First payments of SKAS to be credited starting from March 10, the second will be before Gawai Dayak, says premier Abang Johari

KUCHING, March 7 2026: After the first payments of the Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution (SKAS) to be credited to eligible Sarawakians starting from March 10, just before Hari Raya celebration, the next payments will be credited before Gawai Dayak celebration, said Premier Abang Johari Openg today. 

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (centre) at the launch of SKAS 2026 at the Stutong Ramadan Bazar in Tabuan Jaya - Picture by Ukas

“The third phase will be on November 10 to help children prepare for school,” he said at the launch of the SKAS 2026 at the Stutong Ramadan Bazar in Tabuan Jaya today.

He said the state government has allocated RM640 million to help the people.

The premier said the state government will continue to strengthen its commitment to helping the people and boosting the state's economy with the launch of SKAS.

He added the initiative not only aims to help the people obtain basic goods, but also acts as a direct injection into the state's economy through increased domestic demand.

According to him, increased spending among the people will stimulate business activities, thus benefiting the entire local economic ecosystem.

“When domestic demand increases, businesses will continue to rotate and benefit the people and our economic system.

“This means that we are injecting RM640 million into the state economy to help the people so that they can spend and thus further stimulate economic movement,” he said.

In the same speech, he informed that the SKAS which was introduced since last year is a direct intervention by the Sarawak government to help the people face the increase in the cost of living following the increase in the price of goods.

According to him, in the first year of the implementation of the programme, the Sarawak government spent RM480.2 million with more than 888,000 eligible recipients.

Following the positive impact shown, its implementation has been strengthened this year with an allocation of RM539.8 million, involving RM179.6 million for the first stage distribution, RM179.6 million for the second stage and RM180.6 million for the third stage.

In addition, the value of the assistance also increased to RM950 per year for the household category, RM500 per year for senior citizens without a partner and RM300 per year for the single category.

SKAS recipients include households with an income of RM5,000 and below, single individuals with an income of RM2,500 and below, and senior citizens without a spouse or child with an income of RM5,000 and below.

The distribution of assistance will continue through S Pay Global for the purchase of basic food items at 2,249 participating supermarkets and shops throughout Sarawak.

The financial assistance can be used throughout this year and status checks can be made via the S Pay Global application or the link https://sarawak.gov.my

Present to witness the launch were Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak State Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Sarawak Deputy Secretary to the State (Economic Planning and Development)i Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Sarawak Economic Planning Unit Director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan and heads of departments.

Bill to limit tenure of prime minister's term does not have major impact on the livelihood of the people, says Sng

KUCHING, March 7 2026: Julau MP Larry Sng (picture) said that it does not “actually have a major impact on livelihood of the people” whether or not a Bill to limit the tenure of term of prime minister to 10 years is passed in parliament.

 “None of my constituents are up in arms that it wasn’t passed nor even a mention on my usual walk about.

“Some may even question the need for such an amendment given that Malaysia had been developed the fastest under a certain prime minister who lasted longer than 10 years,” Sng said on his Facebook post.

Sng, who is Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, is one of the government MPs who were absent when the Bill was put to vote in parliament.

The bill was not passed for the failure to reach the two-third majority that was required to amend the Federal Constitution.

Nevertheless, he said he is sure when the Bill comes around to be retabled, it will likely be passed without issue.

“Nonetheless there are a few key take away from this,” he adding, that firstly, the Back-Benchers Club (BBC) needs to play a more proactive role as it had in the past especially under an Umno chairman, who monitored and made sure that every vote turns up.

“This was the case under Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatana Nasional (PN) governments.

“Pakatan Harapan (PH) and especially PKR leaders are less sensitive and perhaps this is a lesson learned,” he opined.

Sng also suggested that MPs from smaller parties should be given a bigger role to play, saying that currently those parties that are not part of the four big government blocks namely PH, BN, GPS and GRS, have limited role and influence in government.

“However in terms of numbers they are quite sizable, 11 MPs in total (namely PBM, STAR, KDM and Independents).

“Perhaps MCA and MIC can also be added to the list given that they too have voiced displeasure to being marginalised by BN,” he said.

He also said civil societies need to network with MPs and should know their limitations., saying that excessive criticism of MPs would limit their influence in parliament.

“Besides, if they are so influential as some think, perhaps they should run for elections,” he suggested, adding that there is no point talking about checks and balances if at the end of the day “you only make noise.”

Sng said as fourth-term legislator having served in the state andfederal governments, he personally prefers a strong authoritarian leader who can deliver results rather than a weak leader who needs to please everyone.

“Difficult decisions require strong leadership. Doesn’t really matter how long they are there as long as they get the job done.

“Even though that’s my personal view but as a government MP, I will always vote along government lines,” he said.

40yo man injured in a road accident in Miri

 MIRI, March 7 2026: A 40-year old man was seriously injured when a car he was driving collided with a 4WD  vehicle  at Simpang Penjara Lambir here this morning.

Caption: EMRS Unit members helping the injured man

In the collision,  Nazaimie Samsudin@Sulaini suffered injuries to his head and right leg and was given initial treatment by members of the emergency medical response service (EMRS) unit and then handed over to the Ministry of Health for further action.

Miri Sentral Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said the driver of the Toyota Hilux escaped unhurt.

The department said it received a call about 8.45am, informing that Proton Saga Iswara car and Toyota Hilux were involved in an accident.

The operation commander Mohd Fairus Apit said the driver was still in the Proton Saga Iswara car.

The department said the firemen then used a special equipment to extract the victim.

 

Dawn fire kills 9yo boy, injures five other family members in Simanggang

SIMANGGANG, March 7 2026: A nine-year old boy was killed while five other members of the family suffered various degrees of burns in a dawn fire the completely razed their double-storey house at Taman Sentosa Indah RPR Phase 1, here.

 Caption: The dawn fire at its peak - Photo by Bomba 

The charred remains of grandson Ahmed Arfan Shan were found after the fire has been extinguished by the firemen.

Simanggang Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station identified the rest of the family as 65-year old father Abang Mohd Sanwani (burns all over the body), 40-year old daughter Dayang Siti Mahfuzah (burns on the legs), 41-year old Dayang Khairulnisa (burns all over the body), 13-year old grandson Anis Natrah (burns on the legs) and 15-year old grandson Ahmed Alif Firdaus (burns on the legs).

The station said it received a call about  3am, informing that a fire had broken out at Taman Sentosa Indah Phase 1.

It said the fire involved a two-storey semi-permanent house which was completely destroyed.

“Two occupants of the house were successfully removed by members of the public before the arrival of the rescue team.

“An adult female victim suffered burns to her entire body, while an adult male victim suffered burns to almost her entire body estimated at 80 per cent.

“Both victims were sent by the emergency medical response service (EMRS) Unit to Sri Aman Hospital for further treatment,” the station said.

In addition, it said three other victims who suffered burns to their legs were sent to the hospital by members of the public.

“A boy victim was also found charred on the top floor of the house. His body was then handed over to the police for further action,” the station said.

Three vehicles, namely a Toyota Vios 30 per cent burned, a Perodua Axia 30 per cent burned and a motorcycle 50 per cent burned while Perodua Bezza was not affected.