Premier has requested Petros to lead in oil exploration activisties in western Sarawak

KUCHING, June 6 2026: Premier Abang Johari Openg said that he has requested Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) to take the lead in exploration activities to search for oil reserves in western Sarawak, particularly in Lundu.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg expresses his optimism that western region of Sarawak possesses potential oil reserves 

“In my view, if no other party is capable of undertaking such exploration, then Petros can take the lead to search for oil in western Sarawak, particularly in Lundu,” he said at the launch of the Sarawak Career and Training (SCaT) Fair 2026 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here today.

He noted that although exploration activities require substantial investment, new technologies such as those being utilised by PTTEP in Bintulu are expected to assist Petros in discovering additional oil and gas reserves across the state.

(PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited is the national petroleum company of Thailand).

“This is the geological trend, and we can conduct further studies. I have requested Petros to undertake this role because if no other party comes forward, Petros will do it,” he stressed.

The premier expressed his optimism that the western region of the state possesses potential oil reserves based on the geological trends of oil production across Borneo.

He said the pattern of oil production stretching from Kimanis in Sabah, through Brunei, Baram, Mukah and Balingian indicates the possible presence of fossil fuel reserves in western Sarawak, including the Lundu area.

“And if we move further down towards western Sarawak, there should be reserves in that area as well. At present, this has yet to be proven because no exploration activities have been carried out,” he said.

i-CATS University College is now a full-fledged university after meeting requirements set by Ministry of Higher Education

KUCHING, June 6 2026: State-owned i-CATS University College has now been officially upgraded as a full-fledged university after meeting the requirements set by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg says i-CATS University College has met the requirements to be a full-fledged university 

Premier Abang Johari Openg said the Sarawak government has received the decision from the federal government through the MoHE..

He said the elevation is an important development in efforts to strengthen the state's higher education, besides strengthening Sarawak's position as a hub for the development of highly skilled human capital.

“We (the Sarawak government) have received the decision from MoHE that the federal government has decided to upgrade i-CATS which has met the requirements to a full-fledged university.

“This will certainly give Sarawak a boost because we now have two universities belonging to Sarawak including the Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu,” he told reporters after the launch of the ‘Sarawak Career and Training Fair’ (SCaT Fair) 2026 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) today.

The premier said the recognition is in line with the development of the university’s new campus in Trombol in Telaga Air which will be equipped with various modern facilities including learning facilities in the aerospace field.

According to him, the campus development project is estimated to cost approximately RM400 million and will be implemented in phases.

“We are indeed developing a new campus in Trombol at a cost of approximately RM400 million, but we will develop it in phases including student dormitories,” he added.

He also said the university has established academic collaboration with Istanbul University of Technology, Turkey and the National University of Malaysia (UKM), especially in the field of aerospace.

 

Cultivating culture of integrity starts from family institution, not parliament or government offices, says Fatimah

KUCHING, June 6 2026: Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah stressed that cultivating a culture of integrity needs to start from the family institution.

 

Caption: Minister Fatimah Abdullah says that a strong family will produce responsible citizens

She said this is because noble values instilled from an early age are an important foundation in creating a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society and nation.

“The strength of a nation does not begin in the parliament building, government office or corporate boardroom, but rather begins at home through the formation of character and values of integrity among family members,” she said at the launch of a book “Strengthening Integrity, Empowering The Nation: Integrity As The Foundation Of Leadership” at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak today.

Fatimah said children learn the value of integrity through observing their parents' behavior, including aspects of honesty, justice and the ability to fulfill promises, thus forming a generation that is responsible and morally upright.

“Children learn that success is not simply measured by wealth, status or achievements, but by the character they possess.

“A strong family will produce responsible citizens, thereby forming a strong community and ultimately building a resilient nation,” she stressed.

She added that integrity is not just about efforts to reject corruption or comply with the law, but rather is a moral compass that guides a person’s actions and decisions in daily life.

According to her, without integrity, trust in family institutions, communities and organisations will be eroded, thus affecting the harmony, stability and prosperity of the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay stressed that integrity needs to be translated through actions and made a culture in every organisation, not just a slogan or rhetoric.

According to him, integrity is the first line of defence in preventing corruption and an important element that guarantees the survival of institutions and national development.

“People see what we do, not just what we say. Leadership begins with character, not position.

“Position only provides authority, but integrity provides legitimacy and public trust,” he said when delivering the keynote address at the event.

He also stressed that efforts to combat corruption require continuous commitment from all parties including political leaders, civil servants, enforcement agencies and the public, as well as being supported by strong political determination to ensure that firm action can be implemented without compromise.

The book was written by the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Sarawak, Leonard Sabu.

The book highlights the role of integrity as the core of credible leadership and a catalyst for the formation of an ethical, resilient and corrupt society.

Sarawak General Hospital recognised as best research hospital in Malaysia for four consecutive years

KUCHING, June 6 2026:  Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) continues to make the state proud by being recognised as the best research hospital in Malaysia for four consecutive years, Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian said today. 

Caption: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian (centre) arriving for the opening of the Second International Congress of Advanced, Robotic & Ablation Society of Gynaecologists Malaysia 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) 

He said the achievement reflects Sarawak's continued commitment in strengthening the research and development ecosystem in the health sector despite being located in the heart of Borneo.

He added SGH not only focuses on mastering technical expertise, but also places emphasis on a research culture among scientists and health professionals.

"In addition, we also encourage scientists and health professionals to interact with colleagues and learn from each other.

"We not only need to master technical expertise, but also need to play a role in the field of research.

"Despite being located in the heart of the Borneo jungle, we are capable of being the best in research," he said at the opening of the Second International Congress of Advanced, Robotic & Ablation Society of Gynaecologists Malaysia 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, said SGH also created history when given the opportunity to conduct “first-in-human” research in the field of hematology and oncology in 2022, something that has rarely been given to medical institutions in Malaysia before.

He explained that the drugs involved in the study were then marketed in 2024 with a sales value reaching USD1 billion.

He added that SGH was also involved in 50 percent of the discoveries of 25 new oncology drugs marketed globally in the previous year.

"This success was achieved through the “Blue Ocean” strategy approach which focuses on exploring new, high-value areas that are less explored by others.

“This is because we always choose to explore such strategy, rather than competing in the ‘red ocean’." he said, explaining that the Blue Ocean strategy means doing things that others are not doing, but have high value.

Give priority to Sarawak, Sabah first before expanding AirBorneo operations to other regions, rights activist tells state government

KUCHING, June 6 2026: Rights activist Peter John Jaban has urged the Sarawak  government to give priority to Sarawak and Sabah first before expanding AirBorneo operations to other regions.

Caption: Rights activist Peter John Jaban says that the current surge in air travel demand is proof that the market is starved for a dedicated, localized carrier.  

He said as plans move toward operational reality, AirBorneo’s core mandate must remain crystal clear that the people of Sarawak and Sabah must come first.

He called for the urgent acceleration of AirBorneo’s operational rollout, anchored by a ”Borneo-First" policy.

“While the long-term potential for international routes such as connecting Kuching to Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, or expanding into wider Kalimantan makes strong economic sense for the future, AirBorneo must not lose sight of its founding purpose,” he said in a statement.

“Before looking across borders, the airline must secure domestic accessibility and social justice in air travel for Sarawakians and Sabahans,” Peter suggested.

He said the people of Sarawak deserve fair, stable, and affordable air travel throughout the year, adding that nobody should be priced out of returning home for vital cultural, religious, and family celebrations due to corporate price-gouging.

He believed that national integration and economic resilience cannot be achieved if the remain grounded by financial barriers.

“The current surge in travel demand is proof that the market is starved for a dedicated, localized carrier.

“AirBorneo must step into this gap immediately to serve the economic and social interests of its own people first.

Peter urged the government to translate this vision into reality without delay, ensuring that the wealth and progress of Sarawak directly translate into greater mobility, fairer pricing, and stronger family unity for every Sarawakian and Sabahan.

Peter noted that Sarawak is currently witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand for air connectivity across Borneo, saying that the surge is not random, but a direct result of Sarawak’s rapid, transformative economic expansion.

Peter said with massive growth in the state’s energy sectors, heavy industries in strategic hubs like Bintulu, digital economy infrastructure, and high-value foreign investments, the movement of people has reached a critical tipping point.

“Business leaders, technical experts, professionals, and families are moving within and into the region at a volume never seen before.

“Yet, under the current aviation landscape, the East Malaysians are bearing the brunt of this success,” he said, stressing “because we are geographically dependent on air travel, our people are being penalised by fluctuating, excessive airfares driven by market forces that treat our skies purely as profit centres.

“For a geographically isolated and dispersed population, air transport is not a luxury it is a critical public utility, just like our roads, bridges, and digital grids,” Peter said.