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Firefighters put out a 10-acre bushfire at Miri’s Kuala Baram Bypass on Sunday evening after strong winds helped the flames spread quickly. Lutong Fire and Rescue Station received the call at about 5.41pm. Six personnel left a minute later and arrived at 5.51pm. Thick smoke hampered the operation. The crew used an approximately 1,000-foot hose line, one nozzle, the fire engine’s pump and water from a hydrant. The fire was brought under control at 7.45pm and fully extinguished at 8.30pm. Personnel from Miri Central Fire Station and the police were involved, while several Miri Open Burning Emergency Mutual Aid (Mobema) teams were also at the scene. The report gave no cause, casualty details or property-damage assessment. Anyone who sees smoke or flames near the bypass should keep clear of the area and call emergency services; do not approach the fire line.

Twenty-three people were injured after a tour bus carrying 43 people crashed at the Kanowit Roundabout along the Pan Borneo Highway early Monday. The single-vehicle crash was reported at 2.25am. Six firefighters from Sibu Jaya Fire Station were sent to the scene. No one was trapped, but one woman was still inside the bus and was helped out by firefighters; the other 42 people had already been assisted out by members of the public. The injured — 19 women and four men — received initial treatment before being taken to Sibu Hospital and Kanowit Hospital. Police, Health Ministry personnel and the Civil Defence Force also took part in the response, which ended at 4.50am after firefighters ensured the scene was safe. The latest reports did not state what caused the crash or whether traffic arrangements at the roundabout changed afterward. Drivers using the Pan Borneo Highway through the area should follow any police directions and slow down near the scene.

Sarawak has mobilised 119 water tankers as dry weather puts smaller river-based water systems under pressure. The state’s main water-supply dams — Bengoh, Gerugu, Assyakirin and Sika — are still recording normal levels. The greater risk is in JBALB schemes that draw from small rivers, so the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry, JBALB and Sarawak Water are coordinating extra tankers, storage and alternative sources. Nine centralised water collection centres have been established in Sri Aman, with 13 more locations identified in Betong. The tanker response is being coordinated across divisions and with other agencies for areas that need support. For water-supply problems, residents can report through local leaders or call JBALB at 082-262111 and Sarawak Water at 082-222333. The 1-300-88-2020 Sarawak Water line will become effective on Sept 1. The dry spell is expected to continue into 2027 under El Niño conditions, while any cloud-seeding operation remains weather-dependent. Households are urged to use water carefully.

Seven Sarawak locations were in the hazardous API band by 8am on Monday, Aug 31, including Kuching and Samarahan. Kuching recorded 317 and Samarahan 330. Serian was the highest at 476, while Tebedu (385), Lubok Antu (367), Lundu (349) and Sri Aman (326) made up the other four hazardous readings. The same NREB table placed Sarikei at 267, Sibu at 219 and Mukah at 214 — all in the very unhealthy range. An API reading of 301 or above is classified as hazardous, while 201–300 is very unhealthy. These readings can change during the day. Residents should check the latest official update before making outdoor plans. Children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions should avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and anyone with serious breathing difficulty or chest pain should seek medical attention.

Sarawak has set API 500 as the line for closing most workplaces — but no shutdown order is in force now. Under the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s progressive haze guidelines, an API reading above 500 would close government and private-sector offices and workplaces, with essential services excluded. The closure would remain pending a national disaster-emergency declaration. At 2pm on Aug 30, APIMS recorded 425 at Serian, 336 at Samarahan and 313 at Kuching. Those readings are below 500, but the current rules already call for outdoor work to be avoided at 400–500. At 301–400, employers must assess visibility, drivers should use headlights and outdoor workers should use N95 respirators. Events are still a separate decision: organisers decide whether to continue, postpone or cancel unless an authority issues a specific directive. For workers in Kuching and elsewhere in Sarawak, check the reading at the worksite and official notices before sending staff outdoors; waiting for 500 is not the safety advice.

Sarawak’s next cloud-seeding window is Sept 3–5, but the operation could start earlier if the haze worsens. The federal plan covers Sarawak, Kedah and Perlis, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department working alongside the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Sarawak officials are also weighing whether to bring forward the Sarawak operation as air quality deteriorates. APIMS readings at 2pm on Aug 30 were 425 in Serian, 336 in Samarahan and 313 in Kuching. Cloud seeding is being considered for two practical reasons: helping haze-affected areas and adding water to dams as reserves fall. The dates are a window, not a weather guarantee. Flights still depend on suitable clouds and their movement; daily flight times and target locations have not been announced.

Sarawak motorists will get the 300-litre BUDI95 basic quota back from Tuesday, Sept 1. The monthly limit was cut from 300 to 200 litres on Apr 1. The government’s latest announcement restores the 300-litre allowance and is expected to cover more than 16 million subsidised RON95 users. The same announcement gives eligible owners of diesel-powered pick-up trucks and jeeps up to 400 litres of Budi Diesel each month. It changes the monthly allowance; it does not announce a new RON95 price. For Kuching drivers, the useful check is their own BUDI account once the new month begins. The announcement gives the effective date but no separate timetable for when each account will show the revised balance.

At 10am on Aug 30, Serian’s API reached 385 and Samarahan’s 316 — both hazardous. Kuching and Tebedu were at 297 each, just below the hazardous threshold of 301 and within the very unhealthy band. Lundu and Lubok Antu were both at 236, while Sri Aman recorded 215. Ten other Sarawak locations were unhealthy, including Sarikei at 196, Sibu at 189, Bintulu at 182, Samalaju and Mukah at 173, Kapit at 160, Miri at 157, ILP Miri at 153, Bario at 119 and Lawas at 106. Limbang was the only listed location in the moderate range, at 92. The NREB figures are a time-specific snapshot and can change with weather and smoke movement. Check APIMS before making outdoor plans and reduce prolonged exposure while levels remain high, especially for children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions. Avoid open burning.

Sarawak recorded one rabies-positive dog case between Aug 24 and 28, involving a stray dog in Sungai Asap, Belaga. It was not a Kuching case. The Kuching South mayor said a mass anti-rabies vaccination drive will be held in the city in September, but the dates and locations have not been announced. The Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak advises dog owners to keep vaccinations current rather than treat them as a one-off. Owners with unvaccinated or overdue dogs can contact a veterinarian now; the department’s rabies hotline is 082-610023 or 016-2557267. Anyone who may have been bitten, or whose dog may have been exposed to a suspect animal, should seek medical or veterinary help promptly.

Balai Ringin’s satellite-town proposal cites a RM55 million GKCDA allocation. The idea was raised after the Jalan Melikin upgrading project was completed at Kampung Danau Keranggas on Aug 29. The stated aim is to organise future growth in the Serian Division and bring surrounding communities into the same development plan. The briefing also said an Integrated Emergency Centre in Pantu had been approved by the Sarawak Government. It mentioned a Youth Centre beside the mini stadium in a later phase and a digital hub at SMK Balai Ringin, expected to serve about 2,000 students with digital-skills, STEM, robotics and TVET programmes. The satellite-town plan, Youth Centre and digital hub still have no public implementation timetable, project lead or construction date. Citing the RM55 million allocation does not confirm that the satellite town is ready to begin construction.

A five-year-old boy has died in Sibu, while Sarawak welfare agencies move to support his family as police investigate. Police said they received a report at about 1.45pm on Friday, Aug 28, over an incident in which the boy was believed to have suffered a neck injury. He was taken to Sibu Hospital and was later pronounced dead at the Emergency Department. A 49-year-old man identified as the boy’s uncle was remanded until Sept 4 to assist a murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The remand and investigation do not establish guilt; the circumstances and any court outcome have yet to be determined. The Social Welfare Department, Early Childhood Development Division and Social Development Council have been directed to monitor the family and provide psychosocial and welfare assistance. Authorities have also urged the public not to share unverified photographs or speculation while the investigation continues.

The RM170 million Menalun–Sungai Poi road project in Kanowit is moving into Phase 3, but the full route is still targeted for completion only in 2030. Phases 1 and 2 have been completed. The latest phase began with a groundbreaking on Aug 29 and involves a 3.6-kilometre road through hilly terrain. It carries an allocation of RM46.11 million and a contract value of RM39.96 million, and does not include bridges or extend as far as the school. Phase 4 remains at the design stage. The RM58.4 million allocation covers another 2.6 kilometres and two bridges, with the planned route connecting Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Poi and the longhouses Rumah Panjang Gani and Rumah Panjang Tarang. The project is meant to improve access for remote communities and essential services, but the 2030 date is a completion target that depends on the remaining phases being delivered. The road should not be treated as a fully open connection yet; the next milestones are Phase 3 progress and a firm construction plan for Phase 4.

About 70% of a one-storey Post Office Malaysia building in Bekenu was damaged in a fire on Saturday morning. The Fire and Rescue Department received the emergency call at 8.44am and sent a team from Batu Niah, about 38 kilometres away. Firefighters reached the scene at 9.21am and used a 400-foot hose line with two water jets, drawing water from a nearby river. The 40-by-40-foot building was made safe after the blaze was extinguished and the site was overhauled to check for remaining fire sources. The operation ended at 12.30pm, with police, the Civil Defence Force, Sarawak Energy, postal staff and Rela assisting. The cause of the fire and the estimated losses remain under investigation. Customers who normally use the Bekenu counter should wait for the postal operator’s service arrangement before making a trip, and keep clear of the secured area.

Serian’s API reading reached the hazardous level at 357 by 7am on Sunday, while Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman were already in the very unhealthy band. The morning reading reported from the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System put Samarahan at 293, Kuching at 284 and Sri Aman at 215. Serian was the only Sarawak station above 300, the threshold for hazardous air quality. Most of the other monitored areas were in the unhealthy range, including Sarikei at 195, Sibu at 187, Bintulu at 177, Samalaju and Mukah at 170, Kapit at 159, Miri at 154 and ILP Miri at 144. Limbang was the exception at 86, in the moderate range. The figures are a time-stamped snapshot, so they can shift as wind, rain and smoke movement change. Kuching residents planning outdoor exercise or travel should check the latest APIMS reading first; people who must go out should keep exposure short and pay attention to breathing symptoms.

Sarawak's 4pm haze readings worsened across the state, with Serian joining Sri Aman in the very unhealthy band. The Air Pollutant Index Management System recorded Sri Aman at 229 and Serian at 228 on Aug 29. Kuching was at 180, Sarikei 194 and Samarahan 185, putting those stations in the unhealthy range alongside Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu, Kapit and Samalaju. Only ILP Miri, Miri and Limbang remained in the moderate range, at 77, 76 and 56 respectively. All listed areas rose from the 10am readings, making this a materially worse afternoon snapshot rather than a repeat of the morning update. Under the API scale, 201–300 is very unhealthy and 101–200 is unhealthy. Residents can check the latest APIMS reading before prolonged outdoor activity, as the numbers may change with wind and rain.

Bintulu Port will come under Sarawak management on Sept 1 after a three-year handover process. The change follows the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2024 taking effect on Aug 31. The transition covered staff, assets, finances and legal matters. The completed arrangements cover the absorption of all BPA employees, the return of some assets to Sarawak and settled compensation for transferred port assets. Bintulu Port has grown from an energy-industry facility into a major trade and LNG gateway over 47 years. The handover changes its jurisdiction and administration; the reports do not announce a port closure. Sarawak's plan to integrate it with the state's other ports, along with any changes port users may see, has not yet been detailed.

Kuching South residents whose homes were damaged by recent strong winds can register with MBKS for possible disaster assistance. MBKS is collecting each household's full name, MyKad number, address, contact number and photographs of the damaged roof. The council will compile the applications and send them to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), after its councillors, community leaders and staff help with forms and site assessments. Residents can register through MBKS WhatsApp at 011-1988 5962 or by email at [email protected]. Councillors and community leaders are also helping reach households, including residents who were away when the council visited. SDMC has yet to announce any assistance amount or approval outcome. Affected households should keep clear damage photos and supporting details ready when they contact MBKS.

Sarawak approves RM6 million road to Nanga Kapu in Batang Ai Sarawak has allocated RM6 million to build a road to Nanga Kapu, with the announcement made at the Batang Ai Community Engagement Programme in Lubok Antu on Aug 28. The project is intended to improve access for remote residents travelling to essential services and economic opportunities. The announcement did not include the road’s length, final route or a construction timetable, so the funding is not yet an indication that a new road is open for use. The next milestones are the design work, tender and appointment of a contractor. The construction schedule will become clearer once those steps are completed.

Jalan Ilmu in Miri to be raised by half a metre as flood repairs begin The low-lying road in Desa Senadin is now undergoing a RM1.481 million upgrade after it was badly affected by flooding earlier this year. Work runs from Aug 11 to Dec 10 and includes 510 metres of road-base work, 1,245 metres of premix, concrete kerbs, road shoulders and new markings. Raising the road level by about half a metre is intended to reduce the risk of repeated inundation. Miri’s wider road recovery will take longer. A separate RM10 million package covers 20 roads—seven in Desa Senadin, eight in Permyjaya and five in Tudan. Tenders are expected in the first or second week of September, with work targeted for October. Jalan Ilmu has a live construction schedule; the other roads are still awaiting tender. Motorists in the area should expect work-zone conditions while the projects progress.

A 56-year-old teacher has been charged in Mukah over 10 alleged sexual assaults involving female pupils. The charges concern alleged offences said to have taken place in a primary school’s science laboratory and classrooms between 2022 and 2024. The case came to light after a police report was lodged on Aug 7 following a complaint from one of the alleged victims. The man appeared in court in Mukah on Aug 28 and did not enter a plea. He was charged under Section 14(a), read with Section 16(1), of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Bail was set at RM2,000 for each charge, totalling RM20,000, with two local sureties, and was paid. The case is fixed for mention on Oct 20. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused has not been convicted.