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A 35-hectare peatland fire in Jalan Bungin, Serembang, Betong has been fully extinguished after seven days of firefighting. The operation ended at 4pm on Aug 28 after crews cleared all six fire sectors. Bomba said teams tackled remaining hotspots with pumps and hose lines, while an excavator opened access through difficult terrain. The fire covered an initial 33 hectares before spreading to another two. Drone monitoring by the Natural Resources and Environment Board found no remaining smoke or fire after the final firefighting work. Crews had to work around narrow access routes, limited water sources and weak radio and mobile coverage. Monitoring will continue from time to time, so people should keep away from the affected peatland and report any new smoke to the authorities.

Sarawak’s dry spell is reducing water flowing into three major hydropower reservoirs, but the state grid remains reliable for now. Rainfall in the catchments feeding Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai has fallen since April 2025. Hydropower normally supplies about 65% of Sarawak’s grid electricity, with thermal generation contributing about 34% and other sources the remaining 1%. Sarawak Energy says the system is being adjusted to conserve water: hydropower output can be reduced during a prolonged dry period, while thermal generation is increased when needed. The utility is monitoring all three hydropower plants with state and federal agencies. Two cloud-seeding operations were carried out in May and June under the Sarawak Government’s coordination. A third operation is tentatively scheduled for Sept 3 to 5, subject to suitable weather conditions, so that window is not yet a confirmed operation. For households, hot weather can push up electricity use. Turning off unused appliances and spacing out high-powered devices can help. Smart-meter users can also check hourly, daily and monthly consumption through Energy Insights in the SEB cares app or web portal.

Targeted widening has started along Jalan Urat Mata as MBKS works on the route's busiest bottlenecks. The Kuching South City Council said work began on Aug 11 and is scheduled for completion on Jan 10, 2027. The revised plan covers about 600 metres on the right side from the Jalan Song junction towards Lorong 7, plus another 300 metres on the left from Lorong 3 towards Jalan Wan Alwi. The original proposal covered the entire 1.32-kilometre road, but the first phase is now focused on sections where extra lane space can make the biggest difference during peak hours. The work will stay within the existing 25-metre road reserve and does not require land acquisition. Jalan Urat Mata links Jalan Wan Alwi and Jalan Song, serving nearby homes, shops and major commercial areas. Motorists should slow down and watch for work zones as construction continues.

Long Banga and Ba’kelalan STOLports will share RM30 million in federal funding for upgrades targeted to start this year. Each rural airstrip has been allocated RM15 million from the Airport Development Fund. The money is approved, but design work and other preparations must be completed before construction can begin. The plans cover terminal improvements and possible runway extensions, depending on the physical conditions at each site. The current runway limits Twin Otter flights to nine passengers; a longer runway could raise that capacity, although the final scope is still being worked out. For communities in Sarawak’s northern interior, the two air links support access to schools, healthcare, supplies and town services across difficult terrain. The next concrete milestones are the design work, the construction schedule and a decision on whether either runway can be extended. Location: Long Banga and Ba’kelalan, Sarawak

A man died and three people were injured when two lorries collided on Jalan Sungai Menyan in Serian on Friday afternoon. The Serian Fire and Rescue Station received the emergency call at about 2.50pm. The crash involved a cargo lorry and a five-tonne lorry; four people were reported to be involved, with the man found trapped beneath the overturned five-tonne vehicle. Ministry of Health personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. The three injured victims were reported to have light injuries. One was taken to Serian Hospital by members of the public, while two were sent there in an Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle. The initial accounts released so far do not identify the people involved or explain how the collision happened. Condolences to the bereaved family, and best wishes for the injured victims’ recovery. Location: Jalan Sungai Menyan, Serian

A completed booster-pump upgrade is easing long-running water-pressure problems in four villages in Bau’s Singai area. The RM3 million project doubled the Kampung Apar suction tank’s capacity from 50,000 to 100,000 gallons. Five new high-density polyethylene tanks were installed, and a new pipeline now carries water to the reservoir at Kampung Barieng, serving Kampung Apar, Kampung Segong, Kampung Barieng and Kampung Tabung. The pump has been commissioned and handed over to the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department. The upgrade was aimed at homes on higher ground, where the old system struggled to maintain pressure as the villages expanded. Another RM8 million project to lay a 300mm HDPE pipeline in Jagoi is nearing completion. Additional booster pumps are planned for Kampung Bobak and Kampung Senibung, but no dates have been given for those installations. Residents have already seen an improvement during this year’s prolonged dry spell. The next test will be whether the pressure stays reliable through the dry season and the higher demand during festive periods. Location: Singai, Bau

Jalan Matang’s 1,100mm water main will be repaired from 10pm on Sept 4 to noon on Sept 5, with traffic changes beginning a day earlier. The pipeline feeds Bukit Siol Reservoir, which supplies Kuching, Petra Jaya and nearby areas. Sarawak Water says homes around Jalan Demak, Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya, Matang from Kubah Ria to Batu 9, Taman Sri Harmoni, Jalan Sultan Tengah and surrounding locations may face low pressure or a temporary interruption during the repair. Households in the affected areas are advised to keep at least 24 hours of essential water before the work starts. Tankers will be deployed where needed, with priority for critical facilities and essential needs. Motorists will be diverted via Jalan Matang Bersinar and Jalan Matang Bersinar 3 from Sept 3 to Sept 12. The longer traffic window covers site preparation, excavation, heavy machinery access and road reinstatement around the median. Supply will return gradually after the pipe is refilled. Higher ground and areas farther from the main distribution system may take longer, and brief discolouration is possible while the lines are flushed. Sarawak Water will issue progress and restoration updates through its official channels. Location: Jalan Matang, Kuching

Lubok Antu haze closes 30 schools on Aug 28 as the district’s API reaches 200. The Sarawak Education Department’s temporary closure covers 28 primary schools with 2,242 pupils and two secondary schools with 1,793 students. The API reading was 200 at 8pm on Thursday, after reaching 210 at 4pm. This is a Lubok Antu district order, not a closure of every school in Sarawak. JPN Sarawak told schools to monitor APIMS readings and follow haze-related safety procedures. Parents should check with their school or the district education office for any update because the notice does not give a reopening time. Location: Lubok Antu, Sarawak

Bintulu flood-mitigation work at three sites is targeted to start in October after an extra RM53 million allocation. The package covers remaining Phase Two components at Gem Park, Desa Damai and SJK Sebiew. The Bintulu DID may call the tender in early September, with physical work expected between mid- and late October. A separate long-term study would examine Bintulu’s wider flood-mitigation system, including the capacity of existing measures and where upgrades are needed. Sarawak is considering an international consultancy working with local experts, but the firm, cost and scope are still under discussion. The October date is a target, not a guarantee that flooding will stop. Residents in the affected areas should continue following local warnings during heavy rain while waiting for the tender notice and confirmed work schedule. Location: Bintulu, Sarawak

Two Kuching businesses are under investigation after displayed prices did not match the amounts charged. KPDN Sarawak officers found the first case in Sejingkat at about 11.22am on Aug 26. A customer was charged RM13.20 for an item marked RM11.50, and officers took a copy of the business licence, four receipts, the price tag and a promotional tag. A second case was recorded at a Stutong premise around 12.43pm, where officers seized a copy of the business licence and a pair of shoes marked RM29.90. KPDN Sarawak said both cases are being investigated under Section 12(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999. No court finding has been reported. Shoppers who spot a mismatch should keep the tag and receipt, take a photo if safe, and report it to KPDN through WhatsApp at 019-848 8000, [email protected] or 1-800-886-800. Location: Sejingkat and Stutong, Kuching

Miri and Bintulu are set to receive expanded community HIV support under a RM2.25 million, three-year Sarawak allocation. Teratak Kasih Tok Nan, first established in Kuching as a halfway home and support centre, will extend services that include treatment support, temporary shelter, counselling, psychosocial care, treatment monitoring, welfare assistance and community outreach. The expansion brings this support model closer to people living with HIV, their families and other vulnerable groups in the two cities. It is being carried out through a partnership between the Sarawak Government, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Sunway Group and Yayasan PETRONAS. It will also complement the Sarawak Health Access Programme (SHAPE), which helps eligible low-income patients with travel costs when they need specialised chronic-care treatment in other cities. The funding has been announced, but the practical details for Miri and Bintulu are still to come: where the services will operate, when they will open and how referrals will be handled. Those details will matter to families planning treatment and travel.

Northern Sarawak’s connectivity plan is moving toward a direct Limbang–Lawas link, with the new route intended to reduce reliance on paths through Brunei. The agreement signed in Lawas on Aug 26 brings Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO) together to use communications infrastructure already owned in Sarawak. It includes SESCO’s Virtual Fibre network, with the overall network alignment reported at about 1,926 kilometres. The gap is felt in everyday services. Businesses in Lawas have faced e-payment problems, while the Lawas district police headquarters has also experienced internet issues despite its role in disaster management. Better links would support education, healthcare, government services and emergency response across the two northern divisions. This is an infrastructure agreement, not a switch-on notice. The parties have not given a launch date, coverage map or speed target, so the next meaningful update will be where the route reaches and whether service interruptions ease.

A 63-year-old woman who had been reported missing was found dead in a 10-foot-deep drain near Petra Jaya Health Clinic on Thursday morning. Members of the public found the woman before firefighters from the Petra Jaya station were called in at 9.34am. Bomba recovered her from the drain, completing the operation at 10.47am, and handed the body to police for further action. Police had been informed that she was feared missing the previous day after her child noticed she was gone. No details have been announced about how she entered the drain or what caused her death. The circumstances remain under police investigation. Families looking for a missing relative should report it promptly and share the person’s last known location with police. A deep drain is not a place to enter alone—call emergency services and keep clear of the scene.

A 243-home affordable housing scheme at Teku, Sibu is moving into implementation, with the project site now handed to the Sarawak Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The Teku Village Expansion Scheme is estimated at about RM117 million and is planned for completion within 36 months. An initial RM350,000 has been allocated for site clearing and earthworks under the 13th Malaysia Plan. The 40.2-acre site is planned for detached homes built on stilts, with each lot measuring about 8.3 points. Newly married couples have been proposed as a priority group, but applications remain open to other members of the public who meet the eligibility requirements. No application deadline or final selection details have been announced. Priority for newlyweds should not be read as automatic approval; applicants will still have to meet the scheme’s requirements.

Sarawak still had five unhealthy air-quality stations on Thursday, and Lubok Antu’s reading rose from 182 at 8am to 191 by noon. Kuching remained in the moderate band, moving from 97 to 95. The noon table from Sarawak’s Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) listed Lubok Antu at 191, Samarahan at 162, IPD Serian at 158, Sri Aman at 156 and Lundu at 142 — all in the unhealthy range. Tebedu and the other listed stations were moderate. The number of unhealthy stations was unchanged from the morning reading, but the individual figures shifted during the day. API readings use a 24-hour running average of the dominant pollutant; 101 to 200 is classed as unhealthy and can worsen conditions for people with heart or lung complications. Anyone planning a long period outdoors should check the latest APIMS reading first. People in high-risk groups should take extra care if the air turns smoky or the API rises further.

MBKS is working with developers to arrange temporary accommodation and urgent repairs for Kuching South households damaged by Tuesday’s storm. Residents who cannot safely remain at home are to be housed temporarily first. The council then plans to cover exposed sections, inspect the damage and work out the scope and cost of repairs with the developers. At Kampung Tabuan Dayak, roofing sheets torn from a nearby apartment block hit one home at about 3pm on Aug 25. A mother-in-law and child who were inside escaped unhurt. Fallen trees and other storm damage were also reported around Kuching, but the latest update did not say how many homes need assistance or when all repairs will be completed. Anyone facing an unstable roof or loose building material should keep clear of the affected area, especially if more rain arrives. Call emergency services if there is immediate danger, and do not enter a damaged structure until it is safe.

Five Sarawak air-quality stations were in the unhealthy range at 8am on Thursday, while Kuching remained moderate. The Natural Resources and Environment Board’s latest reading put Lubok Antu highest at 182, followed by Samarahan at 164, IPD Serian at 162, Sri Aman at 155 and Lundu at 106. Kuching recorded 97. The readings are based on a 24-hour running average, so the situation can shift with rain, wind and smoke movement. Regional monitoring also points to dry conditions and fire activity in parts of Kalimantan, with a continuing risk of haze reaching western Sarawak. An API reading from 101 to 200 is classed as unhealthy, with greater concern for people who have heart or lung conditions. Kuching residents can check the latest APIMS reading before spending long periods outdoors; if the air turns visibly smoky, reduce strenuous activity and keep children and high-risk family members away from prolonged exposure.

Sarawak is preparing for another cloud-seeding attempt as falling dam levels raise concern ahead of a possible stronger El Niño. MetMalaysia is assessing whether weather conditions will support an operation between Sept 3 and 5. A coordination meeting on Sept 1 will help determine whether the clouds are suitable. The dates are only a possible operating window, not a confirmed flight schedule or a guarantee of rain. Earlier cloud-seeding operations on May 11 and 12, and June 19 to 21, were reported to have helped dam levels. Sarawak is also setting up a special operations team at the State Disaster Command Centre to track water levels, while welfare agencies and the Rural Water Supply Department continue water assistance where needed. For Kuching and other divisions, residents should treat the early-September dates as something to monitor alongside official water-supply and haze updates. MetMalaysia expects below-average rainfall in southwestern Sarawak from October to December, but the actual impact will still depend on cloud formation, rainfall and wind conditions.

MyKad printing services nationwide are expected to face a temporary disruption from Aug 26 to 31 as the National Registration Department (JPN) transitions to the new-generation identity card. For Kuching residents without an urgent need, JPN advises postponing MyKad replacement or exchange applications until the transition period is over. The disruption concerns printing as the department moves away from the existing card structure; it does not amount to an announcement that every National Registration Department counter is closed. Parents or guardians applying for a child’s first MyKad at age 12 are also encouraged to wait, so the child can receive the new-generation card when issuance begins. Anyone with an urgent identity-document matter should confirm the latest arrangement with JPN before going to a counter, as the notice does not give a single nationwide date for every new card to be issued.

Op Gali Mega has detained 14 men and uncovered seized items valued at more than RM40.55 million across Sarawak. Fourteen local men were detained after a four-day joint operation found suspected breaches linked to mining, earth removal and sand activities at three of seven sites inspected across Sarawak. The Sarawak General Operations Force Brigade and the Land and Survey Department ran Op Gali Mega from Aug 19 to 22, covering Kuching, Bau, Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman, Mukah and Limbang. The coal, earth, sand, vehicles, machinery and equipment seized in the operation were estimated at more than RM40.55 million in total. The largest haul came from a coal collection and storage site in Mukah: about 8,525 metric tonnes of coal, four excavators, a crane, two barges and two tugboats, valued at about RM24.46 million. In Kota Samarahan, 10 men were detained in two operations involving earth removal and river sand. Those seizures included roughly 20 tonnes of earth, 2,986 tonnes of river sand, lorries, excavators, a tugboat, a barge and a digital weighing scale. The detainees and seized items were handed to the Mukah and Samarahan divisional Land and Survey offices for investigation under the Sarawak Land Code. Authorities also reminded operators handling mining, dredging, earth removal or natural-resource sales to obtain the required approvals. The investigation is ongoing, and detention is not a conviction. [image: 1787717581254-coal-sand-ops.jpeg] Source: Sarawak Tribune