The RM150 million remedial project for the Sungai Sarawak barrage had still not received final implementation approval as of Aug 20, despite the federal allocation being announced in March. Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin raised the delay after a site briefing on riverbed scouring near the barrage. The federal government announced RM150 million on March 13, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) was named implementing agency, and DID Sarawak later submitted the latest proposal to DID Malaysia for consideration and approval. Allocation, approval and construction are three different stages. A budget announcement does not mean a contractor has started work. At that point, the proposal was still moving through the approval process, which is why the minister called for it to be accelerated. The barrage has operated since Dec 1, 1997 as part of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme. Its five radial gates, navigation shiplock and bridge support flood mitigation, river-level management and navigation around Kuching. No closure or immediate public emergency was announced. The issue is planned remedial work for continued safe and reliable operation. The next facts worth watching are final approval, tender or contractor appointment, scope of works and the construction timetable. This update concerns planning, repairs or public data—not an automatic notice that the facility has closed or that a power or water disruption is imminent. The next useful confirmation is the agency's approval, tender, works timetable or published measurement. [image: 1787276043889-barrage.jpeg] Source: DayakDaily

A 22-year-old Kuching man has been fined RM10,000 after his bank account was used to receive scam money. The Magistrates' Court fined Dominic Unya Dunggat RM10,000, or three months' jail in default, after he pleaded guilty under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code. The court heard that a victim transferred RM10,000 in three payments after receiving a WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be a relative from China who asked for a loan. Investigators later found that Dominic had handed his bank card to a longtime friend. The three transfers, made on July 25, 2025, were RM4,950, RM4,950 and RM100. The safest response is to stop, verify through an independent number and keep the evidence. Do not lend out a bank account or move money to a so-called safe account.

Haze is keeping 591 Sarawak schools closed on Aug 21. The Sarawak Education Department said the temporary closure took effect on Aug 20 and will continue tomorrow, Aug 21, after unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings were recorded at 3pm. The order affects 509 primary schools with 107,590 pupils and 82 secondary schools with 89,733 students. The 10 affected district education offices cover Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu and Betong. Schools have been told to monitor readings through the Department of Environment's APIMS system and follow Ministry of Health advice. Any further update will be announced by the department. Because these readings are tied to 2026-08-20, parents should check the latest APIMS update and their school's notice before making plans for attendance or outdoor activities. A reopening is not a permanent all-clear if the API rises again. [image: 1787220315028-haze-chimon-20260820.jpg]

Pending Port handled about 217,500 tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2026, down from about 764,800 tonnes during the same period last year, figures cited by DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen show. Chong, who is also Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, said the drop raised questions about restrictions on ships with an air draft exceeding 26 metres after the Sejingkat Bridge came into operation. Roll-on/roll-off cargo, mainly vehicles, fell from about 380,000 tonnes involving 27,347 vehicles in the first half of 2025 to 2,435 tonnes involving 15 vehicles this year. He said cargo had shifted to Senari Port, where throughput rose from about 3.46 million tonnes to 4.12 million tonnes. Chong claimed the shift had caused congestion, longer vessel waiting times and cargo deliveries into Kuching taking one to two weeks longer. Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas said Pending Port remained fully operational. Kuching Port Authority general manager Robert Lau said Pending Terminal was being repositioned to handle suitable domestic cargo, while Senari handles vessels requiring greater clearance. KPA recorded 179 ship calls and about 217,600 tonnes at Pending between January and June 2026. Changes in port handling can affect vessel waiting times and delivery schedules even when a terminal remains operational. Businesses moving cargo into Kuching should confirm the latest arrangement with the port authority rather than rely on a single political claim or an old estimate. [image: 1787198909240-pending-port-20260820.gif]

Urgent excavation has been ordered at Kuching’s Sg Apong Fishery Wharf to improve access for fishing boats. Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin directed the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) to speed up excavation works after visiting the wharf with Ministry of Transport Sarawak officers on Aug 19. The works will remove sedimentation near the wharf and clear a wreck that is affecting river access. Fishermen had also asked for the river channel to be deepened and trees near the wharf to be cleared. The Sungai Apong fishing association submitted its official application on Aug 5. Fishermen said shallow water and poor access have made it harder for boats to reach and berth at the wharf. Lee said the works are needed to make daily operations smoother for the fishing community. Changes in port handling can affect vessel waiting times and delivery schedules even when a terminal remains operational. Businesses moving cargo into Kuching should confirm the latest arrangement with the port authority rather than rely on a single political claim or an old estimate. [image: 1787187933338-sg-apong-wharf.jpeg] Source: DayakDaily

Three Chinese nationals were detained in Kuching after an operation linked to alleged home-repair scams. The Sarawak Immigration Department and Sarawak Consumers Association (PPS) carried out the Aug 19 operation after receiving several complaints. PPS said the three people could not produce valid identification documents or work permits. The complaints involved home-repair services advertised on Facebook. The providers allegedly offered free inspections, then claimed to find leaks and proposed drilling small holes and injecting liquid as a ‘new technology’ repair. Some consumers were allegedly charged thousands of ringgit and asked to pay into personal bank accounts. In some cases, the phone numbers became unreachable after payment while the leakage problems continued. PPS said one house inspected during the operation had no leakage problem. Several complaints were referred to the police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID). PPS said one follow-up recovered RM3,000 in compensation. Consumers are advised to verify service providers, get written quotations, avoid paying personal bank accounts where possible, and keep advertisements, chats, photos, videos and receipts as evidence. For home-repair work, get a written quotation, verify the business and avoid paying a personal bank account where possible. Keep the advertisement, chat history, photos and receipt if the work does not match what was promised. [image: 1787187922233-home-repair-scam.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post

Sarawak mission schools will get RM30 million in Unifor funding this year. Mission schools in Sarawak will continue receiving support from the state’s Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), with RM30 million allocated this year. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the funding is shifting beyond basic infrastructure such as desks and dining halls. It will also support software, soft skills, motivation classes, and help students improve in Science and Mathematics. The aim is to help more students, especially those from rural mission schools, meet entry requirements for Sarawak-owned universities and benefit from the state’s free tertiary education scheme. Unifor handed out RM34.87 million for 148 projects in its first disbursement this year. The remaining RM55.12 million is expected to be distributed by October. The allocation is a programme commitment; each school's work, timing and eligibility still depend on the official implementation details. Families should follow their school or the responsible department for the next confirmed announcement. [image: 1787134209476-mission-schools.jpg]

Sejingkat Bridge on track for an Oct 1 soft opening. The RM365.7 million Sejingkat Bridge is on track for a soft opening on Oct 1. The new crossing over the Sarawak River will provide a direct alternative for traffic from Serian and Kota Samarahan heading towards Petra Jaya and industrial areas on the northern side of the river. At present, that traffic has to pass through Kuching city centre, adding to congestion. Uggah described the bridge as a major game changer for Kuching. He said the contractor had not reported major manpower or funding concerns, while favourable weather had helped construction progress. [image: 1787134196672-sejingkat-bridge-resized.jpg] A target date or project announcement is not the same as an open road or operating facility. Until an official opening or traffic notice is issued, residents should keep using the current arrangements and watch for the next construction or approval milestone.

Haze returned to Sarawak on Aug 19, with five monitoring areas recording unhealthy air quality at 9am. Serian recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 156, followed by Kuching at 154, Sri Aman at 152, Samarahan at 113 and Mukah at 106. The figures were a snapshot from the Department of Environment's APIMS system, not a forecast for the whole day. in Kuching An API reading from 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy. The number can move as wind, rain and nearby hotspots change, so an old screenshot should not be used as the current reading. Check APIMS again before school sports, outdoor work or a long trip. Children, older people and anyone with asthma or heart or lung conditions should be more cautious when readings are elevated. Reducing strenuous outdoor activity, closing windows when smoke is strong and using a well-fitting high-filtration mask outdoors are more useful than relying on a loose cloth mask. Affected at 9am: Serian, Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan and Mukah Important: These readings were recorded on Aug 19 and may have changed since publication. These API figures are a time-specific snapshot from 2026-08-19, not a full-day forecast. Rain, wind and new hotspots can change the number quickly, so check APIMS again before school sports, outdoor work or a long trip. Children, older people and people with asthma or heart or lung conditions should reduce strenuous outdoor activity while the air remains unhealthy. [image: 1787112656808-sarawak-haze.jpg]

An 18-year-old motorcyclist died after a crash on Jalan Canna, Kuching. The crash happened at about 12.25pm on Monday. Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the motorcycle lost control after coming from the Jalan Stutong Baru traffic-light junction and hit a sedan. The rider then fell and was dragged by a lorry travelling in the right lane. He died at the scene. The sedan and lorry drivers were not injured. Police are investigating the case under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The cause and legal classification should be left to the police, medical team or rescue authorities. Drivers and bystanders should keep clear of the scene, avoid sharing distressing images and pass genuine information directly to investigators. [image: 1787112636655-kuching-crash.png]

Police are asking the public for help to locate 19-year-old Melvin Dhillon Muluk. Padawan district police said Melvin was last seen at Block V 202, Courtyard Santury Apartment, Bandar Baru Batu Kawa, at about 6.30pm on Aug 13. A missing-person report was lodged at Batu Kawa Police Station at about 11.53pm on Aug 15. Police said the clothing Melvin was wearing when he disappeared is unknown. Anyone with information can contact Batu Kawa police station chief SM Joelesley Enggat at 011-15336535 , Batu Kawa Police Station at 082-463411 , the Padawan district police headquarters operations room at 082-862233 , or any nearby police station. This is a police information appeal, not confirmation of the person's current whereabouts. Share only the verified details and send any useful sighting directly to the police instead of adding guesses to social media. [image: 1787101543484-melvin-dhillon-muluk.jpg] Source: DayakDaily

A 28-year-old man has been jailed for 11 months after assaulting his younger sister in Santubong. The man pleaded guilty at the Kuching Court Complex to voluntarily causing hurt to a family member. The offence happened on June 28 after his 16-year-old sister did not respond when he asked her to buy a lighter. The court heard that he kicked her waist and punched her forehead. A medical assessment recorded soft-tissue injuries. He was arrested on Aug 13. The charge was filed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read with Section 326A, which applies when the victim is a family member. The court outcome described above should be kept separate from online speculation. Any further hearing, appeal or investigation update should come through the relevant authority rather than social-media claims. [image: 1787047725386-santubong-court-resized.jpg]

Sarawak's Senior Citizen Health Benefit had 233,389 active recipients by July 31, with RM99.5 million spent since the programme began in July 2024. The state-funded, cashless scheme gives eligible senior citizens up to RM500 a year for outpatient medical and dental services at appointed panel clinics. As of July 2026, 270 active clinics statewide were participating. Coverage is broader than a basic GP visit. The scheme includes treatment for common illnesses, tooth extraction, fillings, dentures and scaling, plus selected vision, hearing, blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney, liver, thyroid, prostate and cervical screening services. The key words are eligible , active recipient and panel clinic . Seniors or family members should verify the recipient's status, confirm that the clinic is currently on the panel and ask whether the planned treatment is covered before registration. The annual benefit is capped at RM500, so it is also worth checking the remaining balance. Of the active recipients, 67,487 were already receiving monthly assistance from the Sarawak Social Welfare Department. The programme's reach is significant, but the next useful public data would be district-level clinic coverage, waiting times and the share of the RM500 benefit actually used. The announcement gives scale, but residents still need the official eligibility, intake and participating-location details before assuming they can claim a service or benefit. [image: 1787047706087-schb-seniors.jpg] The recipient figure does not announce a new automatic payment. Older residents and their families should confirm eligibility, participating clinics and the remaining annual balance with the responsible welfare or health office before treatment.

More than 40 stalls were badly affected after a storm hit Kuching’s N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market. Strong winds tore through the N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market in Kuching on Saturday night, forcing the market to close. More than 40 of about 300 trader lots were badly affected. Canopies were blown away or wrecked, while the main stage, management office and electricity supply cables were also damaged. Traders estimate losses of RM2,000 to RM5,000 for a canopy alone, not counting damaged equipment and goods. The Meteorological Department had issued a thunderstorm warning from 5pm to 9pm for Kuching and several other parts of Sarawak that evening. The danger does not end when the rain stops: fallen trees, loose roofing, flooded roads and damaged cables can remain hazardous. Residents should avoid affected routes and report damage to the council or emergency services rather than entering the area to take photos. [image: 1787015171980-kuching-night-market-storm.jpg] Source: The Star

A 67-year-old Kuching man has been fined RM6,000 after threatening to shoot a shop owner. Saidi Abang Samsudin pleaded guilty to criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code at the Kuching Court Complex on Aug 17. He will serve 12 months in jail if he fails to pay the fine. The incident happened at an eatery on Jalan Wan Alwi on Dec 22, 2023, during the grand opening of a neighbouring shop. The man was upset by loud firecrackers and ash entering the eatery. Court facts said he called the female shop owner over, showed her an object believed to be a pistol and said, “Saya rasa nak tembak ja u” — “I feel like shooting you.” Police later seized a Springfield XDS 9mm pistol, a magazine and five rounds of ammunition. The court outcome described above should be kept separate from online speculation. Any further hearing, appeal or investigation update should come through the relevant authority rather than social-media claims. [image: 1786961235163-kuching-court-complex-resized.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post / Chimon Upon

Sejingkat Bridge Could Open To Traffic By Oct 1, Easing Kuching Congestion. The RM365.74 million bridge across the Sarawak River could open to traffic as early as Oct 1, after Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas inspected the final stitching works on Aug 17. The 1,281.2-metre dual-carriageway bridge will give motorists from Serian and Kota Samarahan a more direct route towards Demak Laut, Petra Jaya and nearby industrial areas, without passing through Kuching city centre. That is expected to ease congestion in the city. The contractor reported no major manpower or funding problems. The project’s scheduled completion date remains Oct 22, 2026. [image: 1786961176589-sejingkat-bridge-20260817.jpg] Source: DayakDaily / JKR Sarawak A target date or project announcement is not the same as an open road or operating facility. Until an official opening or traffic notice is issued, residents should keep using the current arrangements and watch for the next construction or approval milestone.

Sarawak's air quality has improved, with every monitoring station at moderate level except Bario, which remained good. The Natural Resources and Environment Board's Daily Haze Watch recorded Kuching's Air Pollutant Index (API) at 87 as of 8am Monday, seven points lower than Sunday afternoon. Serian dropped from 157 to 98, while Samarahan fell from 151 to 92. Lundu and Tebedu also moved down from unhealthy readings to 93 and 73. API readings from 51 to 100 are classified as moderate, while 0 to 50 is considered good. These API figures are a time-specific snapshot from 2026-08-17, not a full-day forecast. Rain, wind and new hotspots can change the number quickly, so check APIMS again before school sports, outdoor work or a long trip. Children, older people and people with asthma or heart or lung conditions should reduce strenuous outdoor activity while the air remains unhealthy. [image: 1786939511831-20260817-sarawak-air.jpg]

A Kuching man lost RM104,310 after a scammer pretended to be his friend on WhatsApp. The 49-year-old received a message on Aug 13 asking him to make an advance payment for goods. Thinking it was genuine, he made four transfers to three bank accounts between Aug 13 and Aug 15. His real friend later said the WhatsApp account had been hacked and had never asked him for the money. Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. A conviction carries one to 10 years in jail, whipping and a possible fine. Police advise the public to end suspicious calls, avoid sharing banking information, and verify account and phone numbers through the Royal Malaysia Police’s Semak Mule portal before making payments. A message that appears to come from a friend still needs a separate check. Call the saved number or another mutual contact before transferring anything, and use Semak Mule when a bank account is provided. Anyone who has already paid should contact the bank and 997 immediately rather than waiting for the recipient to reply.

Kuching’s air quality improved to the moderate range by Sunday evening, but Serian and Samarahan were still unhealthy. At 5pm on Aug 16, Kuching’s Air Pollutant Index (API) reading fell to 91. Serian recorded 157 and Samarahan 147, both still in the unhealthy range. API readings from 101 to 200 are classified as unhealthy, while 51 to 100 is moderate. Rain brought some relief after a week of dry weather. All 107 schools under the Serian District Education Office were scheduled to reopen on Aug 17 after temporarily closing when the API went above 200. These API figures are a time-specific snapshot from 2026-08-16, not a full-day forecast. Rain, wind and new hotspots can change the number quickly, so check APIMS again before school sports, outdoor work or a long trip. Children, older people and people with asthma or heart or lung conditions should reduce strenuous outdoor activity while the air remains unhealthy.

Kuching’s air quality improved after Saturday’s rain, but five areas in Sarawak were still at unhealthy levels this morning. At 8am on Sunday, the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s haze watch recorded these readings: Kuching’s reading dropped from 163 at 4pm on Saturday after an evening shower brought some relief following a week of dry weather. Other parts of Sarawak were in the moderate range, between 51 and 100. The air quality can change quickly with the weather and wind direction. Authorities also reminded the public that open burning is prohibited. Offenders may face a fine of RM25,000 to RM1 million, up to five years in jail, or both. These API figures are a time-specific snapshot from 2026-08-16, not a full-day forecast. Rain, wind and new hotspots can change the number quickly, so check APIMS again before school sports, outdoor work or a long trip. Children, older people and people with asthma or heart or lung conditions should reduce strenuous outdoor activity while the air remains unhealthy. [image: 1786853210530-haze-kuching-20260816.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post / Chimon Upon