Serian remains under a haze emergency, with non-essential workplaces closed while authorities wait for the air pollutant index to fall below 500. The emergency was declared after the district’s API climbed above the very hazardous threshold. Essential services, including supermarkets, petrol stations, banks and security forces, are allowed to operate. Schools in 12 districts — including Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan and Serian — are closed from Sept 7 to 11. Lessons continue through home-based teaching during the closure. The order is confined to Serian; it is not a movement-control order. The emergency will be lifted when the API drops below 500, so residents should check official air-quality updates before making plans or travelling into the affected area.

Jalan Masjid is easy to walk through without noticing the old Kuching Railway Terminus across from Brooke Dockyard. I would stop precisely because there is so little to enter: this is a street-facing trace of a railway, not a polished museum waiting behind a ticket counter. [image: 1788667450763-terminus.jpg] Source: DayakDaily The Sarawak Government Railway officially opened on 9 April 1916. It first connected Kuching to the 3rd Mile Bazaar, then pushed towards the 7th Mile and 10th Mile Bazaar, now Kota Padawan. A trip took about 35 minutes and the train ran five times a day, carrying passengers, goods and livestock. The line existed to make the town’s river-and-market economy reach inland settlements. [image: 1788667450868-locomotive.jpg] Source: DayakDaily The working details are more revealing than a grand colonial façade. Three coal-fired engines—Bulan, Bintang and Jean—used coal from the Sadong colliery. When the road to the 7th Mile improved and cheaper buses took over, the railway lost its everyday role and ceased full service in January 1931. The surviving depot and street alignment are the remains of a short-lived transport experiment, not a missing train station waiting to reopen. [image: 1788667450964-track.jpg] Source: DayakDaily The same corridor has a darker turn. During the Japanese Occupation, sections of the line were used intermittently to move quarry stone, passengers and prisoners of war compelled to work at the 7th Mile quarries. That history changes the tone of the stop: the old building holds ambition, technological change and coercion in the same small footprint. [image: 1788667451146-bulan.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Ho Ah Chon collection Plan 20–30 minutes here, then continue to Brooke Dockyard, the old courthouse quarter and the Waterfront. The responsible way to visit is from the public road: there is no confirmed visitor centre or interior route, and fenced or unused areas are not part of the experience. A current map pin and community photo can help you recognise the building, but neither is permission to enter. There is no normal attraction ticket; the value is in reading the street and imagining the line that once left it. This suits travellers who like industrial history, archival details and overlooked city edges. Anyone expecting preserved carriages, an indoor exhibition or a dramatic railway platform will be disappointed, and it is not worth a special trip without the surrounding old-town walk. I would keep the stop quiet, look for the depot’s relationship with the road, and let the absence do some of the storytelling. Jalan Masjid, opposite Brooke Dockyard, Kuching, Sarawak ️ Google Maps: Kuching Railway Terminus Would you add this railway trace to a slow Kuching heritage walk?

Sarawak’s haze is already changing travel plans, with the state recording a dip in tourist arrivals as air quality worsens. Tourism Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the decline was noticeable and could continue while the haze persists. He made the remarks in Kuching on Sept 5, as Serian remained under a state of emergency after its API reading passed 500 earlier in the week. The pressure is not limited to hotels and tour operators. Kuching’s Borderland Music Festival and Miri’s Jom Heboh Carnival are among the events facing a more difficult operating environment. Abdul Karim said organisers should follow SDMC guidance and reconsider outdoor plans when readings become very unhealthy. Kuching recorded an API reading of 313 on Sept 4. Serian was at 334 on the morning of Sept 5, after peaking at 521. Schools in 12 districts are scheduled to close from Sept 7 to 11, affecting nearly 200,000 students. For visitors, the practical question is whether an outdoor itinerary still makes sense on the day. Check the latest APIMS reading and event notice before travelling; the numbers can change with wind and rain.

RM5.8 million project to light up 11.9km Petra Jaya-Rambungan route, completion set for June 2027 A RM5.8 million street lighting project along the 11.9-kilometre Petra Jaya–Rambungan route has been handed over for implementation, with completion targeted by June 16, 2027. Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the project will install and rehabilitate high- and low-voltage systems along the route, particularly in the Matang section. The work includes 11kV overhead lines with six 50kVA transformers and 794 LED street lights, along with underground cabling, mini pillars and control boxes. Dr Abdul Rahman said vandalism had been a recurring problem — this is roughly the fifth time lighting has been reinstalled along this road — and called for closer community cooperation to monitor and report suspicious activity. The road serves as a main route and an alternative to Jalan Matang, with usage rising alongside nearby housing development. The project connects the Pantai Damai and Tupong state constituencies. The contractor is Arena Megasuria Sdn Bhd, with Perunding Teknikal Consult Sdn Bhd as consultant and the Kuching Division Public Works Department as superintending officer.

Two debt collectors jailed 34 months each for smashing windows, hurling paint at Kuching homes Two debt collectors have been sentenced to a combined 34 months in prison each after pleading guilty to vandalising borrowers' homes in Kuching, including a case where the victim had already repaid more than double the original loan. Samson Ng Jiann Haur, 36, and Marco Tiong King Ling, 32, appeared before Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu and admitted to charges under the Moneylenders Act 1951 and the Penal Code. In the more serious incident, the pair used an iron baseball bat to smash every window of a house in Taman Hui Sing just after midnight on Aug 29. The 25-year-old victim had borrowed RM2,000 — receiving only RM1,200 — and had already repaid RM4,800, yet still faced threats over a claimed RM6,800 balance. Each man received 18 months for this charge. A separate attack that same night saw pink paint flung at a house in Taman Seng Goon Garden, damaging two parked cars. The victim, 22, had CCTV footage showing men in a vehicle carrying out the act. This earned each man an additional 16 months. Ng also faced separate drug charges, receiving 10 months' jail and a RM6,300 fine for amphetamine and methamphetamine use on three occasions between 2012 and 2026. Neither man had legal representation.

MBKS probes dry hose, locked-away extinguishers after Stutong Market vehicle fire Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is investigating concerns over emergency firefighting equipment at Stutong Market after a vehicle was destroyed by fire on Thursday morning, with a dry fire hose and missing extinguishers hampering efforts to put out the blaze. Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said during his ShallWeeTalk live session on Saturday that the council had directed the relevant personnel to investigate and submit a report. He acknowledged that several fire extinguishers at the market had gone missing, calling it an internal security issue. Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who was distributing N95 masks at the market when the fire broke out, posted on social media that the fire hose had no water supply and that extinguishers were locked inside an office and not readily accessible. He urged MBKS to inspect all firefighting equipment at markets under its jurisdiction. Wee said it would be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed, adding that the cause of the fire itself must also be established. The fire started around 5am on Sept 3 and was eventually extinguished by firefighters. MBKS councillors have visited the affected hawker to check on their well-being and are assisting with police reports and other matters.

Kampung Temurang is the kind of Padawan stop where the information centre matters as much as the trail. From Kuching, the drive takes about an hour; from the village centre, the Rafflesia site is roughly a 20-minute walk with a local guide. I would arrive ready to ask what is blooming, because the forest decides whether this is a flower day or a limestone-and-river day. [image: 1788489442506-temurang-1-resized.jpg] Source: Amazing Padawan The walk is not just a hunt for a giant flower. Temurang sits along Borneo Heights Road in the Braang Bidayuh landscape, where local stories place early settlements on Braang Mountain. The heritage trail links old settlement routes with the present villages of Temurang, Bidak and Braang Payang. That is why a guide adds real value: the rocks and paths are cultural landmarks as well as terrain. [image: 1788489443179-temurang-2-resized.jpg] Source: Amazing Padawan Look closely at Batu Berketis, the small upright limestone pinnacles locals call the Narrow Stones. Nearby Buk Benang is associated with Braang legend and ritual traces, while several caves in the limestone hills carry wartime stories connected to Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. These details turn a generic jungle walk into a landscape with memory. Do not enter caves or climb sharp rock without local direction. [image: 1788489443730-temurang-3-resized.jpg] Source: Amazing Padawan The Rafflesia is the seasonal bonus. Older local tourism material says Temurang can be a nearer alternative to Gunung Gading, but a bloom is never guaranteed; call or ask the village before building a whole day around it. The wider Padawan river system also hosts rafting routes: in the 2024 Padawan Raft Safari, Temurang was one of the starting points and Kampung Git the finish. [image: 1788489444571-temurang-4-resized.jpg] Source: Amazing Padawan I would pair Temurang with a Padawan countryside route, allowing half a day for the guide-led walk and extra time if a flower is open. It suits travellers who want community-led nature, Bidayuh history and uneven ground. It will disappoint anyone expecting a guaranteed bloom, a paved botanical garden or a self-guided photo loop. Wear proper shoes, bring water and confirm guide, trail and bloom conditions before leaving. Kampung Temurang, along Borneo Heights Road, Padawan, Sarawak ️ Google Maps: Kampung Temurang Would you plan around the Rafflesia season, or come for the rocks and the stories even when there is no bloom?

POPULAR Bookfair is now running at Aiman Mall, with several offers for readers looking to stock up without paying regular price. [image: 1788487351345-popular-aiman-bookfair.jpg] Source: POPULAR Book Malaysia via EverydayOnSales Deal details 3 selected English books for RM20 nett 20% rebate on selected English and Malay books when buying 2 or more Free RM5 voucher with a minimum RM50 nett spend Up to 60% savings on selected purchase-with-purchase items with a minimum RM60 nett spend Exclusive gift when applying for or renewing a POPULAR Card/e-Card Validity: 3–28 September 2026 Time: 9:30am–10pm Location: Ground Floor, Aiman Mall, Kuching The key word is “selected”, so check the promo labels and final price before paying. Stock availability and other terms may apply.

Kuching, this weekend needs a small change of plan. With the haze still affecting outdoor activities, the Merdeka Spirit Run has been postponed to 4 October, while the Kuching Lights and Floral Festival and Luna Light Wonderland remain temporarily closed. So here are four indoor options for 5–6 September instead. Please check the live API reading before leaving home and keep outdoor time short. 1. Borneo Cultures Museum Time: Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am–4:30pm Place: Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, next to Padang Merdeka This is the easiest half-day plan if you want somewhere comfortable, spacious and genuinely worth the trip. The five floors cover Sarawak and Borneo through objects, stories and interactive displays; allow at least two hours so you are not rushing the upper galleries. [image: 1788480398087-borneo-cultures-museum-resized.jpg] Source: Sarawak Tourism Board 2. Kuching Cat Museum Time: Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am–5:00pm Place: DBKU Headquarters, Bukit Siol, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya A very Kuching choice, especially for families or anyone who has somehow lived here for years without seeing the giant cat entrance. The galleries mix cat art, history, collectibles and plenty of quirky photo spots. [image: 1788480398397-cat-museum.jpg] Source: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) 3. Movie session at TGV Vivacity Time: 5–6 September; sessions run from late morning into the night—check the live schedule before booking Place: TGV Cinemas, Level 3, Vivacity Megamall, Jalan Wan Alwi If you just want air-conditioning and an easy two-hour escape, this is the no-planning option. Current listings include English, Mandarin and Korean titles, with IMAX available at this branch. Pick the session online first so you do not end up wandering the mall waiting for the next show. [image: 1788480398451-tgv-vivacity.jpg] Source: CHINPAKLOONG Architect via Archify 4. Bowling at Megalanes Adventure World Time: Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am–12:00 midnight; confirm lane availability before going Place: The King's Leisure Complex, Lot 7852, Section 64, Kuching Good for a group that cannot agree on a movie. Bowling keeps everyone indoors and gives you something active to do without spending time in the haze. Weekend lanes can fill up, so call ahead if you are bringing a bigger group. [image: 1788480398502-megalanes-kuching.jpg] Source: KuchingBorneo Quick reminder: conditions and opening arrangements can change at short notice during the haze. Check APIMS plus the venue's latest social update before heading out. If the air is still very unhealthy or hazardous, staying home is honestly the better weekend plan.

Thirty per cent of work in major Sarawak government projects will be allocated to Bumiputera firms under a policy announced by Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg. Speaking at the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association’s Sarawak meeting in Kuching on Sept 2, Abang Johari said the arrangement follows a model used by Sarawak Energy. Bumiputera contractors may also partner with non-Bumiputera companies when larger jobs require more technical capacity. At the same event, PKMM Sarawak said 60 of 61 projects in a RM200 million allocation had been awarded through a ballot managed by DAL HCM Sdn Bhd. Those contracts range from RM100,000 to several million ringgit. The RM200 million is the package cited by the association, not the announced value of all future work covered by the wider policy. The state has also provided heavy machinery to PKMM, while the Construction Industry Development Board is training local crane operators. No new application window or full tender list was announced, so firms will still need to follow the procurement notices for individual projects.

Sarawak voters have until Sept 30 to inspect a proposed electoral map that adds 17 state seats, including seven in and around greater Kuching. The Election Commission put the recommendations on public display on Sept 1. If the review is approved, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly would expand from 82 to 99 seats. Ten existing state constituencies would be renamed, while the Igan parliamentary seat would become Batang Lassa. For the Kuching area, the proposed additions are Matang and Semarak under Petra Jaya, Pasir Pandak under Santubong, Tabuan Jaya under Bandar Kuching, Maong under Stampin, Samarindah under Kota Samarahan and Sungai Serin under Puncak Borneo. The plans may be inspected at the locations named in the EC notice and through the commission’s official website. A formal representation must come from the Sarawak government, an affected local authority, or a group of at least 100 registered electors from an affected constituency. Valid objections will proceed to a local inquiry. No voter’s constituency has changed yet. The names and boundaries remain proposals, and the new seats may miss the next state election if the review is not completed in time.

For a morning beyond Kuching, I would choose Satow Waterfall when I wanted a village route rather than a polished attraction. At Kampung Bobak in Singai, the walk begins gently, then water pulls you from one pool to the next. [image: 1788402964010-satow-1.gif] Source: The Borneo Post Online Satow is not one tall drop: it runs through at least six tiers, with a distinctive megalithic rock feature nearby. Lower tiers use short stairs and a paved approach; upper levels become a wet-forest scramble. That progression is the story—this is a community waterway with geology to read, not just a swimming hole. [image: 1788402964134-satow-2.gif] Source: The Borneo Post Online I would allow 2–3 hours, wearing grippy shoes and carrying water, a dry bag and repellent. Rain changes the rocks quickly, and no tier should be assumed safe for swimming. From Kuching, allow about an hour by car; arrange a return ride. Entry, parking, guides and temporary access can change, so check before leaving. [image: 1788402964182-satow-3.gif] Source: The Borneo Post Online Steady walkers and photographers will enjoy the layered pools; anyone expecting flat paths and guaranteed picnic facilities may not. I would pair it with Bau or another Singai stop only in daylight. Would you stop at the first pool, or keep following the water? [image: 1788402964270-satow-4.gif] Source: The Borneo Post Online

Clean-water aid has reached two dry-spell-hit communities: 84 families in Biawak, Lundu and another 10 in Lingga, Sri Aman. The 2026 Dry Season Clean Water Delivery Report dated Aug 31 records 670 cartons of 1.5-litre bottled water for 335 residents of Kampung Pasir Hilir. Rumah Perindu at Sungai Pisang received 80 cartons for 40 residents. Together, the deliveries covered 375 people in 94 families. Lower river levels are also reducing the raw water available at some treatment intakes. The Sarawak Social Welfare Department is coordinating bottled-water aid with the Rural Water Supply Department, which handles tanker deliveries. Communities relying on rainwater, gravity-fed systems or SAWAS supplies are especially exposed during a long dry spell. Households with disrupted supply have been asked to report through their divisional or district Disaster Management Committee. The number of residents, daily drinking-water needs and expected duration of the shortage are used to determine assistance.

Sarawak’s Sept 3–5 cloud-seeding window does not guarantee rain: the latest federal update found the available clouds unsuitable and moving out to sea. The update on Sept 2 said prevailing winds were pushing cloud groups towards the South China Sea. Seeding them would risk producing rain away from the areas facing haze and low water reserves, so any flight remains subject to MetMalaysia’s assessment. NADMA’s plan covers eight Sarawak dam areas — Batang Ai, Bakun, Murum, Bengoh, Gerugu, Assyakirin, Sika and Matang — with MetMalaysia and the Royal Malaysian Air Force involved in the operation. At 4pm on Sept 2, Serian and Kuching recorded hazardous API readings of 325 and 309 respectively, giving the proposed operation an immediate public-health context. There was no confirmation in the latest reports that a seeding flight had taken off or been completed. The operation may proceed within the planned window only if later cloud and wind conditions are suitable.

Most visitors cross the river for the Waterfront, but a north-side drive reveals a different Kuching story at Kuching North City Hall, or DBKU. I would go for the building and the hilltop breathing space, not expecting a museum tour: this is a working city hall on Bukit Siol. [image: 1788316491776-dbku-front.jpg] Source: Medelam / Wikimedia Commons The civic story is part of what makes the stop specific. DBKU was established in 1988 after Kuching received city status, and the hilltop complex was inaugurated in 1993. From here, the northern half of the city is administered across a 369.48-square-kilometre area; the formal, wide-fronted building is therefore less a decorative landmark than a visible piece of Kuching’s post-city reorganisation. [image: 1788316491878-dbku-side.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons The visitor version is simple: look at the facade, landscaping and changing view rather than searching for an attraction entrance. Public visitor impressions consistently highlight the green grounds, free parking and open outlook, while the Cat Museum on the lower level is the more obvious indoor pairing. I would keep voices low and stay within clearly public areas because offices and council business continue here. [image: 1788316492043-dbku-wide.jpg] Source: DBKU / Wikimedia Commons If I were arranging the route, I would combine DBKU with the Cat Museum or another Petra Jaya stop and allow 30–60 minutes. Driving or e-hailing is realistic; the Bukit Siol address is not a useful detour from the old-town walking circuit, and weekday parking is generally easier. There is no normal attraction ticket, but internal access, parking arrangements and event use can change. [image: 1788316492622-garden-resized.jpg] Source: Cerevisae / Wikimedia Commons This suits travellers who like civic architecture, quiet viewpoints and seeing how a city works. Anyone wanting a dedicated heritage gallery or a guaranteed panoramic platform may feel the drive is too much for an exterior stop. Check DBKU’s current notices before leaving, especially for maintenance, ceremonies or temporary access limits, then let this small detour add a north-bank chapter to the day. Kuching North City Hall, Bukit Siol, Jalan Semariang Open in Google Maps

Kuching households can still benefit from the 25% discount on domestic electricity bills provided by the Sarawak government. [image: 1788314754798-sarawak-electricity-25pct.jpg] Source: UKAS Sarawak, via SoyaCincau Provider: Sarawak Energy / Sarawak government Deal: 25% discount for all domestic electricity users in Sarawak. It is for residential electricity accounts, not commercial accounts. Validity: April to December 2026 Where: Statewide in Sarawak, including Kuching domestic accounts The nine-month measure is expected to benefit 714,557 domestic users. If you have a Kuching residential electricity account, check the discount shown on the applicable monthly statement; no separate retail purchase or promo code is involved. Details: Sarawak electricity discount report

A small rise in respiratory infections is showing up in Sarawak’s haze surveillance, while asthma numbers remain broadly stable statewide. Fifteen sentinel health facilities averaged about 1,752 upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) cases a week in recent weeks, compared with roughly 1,717 at the start of the year. The clearest spike came in mid-August: the Southern Zone recorded about 1,250 cases, the Central Zone more than 1,000 and the Northern Zone nearly 400. Between January and the end of August, the same facilities logged 64,688 URTI cases and 6,156 asthma cases from about 694,800 patient visits. Weekly conjunctivitis cases also rose from an average of 17 to 21. Sarawak General Hospital saw more asthma patients on several days in August, but the wider monitoring has not found a sustained statewide surge. The Sarawak Health Department is continuing surveillance and keeping medicines, equipment and staff ready. During smoky periods, residents should limit strenuous outdoor activity, wear a suitable mask when they need to go out, and seek treatment for breathing difficulty, a persistent cough or eye pain.

UNIMAS students should not assume the September semester will be fully online: only eligible programmes will move progressively into flexible hybrid teaching. Lectures and other suitable activities may be held through interactive online platforms, while laboratories, practical work, workshops, field activities and collaborative projects will remain on campus when a programme requires them. The arrangement covers eligible undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The university said each faculty and centre will issue its own teaching format, attendance rules, timetable and programme guidance before the semester starts. The online and campus mix will therefore differ by course rather than follow one university-wide schedule. Students commuting from Kuching or Samarahan, or making accommodation plans, should use the timetable from their own faculty before changing arrangements. No programme-by-programme schedule had been published in the announcement.

Sarawak’s new CID chief has been told to make organised crime and gang activity a priority, but police did not announce any new arrest, charge or named target on Sept 1. Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah set out the brief during a handover ceremony in Kuching, where SAC Kumarasan Muniandy took charge of the state Criminal Investigation Department. The remit includes serious offences linked to unlicensed money-lending syndicates. Mohamad Zainal said several suspected drug-trafficking groups remain under police watch. He did not identify the groups or say how many were involved, and said action under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 would only be considered if investigators found enough evidence of organised crime. Police have previously used SOSMA in one organised-crime case that is still awaiting trial. No outcome has been decided in that case, while any action against the groups now under watch remains subject to investigation and the legal process.

Emart has a one-day Surprise Deals 4 U promotion for Tuesday, 1 September 2026. Today’s highlighted prices include: Fresh chicken breast round, 1kg — RM10.49/kg Frozen Al Buffalo forequarter roll, 1kg — RM19.99/kg Dutch Lady growing-up milk, 850g — RM20.99 each Dettol shower gel pouch refill, assorted 720g — RM7.99 each The promotion poster states a limit of 2kg or 2 units per member per day, depending on the item. Stock is subject to availability. Participating Kuching outlets: Taman Berlian, Boulevard, King Centre, Moyan, Sejingkat, Summer Mall, Tabuan Jaya, Batu Kawa and Matang. If you are already doing your grocery run today, this is a useful one-day stop to check—especially for chicken, frozen meat and household refills. [image: 1788247123521-emart-surprise-20260901-resized.jpg] Source: Emart Malaysia Official promotion page: https://supermarket.emart.my/promotion?id=0afa34f0a88f13c2e4f2f9d39e472c06