian internee held at the Batu Lintang POW camp from 1942 until liberation. Hugh kept a secret diary during his captivity, a copy of which is now held at the Imperial War Museum in London. The visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of his death in 2001.
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JAIS: Halal cert is more than a guarantee, it opens wider markets
The head of the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department's halal division, Ustaz Jamaludin Taim, said halal certification is not just a confirmation that a product is halal but a benchmark for quality and food safety that opens wider market opportunities. He spoke after handing over a halal certificate to iCafe Chinese Muslim Seafood in Kuching, and urged more Muslim entrepreneurs in Sarawak to get certified.
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Anwar to announce interim measure on Sarawak claims on Sept 16 in Kuching
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will announce an interim measure on Sarawak's longstanding claims during Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching on Sept 16. He said he will continue discussions with Premier Abang Johari over the next few days, and the federal government also agreed to raise Sabah's interim payment to RM1.5 billion.
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Sarawak woman missing a month after leaving for Taiwan
A 41-year-old woman from Sarawak has been reported missing after her family lost contact with her following her departure for Taiwan in early August. The Padawan district police chief said the missing-person report for Azrimah Raimin was lodged at Batu Kawa police station on 9 September, and the public is asked to pass information to the police.
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Man held over illegal lottery sales at Roban rest hut
A 46-year-old man was arrested at a rest hut by the Saratok riverbank in Roban, Sarawak, on suspicion of selling illegal lottery numbers. Police seized a slip of paper with lottery numbers, cash and a pen. The case is being investigated under Section 4A(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
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Abdullah Saidol: Communication turns Sarawak's diversity into strength
Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol said communication is what turns the state's mix of ethnic communities, languages and beliefs into strength. Speaking at the 10th International Conference on Communication and Media (i-COME'26) at Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching on Friday, he warned that fabricated narratives on race and religion can spark unrest and urged media to avoid clickbait. He also witnessed the exchange of a Letter of Intent between Ukas and UUM.
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Abdullah Saidol: digital literacy key to defending unity
Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol said digital competence and effective communication systems must be strengthened so Malaysia's diversity remains a strength. He said social media content touching on race and religion can stir public unease and hatred, so the government must regulate appropriately while the public is empowered with digital literacy. He spoke at the opening of the 10th International Conference on Media and Communication 2026 (i-COME'26) in Kuching, organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia.
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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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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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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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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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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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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.