The proposed Jalan Stutong expansion in Kuching has been approved, but construction is not about to start. A contractor’s letter of appointment is expected in two to three weeks, after which the project can move into its commencement stage. The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) says a public online briefing on traffic arrangements should be held before work begins. That leaves residents and drivers with an important distinction: the project has approval, while the contractor and work programme are still pending. Jalan Stutong has been the subject of earlier widening and upgrade studies near the BDC junction and SJK(C) Chung Hua No. 2. No start date or detailed traffic plan was included in the latest update, so regular users should watch for MBKS or JKR notices before changing their routes.

Drivers heading into central Kuching should expect staged road restrictions from Sept 28 as crews prepare Padang Merdeka for an Oct 10 programme. Jalan McDougall is due to close or divert from 10am on Sept 28 until midnight on Oct 10 for tent installation and removal. Rehearsals from Oct 5 to 7 will affect McDougall, the RTM signal-junction access, Jalan Wawasan and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg near Carpenter Street, generally between 7am and 11am. A fuller rehearsal is scheduled for Oct 8, also from 7am to 11am, while event-day restrictions are planned from 7am to noon on Oct 10; a night concert is listed for 7pm to midnight. Police advise motorists to avoid roadside parking and use alternative routes. For the detailed traffic plan, Kuching district police can be reached at 082-259900.

Two people suffered minor injuries in a four-vehicle collision near RH Plaza on Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Kuching, on Friday afternoon. Fire and Rescue Department teams from Tabuan Jaya and Batu Lintang found no one trapped in the vehicles. The vehicles included two pickup trucks, a van and an SUV. Firefighters also washed an oil spill off the road to reduce the risk to other motorists. The operation ended at 3.43pm after the scene was secured. The available accounts report minor injuries only and do not describe a continuing road closure. The useful distinction for drivers is that the emergency response included a hazardous-spill clean-up, not just casualty checks; any new traffic restriction would need a separate police notice.

The Kuching Marathon scheduled for Sunday, Sept 27, has been cancelled after the organiser reviewed the haze and consulted relevant authorities and medical advisers. More than 13,000 people had registered. Participants can collect their finisher medal and event T-shirt at Plaza Merdeka’s Alfresco area. The reported collection hours are 9am–9pm on Saturday, Sept 26, and 8am–1pm on Sunday, Sept 27. Bring the physical race bib; one person may collect for up to five runners if they present each bib. Anyone who has not collected a race pack must do that first. The cancellation is final for this edition; the finisher-item collection is the remaining in-person arrangement. Check the Kuching Marathon Association’s official channels for any updated collection instructions.

Kuching Marathon road closures start at noon Saturday, with 26 roads and junctions affected in stages. The first three sections — Lebuh Wayang–Jalan Main Bazaar, Jalan Main Bazaar–Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg–Carpenter Street — close from noon on Sept 26 until 10am on Sept 27. Jalan Barrack–Jalan Pearl follows at 10pm Saturday. From 12.01am Sunday, another 22 points along the route will be closed or diverted until 10am. Affected approaches include the route towards Padang Merdeka and junctions by Jalan McDougall and Jalan Kampung Lintang–Jalan Astana, as well as roundabouts in the city and Samariang. Anyone crossing central Kuching early Sunday should allow extra time and use an alternative route. Police also ask motorists not to park on road shoulders. Traffic enquiries: Kuching District Police Headquarters, 082-259900.

A resurfacing job along Lorong Sungai Tapang 4 in Padawan has been flagged for follow-up after one property entrance was left unfinished. A local constituency statement said the road level outside the property had been raised by at least half a foot, while the section leading to the driveway was left with raw, untarred stones. The unfinished entrance has made it harder for the homeowner to get in and out. The Padawan Municipal Council and the contractor were urged to inspect the spot and complete the resurfacing up to the driveway. The report does not say when the rectification will be done or whether the council has responded. The complaint concerns one section of a wider road job, but it points to a practical test for neighbourhood upgrades: the work should leave affected entrances usable, not just the road surface.

Old Kuching may get heritage zones covering parts of Gambier Road, Main Bazaar and India Street under a proposed Sarawak law. The plan would protect historic buildings, monuments and other heritage sites as the city continues to develop. Landmarks being considered include the Old Court House, Round Tower, Square Tower, India Mosque, St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Thomas’ Cathedral. Privately owned old shophouses are also expected to be reviewed. The state says property owners will be engaged before the legislation is introduced. If buildings are formally gazetted, future rules could include maintenance and beautification requirements. The first stage is to identify buildings and sites, while conservation approaches in Penang and Melaka are being studied. Seeking UNESCO World Heritage recognition is a longer-term ambition. For now, this is a planning announcement, not a new protected-zone map or a confirmed timetable. Shop owners and residents should wait for the proposed list, consultation details and legislation before assuming that a property has been gazetted or that redevelopment rules have changed.

Kota Samarahan police impounded 36 motorcycles and arrested one motorcyclist during an overnight Op Samseng Jalanan operation. The operation ran from 10pm on Sept 20 to 6am on Sept 21 at Taman Rembus and along Jalan Kota Samarahan–Kampung Baru. Twenty-five personnel took part, targeting traffic offences and road hooliganism. Police said the arrest was made under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987, which covers reckless and dangerous driving. The impounded motorcycles were placed under Section 60 for further inspection. The update records enforcement action and investigation steps; it does not by itself establish a conviction. Motorists using the Samarahan corridor should expect checks to include the motorcycle and its documents, not just riding speed. No wider road closure was announced in the report.

A Sunday night fire damaged about 35 per cent of a convenience store on Green Road, Kuching, but no one was injured. Batu Lintang and Padungan firefighters were sent after the call came in at 8.19pm. The blaze started at the front of the shop and spread towards the centre before crews brought it under control. Ventilation at the centre and rear helped limit the spread, Bomba said. The operation ended at 9.03pm. The cause of the fire and the value of the losses are still being investigated, so the damage figure should not be read as a final loss assessment.

Kuching South is preparing to extend designated senior parking beyond markets to shopping malls and other public areas. The move is part of MBKS’s effort to make everyday public spaces easier to use as the city’s population ages. Existing senior bays are already available at markets, but the council has not announced the first mall locations or a start date for the wider rollout. MBKS is also seeking approval for more full-size OKU parking bays. That proposal must go through the full council before it is submitted to the minister, so those spaces are not yet a confirmed rollout. For residents, the practical detail to watch is where the new senior bays will be marked and how access will be enforced once the scheme moves beyond markets.

Japan’s Taiyo Yuden plans to expand its multilayer ceramic chip capacitor plant at Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone, with completion targeted for October 2028. The proposed A2 expansion was announced after a company delegation met Sarawak officials in Kuching on Thursday. The project is expected to add high-quality employment, support human-capital development and deepen the electronics manufacturing base in the state. Taiyo Yuden has operated in Sarawak since 1994, producing electronic components including multilayer ceramic chip capacitors. The latest plan is an expansion proposal, not a claim that construction has already begun or that a final production date is fixed. For Kuching, the significance is in the continuity of Sama Jaya’s industrial role: a long-established electronics manufacturer is planning another capacity increase, with the next useful milestones being project execution and the targeted 2028 completion.

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has taken over a RM9.98 million purpose-built store for seized goods at Muara Tebas, Jalan Bako. The government-owned complex replaces rented premises and includes three storage areas, a vault, an exhibit room, an open-air incineration area and a secure storage system. It also has offices, parking and supporting mechanical and electrical facilities. The facility was built by the Public Works Department and received its Certificate of Practical Completion on May 26. The handover gives Customs a permanent site for goods held during enforcement operations, while the department says the arrangement should reduce long-term rental costs. The project was re-tendered after no company joined the initial tender. Authorities said it was completed within the stipulated cost, quality and timeframe; the handover report does not disclose how much seized material the new store currently holds.

Kuching’s Air Pollutant Index (API) rose to 95 at 8am on Sept 17, moving close to the unhealthy range but remaining moderate. Serian recorded 92 and Tebedu 90 at the same reading. Samarahan and Lundu were both at 77, while Lubok Antu and Betong stood at 76. The readings were higher than the previous 8pm figures in most of these areas. Samalaju also moved from good to moderate at 58, while Kanowit and Mukah improved into the good range. API readings from 51 to 100 are classified as moderate, and 0 to 50 as good. Conditions can change through the day, so people planning prolonged outdoor activity should check the latest official reading rather than rely on this morning’s snapshot.

Sarawak is exploring wider arts and cultural programmes involving schools as part of a stronger partnership with the National Department for Culture and Arts. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between the state tourism and creative-industry ministry and JKKN officials. Existing cooperation includes the annual Gendang Festival, whose preliminary rounds cover northern, central, Samarahan and Kuching zones. A Mobile Stage Truck used for grassroots arts programmes was also handed over by JKKN Sarawak to the Sarawak Arts Council. The truck had served rural programmes from 2010 to last year. The update signals a direction for future school and community programmes, but it does not yet set out participating schools, dates or a new curriculum. Those details will determine how widely students can take part.

Pending Jetty Hawker Centre has seen some improvements, but further infrastructure work will depend on continued funding and planning. The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor said toilets had been renovated, a monument installed and upgrading work around the jetty was under way after a site visit on Sept 16. MBKS will continue working with federal agencies on better facilities and development opportunities for the centre and its surrounding community. The council also said it would gather feedback from residents, hawkers and other stakeholders. No final cost or completion schedule was announced in the update. For traders, the immediate takeaway is that the centre remains an active community project rather than a finished redevelopment package.

More than 900,000 Sarawakians have benefited from Rahmah cash assistance, with 88,855 recipients recorded in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency. The figures were announced in Kota Samarahan on Sept 16 as the government promoted the combined support of Rahmah Cash Aid and Rahmah Basic Aid. Eligible households in the most-needy group can receive up to RM4,600 a year through the two schemes, according to the minister cited in the announcement. The Rahmah Madani Sale programme is also being expanded through shops, supermarkets and mobile outlets. The stated target is at least three such programmes each month in every state constituency, giving rural communities more ways to access lower-priced daily necessities. The cash-aid figures are a record of beneficiaries, not a new application deadline. Households should rely on official government channels for eligibility and payment updates.

Five rural markets in the Mas Gading constituency will receive a combined RM1 million redevelopment allocation. The package covers a new Tembawang Sauh rural market, sales stalls at Kampung Grogo and upgrades to the Jagoi, Duyoh and Stenggang farmers’ markets in the Bau area. The implementing agency, UDA Holdings, will handle planning, delivery and monitoring. Before work starts, the project scope, land status and bill of quantities must still be reviewed. The announcement gives traders a clearer list of which sites are included, but it is not a completion date. The allocation forms part of Sarawak’s wider rural-market programme, which recorded 61 projects worth RM13 million from 2024 to Aug 31, 2026.

Kuching police seized 99 motorcycles and issued 222 summonses during a weekend road-safety operation. The operation, held from Saturday night into Sunday morning along Jalan Tun Salahuddin, involved more than 30 police officers and personnel, according to Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu. Police said a 17-year-old local boy was arrested after officers alleged that he used a fake licence plate. His case is being investigated under Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The statement did not say that he had been charged or convicted. The 99 motorcycles were impounded under Section 60 of the same Act for various traffic offences. For Kuching motorists, the operation is a reminder that weekend enforcement is also targeting vehicle documents and road behaviour, not only speeding.

A 37-year-old man from Kampung Tabuan was jailed for 11 months on Friday for assaulting his wife, after pleading guilty to causing her hurt over suspicions that she was seeing another man. The sentence was handed down at the Magistrate's Court in Kuching on a single charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read with Section 326A. Court facts put the assault by the roadside in Kampung Tabuan Melayu at about 6.30pm on Jan 31, when the man blocked his wife's motorcycle, grabbed her by the neck and pushed her into a metal road divider as she rode home. The attack was driven by his belief that his wife was involved with another man. A child of the victim's friend saw what happened, and the woman went to hospital for treatment before lodging a police report. Her medical report confirmed soft tissue injuries to the left side of her neck, her left sternum and her right wrist. He was not represented in court, and the prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan. With the guilty plea and sentence, the case is closed; the court did not disclose the victim's identity or any further family circumstances.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will use Malaysia Day in Kuching on Sept 16 to announce an interim measure on Sarawak's longstanding claims, after the federal Cabinet approved in principle adding parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak to improve their representation ratio. The seat decision was announced on Sept 11 after Anwar chaired the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu. Any increase in seats lies with the Election Commission, and peninsular seats could grow as well — the key condition is that Sabah and Sarawak end up with a higher share of representation than today, not simply more members. The Dewan Rakyat currently has 222 seats: 25 for Sabah, 31 for Sarawak and 166 for the peninsula. Under MA63, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak together once held about a third of parliamentary representation, a proportion that has slipped since. The mechanics still have to be worked out with the Election Commission, state governments and parties, and Anwar said he could not promise the change would be in place before the general election expected next year. On the payments side, Sabah's interim allocation was raised to RM1.5 billion this year while talks on Sabah's claim for 40 per cent of net federal revenue from the state continue. For Sarawak, Anwar backed the state's proposal for a clearer formula, telling the Ministry of Finance and Sarawak to discuss the details against the country's financial position, capacity and the minimum and maximum amounts that could be considered. He noted that Sarawak's claims do not fall under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, but said the same spirit should apply. Anwar said he will keep refining the matter with Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg over the coming days. Abang Johari welcomed the outcome as a win-win formula. The concrete numbers — seat arithmetic and the interim figure — now depend on the Election Commission's consultation process and the negotiations due before the Sept 16 announcement.