What's happening around you
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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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14 fined RM3,500 each over armed riot at Kampung Resak junction
Fourteen people were fined RM3,500 each, in default 12 months' jail, by the Serian Magistrate's Court for rioting while armed with stones at a road junction in Kampung Resak, Serian, on Aug 28. Two of them were fined an extra RM4,000 each for damaging a Proton Saga, whose rear windscreen was smashed and a passenger slightly hurt. The court heard the riot stemmed from accusations over the alleged theft of oil palm fruit.
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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.
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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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Two men including soldier plead not guilty to possessing 38.62g of meth in Serian
Two men, one an army personnel, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Kuching to possessing 38.62 grammes of methamphetamine in Serian on May 16. The case is set for pre-trial case management on Oct 9, and both accused are remanded at Puncak Borneo Prison.
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Sarawak targets RM15,000 monthly household income by 2030
Sarawak aims to raise average household income to RM15,000 a month by 2030, up from about RM6,900 now. State Utility and Telecommunications Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said the target needs effort from all sides, speaking at the Sebuyau district education incentive ceremony at Dewan Kampung Sampat, Sebuyau.
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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.