Two Indonesian plantation workers first reported victims of rising water levels in Bekenu

BEKENU, Dec 9, 2025: Two Indonesian oil palm workers became the first reported victims of risng water levels when a fast flowing current swept them away while they took their bath at Ladang Surai Simpang Lapok, here this afternoon.

Caption: Firemen from  Bekenu station searching for the bodies of the victims of rising water levels 

However, the body of Aidil, 20, was found by a search and rescue team from Bekenu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) hours later.

A spokesperson said the search and rescue operation has not found body of 18-year old AIrfan, yet.

According to her, Bomba Lopeng station received an emergency call about 3.10pm saying that two Indonesian nationals had been swept away by the current while they took their bath at the river.

A search and rescue operation was later initiated and it  found the body of Aidil entangled at the riverbank.

His lifeless body was later handed over to the Bekenu police for further action.

Large areas in Bekenu, Niah and Bintulu have been experienced severe flooding due to pouring rains over the last few days.

AirBorneo now on a full dry run and system testing, says Lee Kim Shin

KUCHING, Dec 9, 2025: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin said today that AirBorneo will launch its official website live tomorrow, calling it an important step toward the airline’s operational readiness. 

Lee Kim Shin:The go-live launch of the website will serve as the public’s first engagement point with Sarawak’s own airline. 

He said the airlines is currently carrying out a full dry run and system testing phase to ensure that all digital functions perform smoothly ahead of the public launch.

“AirBorneo’s progress is encouraging,” he said, adding that the ongoing system testing is essential to ensure a seamless, reliable and user-friendly platform for future passengers.

 “This milestone reflects the team’s commitment and the hard work that has been put in over the past months,” Lee said in a statement.

“The go-live of the website will serve as the public’s first engagement point with Sarawak’s own airline.

“I am confident the team will deliver a platform that showcases professionalism and the spirit of service,” he said.

Lee said  AirBorneo, formerly MASwings and now transitioning under Sarawak’s ownership, is undergoing final preparations for its inaugural operations, which will support improved rural air services and strengthen connectivity across the Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

In a separate statement, AirBorneo said the launch of its website and call centre marks the commencement of ticket sales for the takeover of MASwings at the end of December 2025.

It said effective Dec 10, purchasing new tickets for travel on or before  January 13, 2026 will

continue to purchase MASwings tickets through current MASwings’ website

(www.maswings.com.my), for travel on or up to 13 January 2026

It added purchasing new tickets for travel on or after January 14, 2026 will be on AirBorneo’s website (www.airborneo.com).

Alternatively, customers can also purchase tickets via AirBorneo’s call centre at

1-300-22-1388 (toll-free for local callers) or (+60)82-537 555 (for international

callers)

Status of Existing MASwings Tickets: All current MASwings tickets and bookings

remain valid, with no changes to flight times and dates. Passengers with existing

MASwings tickets for travel on or after 14 January 2026 will receive individual

communications regarding the reissuance of their tickets under AirBorneo.

For more information, travellers can visit www.airborneo.com and review the General FAQs.

Travellers can also call at 1-300- 22-1388 (toll-free for local callers) or +(60) 82-537 555 (for international callers).

Abang Johari to give plenary keynote address at water and development congress in Bangkok

BANGKOK,Dec 8 2025: Premier Abang Johari Openg arrived here today to attend the International Water Association’s Water and Development Congress and Exhibition 2025 (WDCE 2025).

Caption: Premier Abang Johari  Openg is now in Bangkok for the IWA water and development congress
 

He was accompanied by Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Julaihi Narawi and Sarawak Government Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, arriving at Don Mueang International Airport at approximately 12.29pm local time this afternoon.

On hand to receive him were  Minister of Political Affairs of the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, Ahmad Hashim Mahmood and Permanent Secretary of the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT) Jafri Lias.

The premier is scheduled to deliver a plenary keynote address “Water: Driving a Resilient and Sustainable Future for Sarawak” this Tuesday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok.

In addition to him, several experts and researchers from various countries also delivered keynote speeches focusing on clean water, sanitation and innovation solutions.

WDCE 2025, which runs from 8 to 12 December, is a global event focusing on water and development issues in low- and middle-income countries.

The event will connect experts, utilities and researchers to share knowledge, foster collaboration and showcase solutions to water and sanitation challenges.

Themed “Water, Sanitation and Innovation – Pathways to Progress and a Sustainable Future”, the 2025 edition will present solutions that encompass water and sanitation services, the role of water in urban areas, the relationship between cities and basins and opportunities for achieving climate resilience.

It will feature keynote speeches by leading sector figures who have been specially invited to share their experiences in shaping and delivering solutions.

The programme will also provide a unique platform for water professionals to present and share their latest findings and insights.

From Thailand,Abang Johari will fly to China to continue his working visit from 10 to 13 December.

 

 

Who are the four ministers that Abang Johari will name? Will that persons be Annuar, Hazland or Majang? Wong Soon Koh is not ruled out?

Now that the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has been passed by the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) and will soon be enforced after its gazettement, there is nothing wrong for us to go ahead  speculating as to who the additional four ministers will be.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg has the sole prerogative to pick any SLM as members of his State Cabinet 

The amendment to Article  6(3) ( c ) of the State Constitution is to increase the number of state ministers from 10 to 14, excluding the premier.

The present number of state ministers is 10 plus the premier, that will be 11 in total. With the increase, the number will be 14 plus the premier, making the total to 15.

It is safe to speculate that the appointment of four new state ministers will involve the promotion of four deputy ministers.

So, who could that be deputy ministers who are likely to get promoted? Will Premier Abang Johari Openg pick one each from the four component parties of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) -  Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) or Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) - to be promoted?

It is doubtful if Abang Johari would do that, considering that PBB has 47 state assembly members (SLMs), while SUPP has 13, PRS 11 and PDP, eight.

Under the State Constitution, the premier has the sole prerogative to pick any SLM to be the state ministers. This prerogative cannot be questioned.

It is unlikely that the premier will pick any SLM, who are not deputy ministers, as full ministers.

If the appointment is based on experience as a deputy minister, then it can be ruled out that any SLM will be directly appointed as a full minister.

My guess is that most likely to be promoted to full ministers, from PBB, would be Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dr Annuar Rapa’ee, Deputy Minister of  Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni or even Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-Federal Relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

Apart from Fatimah Abdullah, the Minister of Women, Early Chilhood and Community Wellbeing Development, there is no other woman as a full minister. Perhaps, the premier may want to add another one to be a full minister.

We also cannot rule out Deputy Minister of Utility (Sarawak Energy and Petros) Ibrahim Baki as another possibility.

If party seniority is to be considered, then Ibrahim is a likely candidate for promotion. In the last PBB convention, he garnered the most number of votes among the four elected vice presidents.

In SUPP, the two candidates potential for promotion are Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang and Deputy Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Sebastian Ting.

In terms of seniority, Ting is SUPP’s secretary-general and has long been a deputy minister.

The premier has several choices from PRS to pick as full ministers. My guess is that Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Majang Renggie and Deputy Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment Malcolm Mussen Lumoh, are good contenders.

Both have vast experiences as the deputy ministers. In party’s hierarchy, Majang is the deputy president and Mussen, the secretary-general.

In PDP, the choice is between Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Penguang Manggil and Deputy Minister of Transport Henry Harry Jinep.

Penguang has a vast experience in the government, especially in local government administration, before he entered politics.

Henry was a very successful businessman before he entered politics. He is also PDP deputy president.

If Abang Johari does not pick either of them as full minister, then the likely candidate is veteran SLM Wong Soon Koh.

Wong was a full minister for many years, including holding the portfolio of Second Minister of Finance, before resigning in 2019 and took his now defunct party, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), into the opposition bench.

Now that PSB has been dissolved, Wong, Baru Bian, Johnical Rayong become part of PDP.

We cannot never know if Abang Johari may pick Wong into his State Cabinet again, to tap his long experience as a senior minister before.

 Anything is possible. After all, the prerogative to appoint a deputy minister or full ministers soley belongs to the premier.

When four deputy ministers are promoted, there will be vacancies for the posts of deputy ministers.

Unlike the  number of full number ministers being fixed by the State Constitution, however, it is silent as to the number of deputy ministers to be appointed.

So, we can guess that when the premier announces the names of full ministers, he will also announce the names of  deputy ministers.

How soon he will do so, my guess is that it be soon, possibly this month or early next year.

 

 

 

Over 40,000 take part in Miri City Christmas Parade

MIRI, Dec 7 2025: Over 40,000 participants from 16 different church denominations gathered at Miri Fan Recreation Park Saturday night for the 16th Miri City Christmas Parade 2025 as it continues to be a powerful manifestation of unity, harmony, and tolerance among the state’s diverse population of various races and religions.

Caption: Depuy Premier Douglas Uggah speaking before the start of the parade. 

The official ceremony was graced by Deputy Premier  Douglas Uggah Embas, representing Premier Abang Johari Openg.

According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the attendance of thousands of participants and spectators made this year's event one of the largest since the parade was first introduced in 2008.

In his text of speech Abang Johari , he emphasised that this year's parade reflected the crucial importance of peace, love, and harmony as the foundation of strength for the Sarawak community.

He praised the dedication of the Miri City Council and the local churches for making this event a meaningful tradition for 15 years.

“This parade is not merely a colourful celebration, but a symbol of the unity and communal spirit of the people of Miri, who celebrate diversity with mutual respect,” he said in his text of speech read by Uggah.

Miri City Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang, who also served as the event’s co-chairman, asserted that the massive turnout this year demonstrated the commitment of the Christian community and the wider Miri public to preserving social harmony.

He added that this year’s edition was spearheaded by the Methodist Church Miri in close collaboration with the Miri City Council.

He also urged the community to embrace the values of love, hope, and reconciliation, in line with this year's theme, while continuing to ensure the parade serves as a platform for universal unity.

During the same ceremony, Uggah announced a special allocation from Sarawak Legislative Assembly Members totalling over RM145,000 to support the organisation of the Miri City Christmas Parade 2025.

This contribution underscores the state leaders’ agreement on promoting high-impact community events.

Six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also received a grant of RM5,000 each. They are Wishesland Miri, Kenosis Women Centre, Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (Miri), Prison Fellowship Malaysia, Human Life Service and Malaysia Christian Association for Relief.

This year's organisation once again beautifully showcased the spirit of "Unity in Diversity" — the enduring identity of Sarawak — where people of various races and faiths came together to celebrate Christmas in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect.