What's happening around you
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Woman hurt as 4WD and lorry collide on Serian-Kuching road
A 44-year-old woman was injured when the 4WD she was in collided with a lorry at Mile 18, Jalan Serian-Kuching on Friday morning. Firefighters from the Siburan station used hydraulic tools to free her before she was taken to hospital. The lorry driver was unhurt, and traffic was briefly slowed.
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Serian residents cope with haze as API drops to 334, schools closed
Life in Serian, Sarawak, continued largely as normal on Saturday despite a haze emergency declared a day earlier, with residents wearing face masks as a precaution. The Air Pollutant Index reading stood at 334 at 10am, down from over 500 the previous day, and N95 masks were in short supply at local pharmacies. Schools in the Serian district are temporarily closed from Sept 7 to 11, with home-based learning implemented, while farmers report that pepper saplings have died due to the dry spell.
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Serian rep urges more cloud seeding as haze emergency declared in division
Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus has urged the government to conduct more frequent cloud seeding in Serian to combat the haze and dry spell affecting farmers. The call comes after the Prime Minister's Office declared an emergency for the entire Serian Division due to hazardous air pollution levels.
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Serian churches can hold services despite haze emergency, says Anglican bishop
The Anglican Bishop of Kuching, Danald Jute, said church services in Serian may continue despite the emergency declaration over hazardous air quality. He advised vulnerable parishioners to stay home and urged the community to wear N95 masks and limit outdoor exposure.
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Sarawak haze emergency raises fears for tourism and outdoor events
Sarawak's Serian Division is under a haze emergency after API readings exceeded 500, prompting concerns from the state's tourism minister about declining visitor numbers and the fate of upcoming outdoor events. The minister urged organisers to follow guidelines and prioritise public health, with Kuching also recording hazardous air quality.
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Kuching ready for national Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16, says minister
Preparations for the national-level Malaysia Day celebration in Kuching are progressing well, according to state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. The event will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Sept 16, featuring speeches by leaders and cultural performances, with an estimated 5,000 attendees expected.
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Cloud seeding in Sarawak to continue until Monday
Cloud seeding operations across Sarawak will continue until Monday to mitigate the haze problem. This follows the declaration of a state of emergency in the Serian division of Sarawak, where the Air Pollutant Index exceeded 500, although it has since dropped to 287.
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Sarawak Catholics in haze-hit areas excused from Sunday Mass
The Archbishop of Kuching has issued a dispensation excusing Catholics in areas with hazardous air quality from attending Sunday Mass due to the severe haze. The dispensation applies to the elderly, those with health conditions, and others unable to travel. Online Masses are available from St Joseph's Cathedral.
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JKR projects in Serian to continue despite haze emergency
The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) has allowed its construction projects in Serian to continue operating despite a haze-induced state of emergency, subject to strict health precautions for workers. The decision follows the emergency declaration on Friday, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Serian fluctuating at very unhealthy levels.
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Serian air pollutant index drops to 287, five Sarawak locations remain very unhealthy
The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Serian, Sarawak, has dropped to 287 as of 1pm, still in the very unhealthy category. Five other locations in Sarawak also recorded very unhealthy readings, while 25 other areas nationwide recorded unhealthy 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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Sarawak PWD lifts construction suspension in Serian amid haze, with health precautions
The Sarawak Public Works Department has allowed construction work on its projects in Serian to resume, following a brief suspension due to hazardous haze. The decision, made today, aligns with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee's latest advisory, permitting work to continue with strict health precautions. Serian's Air Pollutant Index was recorded at 334 on Friday, placing the area in the hazardous category.
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Haze cuts takings for traders at Serian wet market
The worsening haze in Serian, Sarawak has significantly reduced customer traffic at the open-air Serian Wet Market, halving the daily takings of some traders. Sellers like Rosni Julaihi report sales have dropped from over RM500 to between RM200 and RM300 as shoppers avoid prolonged exposure to the polluted air.
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Haze emergency empties Serian town as air quality stays hazardous
Serian town in Sarawak was unusually quiet as a state of emergency declared by the King over hazardous haze disrupted weekend life. The Air Pollutant Index remained in the hazardous range at 334, though it had dropped from above 500 the previous day. The emergency has led to the closure of 647 schools in Sarawak starting Monday.
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Serian residents continue daily routines despite haze emergency declaration
Residents in Serian, Sarawak, are continuing their daily activities as usual despite a haze emergency being declared in the district. A survey found people going to town for business, while government and private offices are allowed to operate with precautions. The Air Pollutant Index reading in Serian at noon was 304, still in the hazardous category.
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Serian Haze: Offices and Industries Can Operate with Health Measures
Sarawak Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah said offices, government agencies and private sectors affected by the haze emergency in Serian can continue operations provided they take health precautions. The Air Pollutant Index reading in Serian was 334 as of 10am, a hazardous level, with authorities monitoring the situation closely.
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Indonesia steps up ASEAN haze coordination as fires spread; emergency in Sarawak's Serian
Indonesia says it is enhancing regional coordination through ASEAN mechanisms to address transboundary haze from forest and land fires spreading across Southeast Asia. The haze has led to a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, where the Air Pollution Index exceeded 500, while other areas in the state recorded hazardous or very unhealthy air quality.
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Padungan rep hands out N95 masks in Kuching as haze persists
Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen distributed N95 face masks to the public and traders at Petanak Market and commercial areas in Kuching over the past few days due to persistent haze. He cited Ministry of Health guidelines on the masks' effectiveness and urged the Sarawak government to procure more masks, citing its revenue of over RM10 billion.
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Sarawak's Faeez Detergent boosts output with locally built machines
Faeez Detergent, a Sarawak-based company, is increasing its manufacturing capacity by using seven customised machines designed locally and built by local workshops at its factory in Demak Laut. The automation allows high-volume production with a smaller workforce, supporting its OEM and retail business growth.
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Serian Air Pollutant Index drops to 390, still hazardous
The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Serian, Sarawak, dropped to 390 as of 7am, but remains in the hazardous category. Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong declared a state of emergency for the entire Serian Division after readings exceeded 500. Three other locations in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy readings.
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Sheda Institute, Curtin Malaysia sign MoU on talent, research, BIM adoption
The Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda) Institute and Curtin University Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on talent development, research, and technology adoption in Sarawak's real estate and construction sectors. The MoU was exchanged at the Sheda Property Expo 2026 in Kuching, witnessed by Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian.
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Public briefing on Sarawak electoral boundary review set for Sept 8 in Kuching
Rise of Social Efforts (ROSE) will hold a public briefing on the Sarawak electoral boundary review on Tuesday, Sept 8, at Pua Kumbu, Lot 10 Boutique Hotel in Kuching. Election Commission commissioner Dr Mohd Faisal Syam Abdul Hazis and EC Sarawak director Abang Noraffian Abang Ibrahim will explain the process and answer questions.
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Sheda proposes developer rating system, changes to Sarawak housing laws
The Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers' Association (Sheda) proposed a performance rating system for developers at its property expo in Kuching. The association also called for amendments to state housing laws and an expansion of a housing deposit assistance scheme. Sheda president Augustine Wong said a single delayed project should not stigmatize a developer.
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JAS raises air monitoring to highest level as Serian API hits 477
The Department of Environment (JAS) has stepped up air quality monitoring to the highest level after a state of emergency was declared in Serian, Sarawak, following an API reading of 477. Three other areas in Sarawak also recorded very unhealthy API levels, while 18 areas nationwide were unhealthy. JAS is strengthening its open burning prevention operations and will take strict action against sources of pollution.