(UPDATED) Three children - two girls and a boy- die after they fall into a two-deep sewage pond in Sibu Jaya

SIBU, Feb 4 2026: Three children- two girls and a boy - were confirmed dead from drowning after they fell into a two-metre deep sewage  pond at Sibu Jaya this afternoon.

Caption: Three children, two of them siblings, die from drowning after they fall into a two-metre deep sewage pond in Sibu Jaya - Photp by Bomba 

The children, aged 9, 10 and 12, were confirmed dead by the medical personnel from the Ministry of Health, Sibu Hospital.

Two of the children were siblings.

Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, in a statement, said the three were picked unconscious from the sewage pond by members of the public.

The station said it received an emergency call about 4.03pm this afternoon, informing that three children have fallen into the pond, near Sibu Jaya flats.

“Upon arrival at the actual incident location, firemen were informed that the children have been carried up to the edge of the pool before they arrived at the location.

“All three victims were unconscious, “ the station said in a statement.

The MoH personnel later confirmed them dead by drowning.

Their bodies were later handed over to the police for further action.

 

Finally, Batang Igan Bridge is scheduled for completion next month

IGAN, Feb 4 2026: The 1.4km two-land Batang Igan bridge is at last scheduled for completion by middle of next month, said Deputy Prime Minister Douglas Uggah after he led in the stitching the bridge ceremony today.

Caption: Igan Bridge project ready to be opened to traffic on March 15, 2026. 

Scheduled for completion by March 15, 2026, the bridge is expected to streamline travel for local communities and enhance economic activity by improving coastal connectivity along the Mukah–Matu–Daro corridor.

“This bridge, costing RM286 million, is a game changer for the rakyat in opening up socio economic activities in the surrounding areas, enabling seamless access and connectivity to Mukah Division,” he said.

Batang Igan bridge, spanning over Batang Igan, is one of the four bridges that are sited in Mukah district. The others being Batang Muara Lassa and Batang Rajang,both of which have been completed, while Batang Paloh Bridge is scheduled to be opened later this year.

Initially, Batang Igan bridge was scheduled for completion in 2024, with the ground breaking ceremony was performed on Sept 12 2020 by Premier Abang Johari Openg.

Its construction, approved by the Barisan Nasional government, was supposed to start in 2018, but when Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the federal government after the 2018 general election, the construction was cancelled.

The PH government also cancelled the construction of Batang Lupar Bridge 1 and Batang Rambungan Bridge.

However, their construction was taken over by the state government.

Batang Igan Bridge project was approved by the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department (EPU) on February 23, 2016, after a letter of appeal from the works minister dated November 24, 2015, was approved by the prime minister.

 

Sarawak govt to acquire Bintulu Port for RM1.8 billion, Loke confirms

KUCHING, Feb 4 2026: Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke told Parliament today that the Sarawak government only acquires  Bintulu Port from the federal government at a sum of RM1.8 billion.

Anthony Loke: The Sarawak government has agreed to settle the amount of RM1.8 billion for the take-over of Bintulu Port Authority.

He explained that the acquisition does not involve the acquisition of the port’s operations which are being managed by concessionaire company Bintulu Port Holdings.

Loke said the details are being worked between the federal and Sarawak governments before the acquisition of Bintulu Port is finalised “soon”.

“A technical committee jointly chaired by both parties is fine-tuning the legal aspects to ensure that all obligations are fulfilled as provided under the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2023 (Act 59), before the effective date of the Act is set.

“This step is important to enable the Sarawak state government to officially take over the regulation and governance of the port,” Loke explained.

He said the state government has agreed to settle the amount for the acquisition after a series of meetings between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg.

Loke also told Parliament that the Sarawak government has the capacity to settle RM1.8 billion for the take-over of the port,  the country’s premier liquefied natural gas (LNG) port.

In fact, he added, the state government is willing to settle the amount at one go.