Bintulu flood-mitigation work at three sites is targeted to start in October after an extra RM53 million allocation. The package covers remaining Phase Two components at Gem Park, Desa Damai and SJK Sebiew. The Bintulu DID may call the tender in early September, with physical work expected between mid- and late October. A separate long-term study would examine Bintulu’s wider flood-mitigation system, including the capacity of existing measures and where upgrades are needed. Sarawak is considering an international consultancy working with local experts, but the firm, cost and scope are still under discussion. The October date is a target, not a guarantee that flooding will stop. Residents in the affected areas should continue following local warnings during heavy rain while waiting for the tender notice and confirmed work schedule. Location: Bintulu, Sarawak

Miri and Bintulu are set to receive expanded community HIV support under a RM2.25 million, three-year Sarawak allocation. Teratak Kasih Tok Nan, first established in Kuching as a halfway home and support centre, will extend services that include treatment support, temporary shelter, counselling, psychosocial care, treatment monitoring, welfare assistance and community outreach. The expansion brings this support model closer to people living with HIV, their families and other vulnerable groups in the two cities. It is being carried out through a partnership between the Sarawak Government, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Sunway Group and Yayasan PETRONAS. It will also complement the Sarawak Health Access Programme (SHAPE), which helps eligible low-income patients with travel costs when they need specialised chronic-care treatment in other cities. The funding has been announced, but the practical details for Miri and Bintulu are still to come: where the services will operate, when they will open and how referrals will be handled. Those details will matter to families planning treatment and travel.

Northern Sarawak’s connectivity plan is moving toward a direct Limbang–Lawas link, with the new route intended to reduce reliance on paths through Brunei. The agreement signed in Lawas on Aug 26 brings Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO) together to use communications infrastructure already owned in Sarawak. It includes SESCO’s Virtual Fibre network, with the overall network alignment reported at about 1,926 kilometres. The gap is felt in everyday services. Businesses in Lawas have faced e-payment problems, while the Lawas district police headquarters has also experienced internet issues despite its role in disaster management. Better links would support education, healthcare, government services and emergency response across the two northern divisions. This is an infrastructure agreement, not a switch-on notice. The parties have not given a launch date, coverage map or speed target, so the next meaningful update will be where the route reaches and whether service interruptions ease.

A 243-home affordable housing scheme at Teku, Sibu is moving into implementation, with the project site now handed to the Sarawak Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The Teku Village Expansion Scheme is estimated at about RM117 million and is planned for completion within 36 months. An initial RM350,000 has been allocated for site clearing and earthworks under the 13th Malaysia Plan. The 40.2-acre site is planned for detached homes built on stilts, with each lot measuring about 8.3 points. Newly married couples have been proposed as a priority group, but applications remain open to other members of the public who meet the eligibility requirements. No application deadline or final selection details have been announced. Priority for newlyweds should not be read as automatic approval; applicants will still have to meet the scheme’s requirements.

Op Gali Mega has detained 14 men and uncovered seized items valued at more than RM40.55 million across Sarawak. Fourteen local men were detained after a four-day joint operation found suspected breaches linked to mining, earth removal and sand activities at three of seven sites inspected across Sarawak. The Sarawak General Operations Force Brigade and the Land and Survey Department ran Op Gali Mega from Aug 19 to 22, covering Kuching, Bau, Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman, Mukah and Limbang. The coal, earth, sand, vehicles, machinery and equipment seized in the operation were estimated at more than RM40.55 million in total. The largest haul came from a coal collection and storage site in Mukah: about 8,525 metric tonnes of coal, four excavators, a crane, two barges and two tugboats, valued at about RM24.46 million. In Kota Samarahan, 10 men were detained in two operations involving earth removal and river sand. Those seizures included roughly 20 tonnes of earth, 2,986 tonnes of river sand, lorries, excavators, a tugboat, a barge and a digital weighing scale. The detainees and seized items were handed to the Mukah and Samarahan divisional Land and Survey offices for investigation under the Sarawak Land Code. Authorities also reminded operators handling mining, dredging, earth removal or natural-resource sales to obtain the required approvals. The investigation is ongoing, and detention is not a conviction. [image: 1787717581254-coal-sand-ops.jpeg] Source: Sarawak Tribune

Simunjan’s water upgrade has a 2029 finish line — but affected areas are expected to get a nearer-term boost from a separate tank project. The elevated water tank planned for Kampung Hijrah is targeted for completion in August 2027. It is intended to help areas facing interruptions while the main pipeline works are carried out. The public announcement does not yet give a village-by-village schedule, contractor or temporary-supply plan. The main Simunjan package will replace or upgrade 73.2km of ageing pipes at RM45.7 million. It is part of a wider Samarahan distribution upgrade covering 148.3km at RM84.37 million. Some work is expected to start at the end of 2026 or early 2027, with the wider programme due to be completed in phases by 2029. Residents should treat this as a project timeline, not a promise that current disruptions have ended. Keep following JBALB and local-authority notices, record the dates and locations of outages, and expect temporary access or supply changes once construction reaches an affected area. The next useful updates are the formal start notice, tank progress and the first list of pipe sections under construction. [image: 1787706573885-simunjan-water.jpg] Source: DayakDaily / TVS

Heavy rain brought Kuching’s API down to 156 by 5pm, but five Sarawak areas were still in the unhealthy range. The latest APIMS readings reported on Tuesday put Serian at 182, followed by Sri Aman at 172, Samarahan at 155, Kuching at 156 and Sarikei at 154. The 10am update had placed Serian at 194 and Kuching at 176, so the afternoon rain helped in parts of the state without ending the haze situation. An API reading from 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy. That means a lower Kuching number after rain should not be read as a return to normal air: conditions can differ sharply between monitoring stations and can change again when wind or rain patterns shift. For residents planning outdoor work, exercise or travel across Sarawak, check the latest station reading on APIMS before heading out instead of relying on how the sky looks in one neighbourhood. People who are more sensitive to haze should reduce strenuous outdoor time while the readings remain above 100. The same update also placed Marudi under MetMalaysia’s Level 1 hot-weather alert, which covers maximum temperatures of 35–37°C for at least three consecutive days. The next useful checkpoint is whether the five unhealthy stations fall below 101 after further rain, or climb again if dry weather returns.

SUPP has hit back at DAP’s call for more opposition seats in the next Sarawak state election, turning “check and balance” into the latest line of political contest. Separate statements reported in Kuching on Aug 24 came from SUPP Kuching Branch Youth and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, who is also the party’s deputy treasurer. They argued that more DAP seats would not automatically mean better governance, and said scrutiny should be tied to policy debate and Sarawak’s interests under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The branch also accused DAP of being selective when criticising Sarawak while being part of the federal government. That remains SUPP’s political claim, not an independently established finding. The immediate trigger was DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s appeal for voters not to leave him and Violet Yong as the party’s only two representatives in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, and to give DAP more room to provide checks and balance. For Kuching voters, this is a political position-taking exercise, not a government decision: the statements do not change the current assembly composition or announce an election timetable. As the debate develops, voters can compare each party’s concrete record and proposals on MA63, federal-state finances, natural resources, education and healthcare instead of treating slogans as policy. The next useful signals are a substantive DAP response and any formal election timetable issued by the Election Commission.

Firefighters were due to resume work on Aug 24 after a Marudi landfill fire spread across about 0.7 hectares. The fire started at a waste pile on Sunday afternoon. The Marudi fire station received the emergency call at 2.26pm and sent five personnel with one CFRT fire engine. Firefighters used two hose lines, foam and breathing apparatus, while creating a firebreak to stop the flames from spreading. The operation was paused at 6.30pm. At that point, none of the estimated 0.7-hectare fire area had been fully extinguished. The local authority planned to continue with an excavator and water tanker on Aug 24; the excavator operator was still outside Marudi when the operation was suspended. The final status after the resumed operation was not yet confirmed. People near the landfill should avoid smoke, keep children away from the site and follow instructions from the local authority or firefighters. Anyone with breathing problems after smoke exposure should seek medical care. 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. [image: 1787544516619-20260824-marudi-landfill-fire.jpg] Source: DayakDaily / Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department

More than 26,000 people in Sarawak had received welfare assistance by June, with total spending exceeding RM104.7 million. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the aid covered two main JKM schemes: The figures were announced in Kuching on Sunday and reflect assistance recorded up to June 2026. They are not a new one-off cash payment announcement. The ministry also said its SPeKTRUM caregiver-support programme had involved 150 participants from Sarawak. The national target is 2,000 trained caregivers by November, subject to the programme rollout. Families caring for elderly people, persons with disabilities or chronic patients should check eligibility and application details directly with the official Social Welfare Department channels. Avoid paying agents who promise to speed up welfare applications. The recipient count and spending figure do not announce a new automatic payment. Families should check eligibility and application status directly with the Welfare Department and avoid anyone asking for a processing fee.

A direct Sibu–Dalat road could cut travel time, but the project is still at the planning stage. Dalat assemblywoman Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the proposed 13.1km route should be prioritised to improve connectivity for residents and businesses. It would connect Kampung Kekan Seberang, Kut Muara, Sungai Pinang, Bungan Besar and Rassau, and be built to R3 road standards. The Sarawak government-funded component is estimated at RM140 million and is expected to be tendered in the first quarter of 2027. A separate 9km federal component, estimated at RM131 million, is undergoing detailed design and land-related works, with tender targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to approvals. At present, travellers between Sibu and Dalat use longer routes via Selangau, Mukah and Oya, or Tanjung Manis, Daro, Matu, Igan and Oya. Fatimah said the direct link would make travel easier and support local development. [image: 1787447273446-dalat-sibu-road.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.

Sarawak plans to expand KEMAS autism early-education provision from one class now to 24 classes across the state in 2027. The classes will operate under the Tabika Tunas Istimewa programme, aimed particularly at families in rural communities where suitable early support can be difficult or expensive to reach. Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said the nationwide programme is expected to have 132 classes next year. Private autism classes can cost about RM700 to RM1,000 per child. Bringing classes closer to rural families could reduce both fees and travel barriers, but the headline number is only the first step. The announcement did not list the 24 locations, opening dates, intake age, class size or application method. Parents should wait for KEMAS to publish those details rather than assume every district will receive a class immediately. The programme is early education, not a replacement for clinical assessment, therapy or individual medical advice. Its value will depend on trained educators, suitable learning environments, manageable class sizes and clear referral links for children who need additional support. For now, families can monitor KEMAS announcements and contact their nearest KEMAS office to register interest. Publishing the locations early would also help rural parents plan transport and assessment arrangements. The 24-class figure is a 2027 target, not a list of confirmed locations or an immediate intake notice. Parents should wait for KEMAS to publish the districts, age range and application details; early education also does not replace clinical assessment or therapy.

Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong says Sarawak needs a stronger opposition to keep the GPS government in check. Speaking at DAP Sarawak's 60th anniversary fundraising dinner in Kuching, Yong said the opposition should question government decisions, scrutinise public spending and speak up when policies affect residents. She compared GPS to a football team acting as both player and referee, and said opposition lawmakers are needed to provide checks and balances in the State Legislative Assembly. Yong also questioned the use of a Switzerland-based VistaJet for official flights and raised concerns about the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project. She linked construction work around Pending to reports of low water pressure and murky water, while the claims remained part of her criticism of government decisions. This is a politician's or party's position, not an election result or an official finding. The useful follow-up is the relevant assembly record, election notice, project document or published spending information.

Sarawak will revisit five earlier dam proposals, but no construction approval has been announced. Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said on Aug. 22 that his ministry, the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) and Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd had agreed in principle to review previous feasibility studies for the Tebia, Batang Layar, Sungai Ulu Mukah, Sungai Pesu and Sungai Suhu projects. The announcement puts the proposals back on Sarawak’s water-planning agenda. It does not mean that any of the five dams has been approved for construction. No project budget, storage capacity, start date, completion date or confirmed service area has been announced. Some reports use names such as Ulu Mukah River Dam, Pesu River Dam and Suhu River Dam; these refer to the same group of locations rather than additional projects. Julaihi said the review was needed as Sarawak upgrades existing water treatment plants, develops new facilities and extends transmission pipelines. Those investments still depend on a reliable supply of raw water — water taken from a river, reservoir or other source before treatment. A treatment plant can only produce treated water if enough suitable raw water reaches its intake. The minister also linked the review to dry weather, haze and rising demand towards 2030. During a prolonged dry period, an intake may receive less water or become difficult to operate. A storage dam could help regulate raw-water availability, but it would not automatically increase a treatment plant’s processing capacity or connect a particular town to the treated-water network. The dam, treatment plant, transmission main and local distribution system would all need to be planned as one supply chain. That distinction matters when looking at recent water disruptions in Kuching and Samarahan. The report said piling works along major roads had damaged underground water pipes and cables, contributing to murky water, low pressure and temporary water, power and telecommunication interruptions. Those incidents involve damage to existing utility infrastructure, while the five dam proposals concern longer-term raw-water storage. A new dam would not prevent a separate construction project from damaging a pipeline, so water security also depends on protecting the network already in the ground. The next meaningful update will be the information produced by the renewed feasibility studies. Residents and businesses will need to see how much water each location can reliably provide during the dry season, what storage capacity is being considered, which treatment plants and transmission routes would be connected, and how much the projects would cost. Environmental assessments, formal approvals, funding decisions, tender notices and construction schedules would then show whether any proposal has moved beyond the review stage. Until those details are published, the five locations remain proposals under reconsideration. They should not be treated as approved dams, confirmed construction sites or guaranteed future water sources for Kuching, Samarahan, Mukah or any other specific area.

29 landowners and claimants have received RM1,423,550.90 in compensation for land acquired for the Sungai Sadong Bridge project in Serian. A total of 37 compensation cheques were handed to recipients from Kampung Sorak Sumpung, Kampung Sorak Dayak, Kampung Sorak Mawang and Kampung Sorak Melayu. Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus said the bridge is important for connectivity, especially during flood season. The project is also expected to support development and economic opportunities around the villages. The Land and Survey Department said four titled lots and three untitled lots were acquired. The provisions under Sections 5(3), 5(4) and 48 of the Land Code were approved on Feb 16, 2025, while survey work was completed on July 17, 2026. [image: 1787306967653-sadong-bridge-compensation-2108-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.

A fishing trip in Bau turned fatal after a 29-year-old man fell into Sungai Taman Limbang late Thursday night. Nailson Phillip was fishing with several friends when he suddenly fell face-first into the river at about 11.30pm. A friend pulled him out and they took him to Bau Hospital. He was pronounced dead at about 12.23am Friday. Police said initial checks found no suspicious injuries or signs of criminal elements. The case is being investigated as sudden death, with a post-mortem to determine the cause. 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: 1787306951160-bau-river-2108.jpg]

A forest fire covering an estimated two hectares has been detected at the Samunsan Forest Reserve in Lundu. Bomba Lundu responded at about 2.40pm on Aug 20 after the fire was spotted through drone monitoring by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation. Firefighters entered the forest with fire beaters, but operations were suspended around 5pm when darkness reduced visibility. 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. [image: 1787276052662-fire.jpeg]

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

New Sarawak party Wawasan says it will contest the coming state election. Parti Wawasan Rakyat (Wawasan) president Affendi Jeman confirmed that the party plans to field candidates in the next Sarawak state election. Affendi also said he intends to contest the Pantai Damai constituency under the Wawasan banner. The party, formerly known as Parti Sedar Rakyat (Sedar), was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies on Aug 11, 2026. It says candidates will be assessed based on integrity, capability, grassroots support and commitment to their communities. Wawasan is also studying the wider electoral picture, including the proposed 17 additional state seats. No final commitment has been made because the boundaries and implementation are not settled yet. This is a politician's or party's position, not an election result or an official finding. The useful follow-up is the relevant assembly record, election notice, project document or published spending information. [image: 1787101532947-wawasan-affendi.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post

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.