SMK Lake in Bau has received a RM78.8 million redevelopment that includes 42 classrooms and hostel accommodation for 300 students, after construction was staged around continuing lessons. The project was handed over at the school on Oct 28, DayakDaily reported. JKR Malaysia said work began in January 2023 and was divided into two phases so pupils could remain in the old buildings while new blocks were built. For families, the important distinction is between the facilities provided and the number of places actually available for admission. The 300-student figure describes hostel accommodation; it is not an announcement of 300 new vacancies or a new intake. The first phase received its Certificate of Partial Occupation on Aug 17, 2026. That earlier milestone and the Oct 28 handover are separate dates in the project’s delivery, rather than evidence that every part first opened on the same day. JKR said the design-and-build project required close coordination between the contractor, consultants and school management to limit disruption. Its account also stressed assigning responsibility and following up construction issues until their resolution is confirmed.

Five residents escaped unharmed after a two-storey semi-permanent house caught fire near Dewan Dayak Baru in Bau on Friday afternoon. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) said it received the alert at 12.49pm and firefighters from Bau station arrived five minutes later. The fire involved the upper floor and destroyed about 70 per cent of the structure. Firefighters brought the flames under control by 1.15pm and completed safety checks before ending operations at 1.46pm. All five occupants were safe and no injuries were reported. BOMBA said the cause of the fire and estimated losses are still under investigation. Residents near the affected area should keep away from smoke, unstable structures and emergency operations. The cause, total loss and final clearance should be treated as pending until the responding authority confirms them.