What's happening around you
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Jerip wants Bengoh water system expanded to more Mambong villages
Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil has called for the small-scale water treatment system at Kampung Bengoh to be extended to other villages in the constituency, including Kampung Petag, Kampung Sitang and Kampung Bangau. He said the system, which draws water from downstream of Bengoh Dam, has excess capacity that could serve areas facing low water pressure in the dry season. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government is working on short-term measures to address water shortages in Betong, parts of Serian and Miri.
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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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Sarawak Bioeconomy Roadmap launched in Kuching
Sarawak launched its Bioeconomy Roadmap at the close of the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 at Imperial Hotel, Kuching. State Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the roadmap, developed with SRDC and BioVerde Technologies, aims to strengthen industry-research links and speed up commercialisation. Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg announced it at the conference opening the day before.
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Kuching man jailed 11 months for assaulting wife by roadside
A 37-year-old man in Kuching was sentenced to 11 months in jail after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife, whom he suspected of infidelity. The attack happened by the roadside near Kampung Tabuan Melayu at about 6.30pm on Jan 31, and the victim suffered soft tissue injuries to her neck, chest and wrist.
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Willie Mongin to raise Puncak Borneo telco gaps, tower vandalism in Parliament
Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin says he will again raise telecommunications coverage gaps and frequent vandalism of telecom towers in his constituency in Parliament. He said coverage has improved but vandalism still affects service quality, and he has reported the matter to MCMC. He spoke after officiating a workshop at the Biperoh Kuching Association Hall in Kampung Garung, Padawan.
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Man drowns after jumping into Sungai Perak to retrieve drifting boat
A 38-year-old man was found drowned after jumping into Sungai Perak at Batu 18, Kampung Kuchai, Bota Kiri near Parit, yesterday. His body was found floating about four kilometres from where he jumped at 2pm, after a search operation by 30 personnel from the Perak Fire and Rescue Department.
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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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Sarawak rolls out One Planting, Three Harvests model for pineapple growers
Sarawak is promoting a 'Sekali Tanam, Tiga Kali Tuai' model to help pineapple smallholders earn from fruit, suckers and plant waste. The concept was outlined at the opening of a three-day state pineapple industry course at Hotel 56 in Kuching, attended by about 200 participants.
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Uggah confident GPS can sweep all Dayak-majority seats in Sarawak polls
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said GPS is confident of winning all Dayak-majority seats in the coming state election, citing its five-year development record. He spoke after officiating at the Mambong Administrative Machinery Workshop at the Biperoh Association Multipurpose Hall in Kampung Gerung near Kuching. Uggah declined to say whether all Bidayuh incumbents would be retained as candidates.
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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 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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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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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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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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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.