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

Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) has received the Alliance for Healthy Cities’ “Healthy City Expert” recognition at its global conference in Sydney. The recognition was presented during the alliance’s 11th Global Conference, held from Sept 1 to 3. DBKU linked it to its community-inclusion work, particularly Kejiranan Mesra and programmes that involve residents in neighbourhood development. DBKU’s own directory lists 54 Kejiranan Mesra areas for 2025–2026, showing the local network behind the submission. The city hall says the approach is intended to make Kuching North more inclusive, safe, sustainable and liveable. No new funding, facility or change to public services was announced with the recognition. Any expansion of the neighbourhood programmes or new targets will require a separate DBKU update.

From Sept 1, Sarawak Water customers can reach a 24-hour call centre at 1-300-88-2020, including on weekends and public holidays. The new line gives households and businesses one central number for customer assistance instead of limiting contact to normal office hours. Sarawak Water has not yet published a full list of the cases handled by the centre or a response-time target. When reporting a supply or premises issue, callers should give the exact location and keep an account or premises reference available if they have one. This helps the operator identify the case and route it without relying on a separate departmental number.

Voters in Tabuan Jaya, Stutong, Kenyalang and nearby neighbourhoods can now see how a proposed new state seat would redraw their area. The Election Commission map is displayed in the MBKS headquarters lobby from Sept 1 to 30 during normal office hours. Under the proposal, Tabuan Jaya, Tabuan Laru, Stutong, Tabuan Heights, Supreme and Kenyalang would form N16 Tabuan Jaya. P195 Bandar Kuching would then comprise N9 Padungan, N10 Pending, N11 Batu Lintang and N16 Tabuan Jaya, with 116,679 electors in total. Representations are not filed as casual individual objections. The notice allows submissions by the Sarawak government, an affected local authority, or a body of at least 100 registered electors from the constituencies concerned, within one month of publication. The boundaries are not final. Statewide, the review proposes 17 additional DUN seats, increasing the total from 82 to 99, while leaving Sarawak's number of parliamentary seats unchanged.

Kuching’s air quality worsened again on Monday afternoon, with the API reaching 366 at 4pm. Samarahan stood at 350 and Serian at 445, while Lundu reached 405. All four readings were in the hazardous band. The same 4pm update placed Tebedu at 399, Lubok Antu at 396 and Sri Aman at 334, also hazardous. Sarikei, Sibu and Mukah were in the very unhealthy range at 277, 243 and 216 respectively. API readings move through the day, so the afternoon figures should not be treated as a forecast for tonight. Sarawak’s disaster committee said there was no need for an emergency declaration yet. If a local reading reaches 500, the matter would first be taken up with the National Disaster Management Agency, and any emergency would apply only to the affected locality—not the whole state. Offices, schools and activities in that locality would be required to close under such a declaration, apart from essential services. For areas at API 201 and above, residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure and wear an N95 mask when going out, or at least a three-ply mask if one is unavailable. Children, older people and those with breathing problems should take extra care and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.

Sarawak has set API 500 as the line for closing most workplaces — but no shutdown order is in force now. Under the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s progressive haze guidelines, an API reading above 500 would close government and private-sector offices and workplaces, with essential services excluded. The closure would remain pending a national disaster-emergency declaration. At 2pm on Aug 30, APIMS recorded 425 at Serian, 336 at Samarahan and 313 at Kuching. Those readings are below 500, but the current rules already call for outdoor work to be avoided at 400–500. At 301–400, employers must assess visibility, drivers should use headlights and outdoor workers should use N95 respirators. Events are still a separate decision: organisers decide whether to continue, postpone or cancel unless an authority issues a specific directive. For workers in Kuching and elsewhere in Sarawak, check the reading at the worksite and official notices before sending staff outdoors; waiting for 500 is not the safety advice.

Sarawak’s next cloud-seeding window is Sept 3–5, but the operation could start earlier if the haze worsens. The federal plan covers Sarawak, Kedah and Perlis, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department working alongside the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Sarawak officials are also weighing whether to bring forward the Sarawak operation as air quality deteriorates. APIMS readings at 2pm on Aug 30 were 425 in Serian, 336 in Samarahan and 313 in Kuching. Cloud seeding is being considered for two practical reasons: helping haze-affected areas and adding water to dams as reserves fall. The dates are a window, not a weather guarantee. Flights still depend on suitable clouds and their movement; daily flight times and target locations have not been announced.

Sarawak motorists will get the 300-litre BUDI95 basic quota back from Tuesday, Sept 1. The monthly limit was cut from 300 to 200 litres on Apr 1. The government’s latest announcement restores the 300-litre allowance and is expected to cover more than 16 million subsidised RON95 users. The same announcement gives eligible owners of diesel-powered pick-up trucks and jeeps up to 400 litres of Budi Diesel each month. It changes the monthly allowance; it does not announce a new RON95 price. For Kuching drivers, the useful check is their own BUDI account once the new month begins. The announcement gives the effective date but no separate timetable for when each account will show the revised balance.

At 10am on Aug 30, Serian’s API reached 385 and Samarahan’s 316 — both hazardous. Kuching and Tebedu were at 297 each, just below the hazardous threshold of 301 and within the very unhealthy band. Lundu and Lubok Antu were both at 236, while Sri Aman recorded 215. Ten other Sarawak locations were unhealthy, including Sarikei at 196, Sibu at 189, Bintulu at 182, Samalaju and Mukah at 173, Kapit at 160, Miri at 157, ILP Miri at 153, Bario at 119 and Lawas at 106. Limbang was the only listed location in the moderate range, at 92. The NREB figures are a time-specific snapshot and can change with weather and smoke movement. Check APIMS before making outdoor plans and reduce prolonged exposure while levels remain high, especially for children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions. Avoid open burning.

Sarawak recorded one rabies-positive dog case between Aug 24 and 28, involving a stray dog in Sungai Asap, Belaga. It was not a Kuching case. The Kuching South mayor said a mass anti-rabies vaccination drive will be held in the city in September, but the dates and locations have not been announced. The Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak advises dog owners to keep vaccinations current rather than treat them as a one-off. Owners with unvaccinated or overdue dogs can contact a veterinarian now; the department’s rabies hotline is 082-610023 or 016-2557267. Anyone who may have been bitten, or whose dog may have been exposed to a suspect animal, should seek medical or veterinary help promptly.

Balai Ringin’s satellite-town proposal cites a RM55 million GKCDA allocation. The idea was raised after the Jalan Melikin upgrading project was completed at Kampung Danau Keranggas on Aug 29. The stated aim is to organise future growth in the Serian Division and bring surrounding communities into the same development plan. The briefing also said an Integrated Emergency Centre in Pantu had been approved by the Sarawak Government. It mentioned a Youth Centre beside the mini stadium in a later phase and a digital hub at SMK Balai Ringin, expected to serve about 2,000 students with digital-skills, STEM, robotics and TVET programmes. The satellite-town plan, Youth Centre and digital hub still have no public implementation timetable, project lead or construction date. Citing the RM55 million allocation does not confirm that the satellite town is ready to begin construction.

A five-year-old boy has died in Sibu, while Sarawak welfare agencies move to support his family as police investigate. Police said they received a report at about 1.45pm on Friday, Aug 28, over an incident in which the boy was believed to have suffered a neck injury. He was taken to Sibu Hospital and was later pronounced dead at the Emergency Department. A 49-year-old man identified as the boy’s uncle was remanded until Sept 4 to assist a murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The remand and investigation do not establish guilt; the circumstances and any court outcome have yet to be determined. The Social Welfare Department, Early Childhood Development Division and Social Development Council have been directed to monitor the family and provide psychosocial and welfare assistance. Authorities have also urged the public not to share unverified photographs or speculation while the investigation continues.

Kuching South residents whose homes were damaged by recent strong winds can register with MBKS for possible disaster assistance. MBKS is collecting each household's full name, MyKad number, address, contact number and photographs of the damaged roof. The council will compile the applications and send them to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), after its councillors, community leaders and staff help with forms and site assessments. Residents can register through MBKS WhatsApp at 011-1988 5962 or by email at [email protected]. Councillors and community leaders are also helping reach households, including residents who were away when the council visited. SDMC has yet to announce any assistance amount or approval outcome. Affected households should keep clear damage photos and supporting details ready when they contact MBKS.

Sarawak approves RM6 million road to Nanga Kapu in Batang Ai Sarawak has allocated RM6 million to build a road to Nanga Kapu, with the announcement made at the Batang Ai Community Engagement Programme in Lubok Antu on Aug 28. The project is intended to improve access for remote residents travelling to essential services and economic opportunities. The announcement did not include the road’s length, final route or a construction timetable, so the funding is not yet an indication that a new road is open for use. The next milestones are the design work, tender and appointment of a contractor. The construction schedule will become clearer once those steps are completed.

Jalan Ilmu in Miri to be raised by half a metre as flood repairs begin The low-lying road in Desa Senadin is now undergoing a RM1.481 million upgrade after it was badly affected by flooding earlier this year. Work runs from Aug 11 to Dec 10 and includes 510 metres of road-base work, 1,245 metres of premix, concrete kerbs, road shoulders and new markings. Raising the road level by about half a metre is intended to reduce the risk of repeated inundation. Miri’s wider road recovery will take longer. A separate RM10 million package covers 20 roads—seven in Desa Senadin, eight in Permyjaya and five in Tudan. Tenders are expected in the first or second week of September, with work targeted for October. Jalan Ilmu has a live construction schedule; the other roads are still awaiting tender. Motorists in the area should expect work-zone conditions while the projects progress.

A 56-year-old teacher has been charged in Mukah over 10 alleged sexual assaults involving female pupils. The charges concern alleged offences said to have taken place in a primary school’s science laboratory and classrooms between 2022 and 2024. The case came to light after a police report was lodged on Aug 7 following a complaint from one of the alleged victims. The man appeared in court in Mukah on Aug 28 and did not enter a plea. He was charged under Section 14(a), read with Section 16(1), of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Bail was set at RM2,000 for each charge, totalling RM20,000, with two local sureties, and was paid. The case is fixed for mention on Oct 20. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused has not been convicted.

Sri Aman recorded Sarawak’s highest air-pollution reading at 223 at 10am on Aug 29, putting the town in the very unhealthy range. The latest Air Pollutant Index Management System readings also placed Serian at 195 and Kuching at 171. Samarahan was at 169, Mukah 166, Sibu 162, Kapit 154 and Bintulu 151 — all within the unhealthy band. Sri Aman’s reading was the highest recorded nationwide at that time. An API reading from 201 to 300 is classified as very unhealthy, while 101 to 200 is unhealthy. These are readings taken at 10am, so conditions can shift through the day. Kuching’s 171 still matters for city residents planning outdoor activities; people with breathing problems should consider reducing prolonged strenuous exertion when the reading remains high and check the latest APIMS update before heading out.

A 35-hectare peatland fire in Jalan Bungin, Serembang, Betong has been fully extinguished after seven days of firefighting. The operation ended at 4pm on Aug 28 after crews cleared all six fire sectors. Bomba said teams tackled remaining hotspots with pumps and hose lines, while an excavator opened access through difficult terrain. The fire covered an initial 33 hectares before spreading to another two. Drone monitoring by the Natural Resources and Environment Board found no remaining smoke or fire after the final firefighting work. Crews had to work around narrow access routes, limited water sources and weak radio and mobile coverage. Monitoring will continue from time to time, so people should keep away from the affected peatland and report any new smoke to the authorities.

Sarawak’s dry spell is reducing water flowing into three major hydropower reservoirs, but the state grid remains reliable for now. Rainfall in the catchments feeding Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai has fallen since April 2025. Hydropower normally supplies about 65% of Sarawak’s grid electricity, with thermal generation contributing about 34% and other sources the remaining 1%. Sarawak Energy says the system is being adjusted to conserve water: hydropower output can be reduced during a prolonged dry period, while thermal generation is increased when needed. The utility is monitoring all three hydropower plants with state and federal agencies. Two cloud-seeding operations were carried out in May and June under the Sarawak Government’s coordination. A third operation is tentatively scheduled for Sept 3 to 5, subject to suitable weather conditions, so that window is not yet a confirmed operation. For households, hot weather can push up electricity use. Turning off unused appliances and spacing out high-powered devices can help. Smart-meter users can also check hourly, daily and monthly consumption through Energy Insights in the SEB cares app or web portal.

Long Banga and Ba’kelalan STOLports will share RM30 million in federal funding for upgrades targeted to start this year. Each rural airstrip has been allocated RM15 million from the Airport Development Fund. The money is approved, but design work and other preparations must be completed before construction can begin. The plans cover terminal improvements and possible runway extensions, depending on the physical conditions at each site. The current runway limits Twin Otter flights to nine passengers; a longer runway could raise that capacity, although the final scope is still being worked out. For communities in Sarawak’s northern interior, the two air links support access to schools, healthcare, supplies and town services across difficult terrain. The next concrete milestones are the design work, the construction schedule and a decision on whether either runway can be extended. Location: Long Banga and Ba’kelalan, Sarawak