Bebuling Short Take-Off and Landing Airport in Spaoh, Betong has completed its first trial landing, bringing the rural facility closer to service while leaving the commercial launch date open. A Super King 300 aircraft landed at the newly completed STOLport on Friday after departing Kuching at 10am. The trial was described as smooth, but further discussions on safety, operations and maintenance must be completed before licensing and commercial operations are finalised. The RM248.03 million facility has a runway of about 1.19km and is designed to support passenger flights as well as cargo linked to agriculture and other local industries. A Kuching-Bebuling flight is expected to take about 15 minutes, compared with roughly three hours by road to Betong. The trial is therefore a readiness milestone, not an announcement of scheduled flights. The next public detail to watch is the licensing and safety approval process.

Haze worsened across Sarawak on Friday, with Kuching still in the unhealthy range and Kanowit becoming the state’s first monitoring station to reach the very unhealthy category. Kanowit’s Air Pollutant Index (API) rose from 186 at 8am to 209 at 2pm, according to Sarawak’s API status data. Kapit also moved from moderate to unhealthy at 152. Kuching improved from 192 at 8am to 178 at 2pm, while Samarahan fell from 184 to 171 and Lundu from 176 to 142. Even so, 13 locations remained in the unhealthy band at 2pm, including Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu, Betong and Sri Aman. An API reading of 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy, while 201 to 300 is very unhealthy. Bario was the only location in the good category at 2pm, with a reading of 50. Residents should check the latest station reading before spending long periods outdoors, especially if they are children, older adults or have respiratory and heart conditions.

Sarawak is planning three waste-to-energy plants across the northern, central and southern regions, with a potential combined capacity of up to 1,330 megawatts. The proposal would use satellite collection centres to channel municipal, wood, biomass, animal and industrial waste to the plants. The state says the model could address two problems at once: reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal and add another source of electricity. The plan is part of Sarawak's circular-economy push. A separate landfill-gas pilot at the Kuching Integrated Waste Management Park in Mambong has been described as having potential to generate up to 3MW from 700 tonnes of daily waste when fully scaled up. The 1,330MW figure is a potential capacity, not electricity already being generated. The latest announcement does not name the three plant sites, set a construction timetable or confirm the final regulatory framework; a new waste-to-energy ordinance has been proposed for next year.

A RM10 million project will add visitor facilities to the community-run Tagang system at Kampung Terbat Mawang in Serian. The development, under the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency, involves 4.84 hectares and is planned to include a pavilion, parking area, mini market, toilets, gazebos, a substation, cafeteria and campsite. The Tagang system is a community-based way of protecting and restoring river and fish resources. The Terbat initiative involves three villages — Terbat Mawang, Terbat Leban and Muara Ahi — so the project is also intended to create more income opportunities around a resource the villages already manage. The latest announcement confirms the allocation and proposed facilities, but does not give a construction timetable or opening date. For Kuching-area visitors, that distinction matters: the project is a future rural-tourism upgrade, not a newly opened attraction.

The BUDI Diesel subsidy transfer facility has been widened with immediate effect, allowing a registered vehicle owner to transfer eligibility to any eligible Malaysian citizen who is the vehicle’s designated actual user. The change matters to private diesel pickup and four-wheel-drive owners in Sarawak who use family vehicles or vehicles bought through informal “sambung bayar” arrangements. Transfer of subsidy eligibility does not transfer ownership of the vehicle. A registered owner with more than one eligible diesel vehicle may transfer the monthly entitlement for those vehicles to a maximum of three actual users, subject to the scheme’s conditions and the number of eligible vehicles. Applications are made through the BUDI MADANI portal or at an Inland Revenue Board office. The deadline matters: applications submitted by the 27th of a month can be processed for use from the first day of the following month, subject to data checks. A transfer is generally allowed only once for each vehicle, and a recipient may receive a transfer from only one registered owner.

A one-off RM500 flight aid will be given to 7,095 eligible new students entering public universities, polytechnics and community colleges for the September and October intakes. The assistance is for domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan. It is particularly relevant to Sarawak families sending students across the South China Sea for the start of term. The aid was announced in Kuching on Sept 16. The Transport Ministry is expected to release the implementation details, including how eligible students will receive it, so families should wait for the formal procedure before making assumptions about reimbursement or application deadlines.

Miri Hospital is seeking another 4,000 blood donors to reach its 10,000-donor target for the year. The hospital had recorded about 6,000 donors by August, and is aiming to collect at least 1,000 donors a month through the end of 2026 to keep supplies steady. The appeal was made at a Malaysia Day blood-donation programme in Miri, where organisers said voluntary donation has been the city’s established model since 1979. Blood collected in Miri can also be supplied to hospitals in Marudi and Limbang when needed. For Sarawak residents, the practical point is straightforward: regular voluntary donors help keep the state’s northern blood supply available beyond a single campaign day. People considering donation should use the hospital or Malaysian Red Crescent’s current channels to check eligibility and the next session.

Sarawak is setting a new target of 50 million trees by 2030 after exceeding its previous five-year planting goal. The target comes under Malaysia Greening Programme 2.0. The state had planted more than 35 million trees between 2021 and 2025, according to the latest forestry update. The programme is being linked to a broader push to make forests support rural livelihoods as well as conservation. A southern-zone non-timber forest products expo held from July 31 to Aug 9 brought together 40 community-based entrepreneurs and generated RM501,677.70 in sales. That combination matters for Sarawak’s forest policy: the next phase is being presented not only as a planting exercise, but also as an attempt to create income from non-timber products, ecosystem services, biodiversity and ecotourism while keeping natural resources under sustainable management.

Sarawak is exploring Hong Kong partnerships to bring more investment and commercial opportunities into its semiconductor and deep-tech ambitions. The discussion took place in Kuching on Tuesday during a meeting involving Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg, SMD Semiconductor and venture-capital firm Gobi Partners. The areas under consideration include institutional and strategic investment, co-investment opportunities, and the commercialisation of emerging technology. The proposal links two different strengths: Hong Kong’s finance and innovation networks, and Sarawak’s developing semiconductor, digital-infrastructure and technology base. It is still at the exploration stage, with the next task being to identify specific projects where the partners can work together. For Sarawak, the significance is less about an immediate new factory than about building routes to capital, talent and technology partners as the state tries to move from semiconductor manufacturing support into locally developed products.

All Sarawak schools are due to return to normal classes on Sept 17 after the latest air-quality readings moved out of the unhealthy range. The Sarawak Education Department said Lubok Antu district schools, the last group affected by the haze-related suspension, would resume physical lessons on Thursday. The latest 8am readings cited by See Hua Daily News placed Kuching at 75, Serian at 70 and Kota Samarahan at 68 — all in the moderate range. Families in areas where smoke or fine particles still linger may keep a child at home if health concerns remain, but the absence must be reported to the school. Air quality can change during the day, so parents should continue checking official updates rather than treating the reopening as an end to all haze precautions.

Sarawak is upgrading former logging roads so remote communities can reach clinics by land instead of relying on helicopter services for routine healthcare access. The road push includes routes in Baram and Marudi, with about 142 kilometres of JKR R3-standard roads and a much wider network planned statewide. Reports from DayakDaily and The Borneo Post put the broader completion target between 2030 and 2032, depending on the project scope. The policy matters beyond travel time: a road is available day and night, while air services depend on aircraft, weather and operating conditions. The state has not said that helicopters will disappear immediately. The next useful measure will be which stretches are funded, opened and connected to clinics and longhouses in each remote district.

Sarawak will host the 2029 Islamic Solidarity Games, bringing a 57-country competition to a state still preparing for next year's SEA Games. The event is expected to be centred in Kuching, with Serian being considered for some competitions. Sarawak has received the hosting rights and an agreement has been signed, according to reports from DayakDaily and The Borneo Post. The final sports programme and detailed budget are not yet fixed. The early estimate reported by The Borneo Post puts the cost at about RM400 million to RM450 million, above the RM350 million allocation cited for the SEA Games. For Kuching, the practical test will be whether venue upgrades, transport and accommodation plans can handle athletes, officials, crews and supporters from across the OIC membership.

Sarawak expects as many as 30,000 people may need palliative care by 2030, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said. Dr Sim said the state is expanding access to end-of-life care through the free Hospice and Palliative Care Centre, which is run by Kuching Life Care Society with Ministry of Health hospital services operating on its premises. The centre increased its capacity from eight beds to 16 after opening its service in April. He said palliative care is also planned as part of the Sarawak Cancer Centre, currently targeted to operate by 2032. The projection is an estimate, not a confirmed patient count, and the report did not announce a final statewide bed target. The immediate issue is capacity: the centre’s growth has outpaced workforce expansion, while families who cannot afford home hospice care still need accessible support near the end of life.

Sarawak’s first phase of a Special Needs Community Centre in Samarahan is targeted for completion by May 2028. Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the state government has approved RM30 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan for the first phase. The centre is intended to provide support ranging from early intervention and rehabilitation to skills development, employment preparation and longer-term residential care. The minister said the residential component is meant to address future needs of people who may no longer have parents or guardians able to care for them. The project is planned in phases, so the May 2028 target is not a claim that the full lifelong-support system will be ready by then. The state also reported that 745 children had received early-intervention services by the end of 2025, including 673 in Kuching and the remainder at OSEIC Dalat.

A new operational guidebook is being introduced to make cross-border transport procedures between Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah clearer for operators. The guidebook sets out key documents, permits, regulatory authorities and travel conditions for commercial buses, tour buses and freight vehicles. It was launched in Kuching alongside a two-day review of two BIMP-EAGA land-transport memoranda of understanding. Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the review is intended to improve coordination and understanding between jurisdictions, not to impose identical laws. Industry participants are contributing practical problems from the border and transport process, while future work is expected to include regular guide updates and digitisation. For businesses and travellers moving through Borneo, the immediate value is a clearer checklist of documents and permits; the workshop itself does not announce a new single border rule or promise an instant end to delays.

Bintulu Port has officially come under Sarawak’s control, ending its status as a federal port. The transition took effect on Sept 1 after a three-year process, with the port now operating under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak government. The change places one of the state’s key gateways for energy and bulk cargo within the state port system. The immediate message for shippers and businesses is continuity: port operations are expected to continue without disruption during the handover. The longer-term test will be how the new arrangement supports Bintulu’s role in Sarawak’s energy, industrial and export plans. For Sarawak readers, this is an administrative change with practical economic consequences rather than a change of port location or a shutdown. Companies using the port should continue to follow notices issued by Bintulu Port Holdings and the relevant state authorities as the new governance arrangements settle.

Sarawak-based United Asiapac Energy Bhd made its debut on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market on Monday, opening at its initial public offering price of 35 sen a share. The listing gives the oil-and-gas services company more room to expand its well-intervention business in East Malaysia and beyond. Its services cover work such as well integrity, fishing and plug-and-abandonment operations for upstream operators. The company said its IPO raised RM47.83 million. It plans to use part of the proceeds for new equipment, workforce expansion and engineering capability. The firm has completed more than 200 projects since 2021, according to the company’s listing information reported on Monday. For Sarawak, the development is also part of the state’s push to bring more Bumiputera companies into the capital market. United Asiapac is the first of a state target of three Sarawak Bumiputera companies listed on Bursa Malaysia by 2030.

The Health Ministry will review every helicopter contract linked to Sarawak’s Flying Doctor Service after last week’s fatal crash in Long Lellang, including the RM30 allowance paid to FDS personnel for each flight. The review covers the service’s contracts, governance, operational safety, coverage needs and whether its current delivery model is working. Flying Doctor Service operations in Sarawak have also been temporarily suspended while the safety and operating arrangements are assessed. Police are separately examining the helicopter’s movements before the crash, including where it last refuelled and its departure from Miri. The technical cause remains with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau; police said they have found no indication so far of anything other than an accident. For rural Sarawak communities, the review matters because FDS is a key link to medical care when roads are long or inaccessible. The immediate question is how replacement access will be maintained while flights remain suspended; the ministry has not announced a full timetable for the review or a return to service.

<p><strong>Air quality changed quickly across Sarawak on Saturday morning.</strong> Four areas moved back above 200 on the Air Pollution Index (API), after rain had briefly improved readings the day before.</p> <p>At 10am, Serian recorded 252, while Lundu and Lubok Antu were both at 217 and Tebedu at 214. Kuching was 189; Sri Aman 198, Samarahan 193 and Betong 189. Miri, Lawas, Limbang, Kapit and Bario remained in the moderate range at that snapshot.</p> <p>The practical point is that one reading is not a day-long forecast. Smoke and wind can change the number within hours, so anyone planning outdoor work should check the <a href="https://eqms.doe.gov.my/" rel="nofollow ugc">Department of Environment Malaysia air-quality portal</a> for the latest reading before leaving. People with breathing conditions, children and older adults should avoid prolonged exertion when the reading is unhealthy or worse; seek medical advice if symptoms become serious.</p> <p>This update reports the Saturday 10am snapshot, not a permanent condition for every town. The next useful check is the live reading for the specific area you are travelling to.</p>

A three-storey shop near Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce in Kuching caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, with crews from three fire stations taking about an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control. The call reached the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) at 3.42am. Firefighters from the Batu Lintang station responded first, with support from the Padungan and Tabuan Jaya stations. When they arrived, the first floor was fully engulfed and about 80 per cent of the second floor was affected; the ground floor was not involved. The building, roughly 40 feet by 80 feet, was fought with a 200-foot hose line running three nozzles. Low water pressure from the nearby hydrant forced crews to bring in a water tanker from Tabuan Jaya to keep the supply steady. The fire was brought under control at around 5.18am. Bomba reported no casualties, and overhaul work continued through the morning to clear the affected floors. The cause of the fire has not been stated. While damage is still being assessed, shop owners and workers in older commercial buildings nearby may want to double-check their own fire alarms, extinguishers and exit routes.