What's happening around you
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PM hands RM1,500 special aid to 111 families of Numbak fire victims
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presented RM1,500 in special federal aid to each of the 111 households affected by the Numbak fire in Kota Kinabalu. The aid was delivered during his visit to the temporary relocation centre at Dewan Serbaguna Damai. The 30 August blaze destroyed 202 houses and killed three children.
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Sarawak seeks frequent cloud seeding as hotter October looms
Sarawak has asked the National Disaster Management Agency to carry out cloud seeding as soon and as often as conditions allow, to replenish water levels at its dams before hotter weather expected in October. Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas said the state had discussed the matter with Nadma after limited success from earlier operations, and that he had not yet received the latest readings for the Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum dams.
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Two Serian men fined RM7,500 for rioting and smashing rear windscreen of elderly man accused of stealing oil palm fruit
Two men in Serian, Sarawak, were each fined RM7,500 after pleading guilty to smashing the rear windscreen of a 72-year-old man's car and taking part in a riot over an accusation of stolen oil palm fresh fruit bunches. The offences happened near the junction of Kampung Resak, Serian on Aug 28, and 12 others were each fined RM3,500 for the same riot.
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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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Post-mortem on five helicopter crash victims in Ulu Baram completed
The post-mortem on five victims of a BO-105 helicopter crash near Long Lellang STOLport in Ulu Baram, Sarawak, has been completed at Miri Hospital's Forensic Department. All five died from severe burns. The bodies have not been released to families pending DNA test results.
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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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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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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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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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Serian API back to very unhealthy level at 202
Serian in Sarawak recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 202 at 11am on Sept 11, again entering the very unhealthy range. It was the highest in Sarawak, while 15 other monitoring stations recorded unhealthy readings.
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SAINS signs MoU with 8nabler to expand voice AI use
Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian voice AI firm 8nabler in Kuching to widen voice AI use in ICT customer support services. 8nabler's Panacea platform handled 4,056 ICT support calls for civil servants without human assistance over two months. The two parties will run a scoping and testing phase to find use cases across SAINS-supported application systems.
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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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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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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.