Schoolboy dragged by crocodile witnessed by horrified family members in Batu Kawa

BATU KAWA, March 27 2026: A 15-year old schoolboy was dragged underwater by a crocodile as  hapless family watched in horror on Sungai Sarawak, Rantau Panjang here this afternoon.

Batu Lintang Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, in  a statement, said the victim’s body has been found

 and his two siblings were bathing in the river, while their mother was washing clothes when the crocodile bit his leg .

 “The boy complained of pain in his leg before being pulled by a crocodile,” the station said.

It said at the time of the incident, the victim's grandfather, who was also at the location, boarded a boat to rescue the victim from the crocodile,” the station said.

“However, at a distance of about 200 meters from the location where the victim was attacked, the victim disappeared from sight,” it added.

Batu Lintang station said it received a call from a member of the public, informing that a crocodile attack.

The search and rescue operation is now being carried out.

Expedite voting reforms to allow all Sarawakians, including 200,000 in Malaya, to vote in coming state election, DAP MP tells EC

KUCHING, March 27 2026: Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Dr Kelvin Yii (picture) has called on the Election Commission (EC) to expedite the  necessary voting reforms to ensure that all Sarawakians, including those in Peninsular Malaysia,  vote in the coming state election.

“There are estimated over 200,000 registered Sarawakian voters residing in Peninsular Malaysia, consisting of students, workers, and families who are constitutionally entitled to vote, yet face prohibitive barriers,” Dr Yii said in a statement.

“For many, returning home is not a simple flight to Kuching or Sibu; it means additional boat rides, four-wheel-drive journeys into the interior, days of travel, and costs that can exceed a month’s salary,” he explained.

He said students must skip classes, workers must sacrifice leave or risk employment, stating that “when we require citizens to pay such a steep price to vote, we are, in effect, imposing a wealth and mobility test on their constitutional rights.”

He said Sarawakians in the peninsula should be allowed to vote through postal voting to eliminate those obstacles, adding that it would convert a disenfranchising ordeal into a simple act of casting a ballot from one’s place of residence.

“Moreover, with the implementation of automatic voter registration, the number of out station Sarawakian voters will only grow, “ Dr Yii said, pointing out that to choose to ignore reforms is to knowingly suppress turnout among a significant segment of the electorate.

Integrated ops involving various agencies battling to extinguish bushfire covering 16ha outside Sibu town

SIBU, March 27 2026: An integrated operation involving various agencies is now being intensified to control a bushfire covering an area of about 16 hectares here today. 

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Z one One Division chief Andy Alie (picture) said the extinguishing operation was carried out strategically through the division of three main sectors, namely A, B and C, with a strength of 50 personnel from the Sibu Fire and Rescue Station Central.

According to him, the geographical challenges also demanded high efficiency of the team as the personnel had to cross a stream before carrying out a combination of defensive and direct attacks to prevent the movement of the fire from spreading further.

“The division of sectors and assignment of personnel were completed as early as 9am, and the operation is now being actively carried out in all affected areas,” he said.

The operation was also supported by various agencies including RELA, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) as well as a volunteer team, reflecting strong cross-agency cooperation in dealing with emergency situations.

Bushfire outside Sibu town

At the same time, the Sibu DID has deployed excavators to carry out cleaning work and open new routes, thus facilitating the team's access to the fire location which was previously difficult to access.

Andy said Sibu Bomba received the first emergency call on March 23, but the operation could not be carried out earlier due to the location of the incident being located about two kilometres from the nearest access route and the lack of suitable access.

"The extinguishing operation could only be fully carried out today after the route was successfully opened through the cooperation of various agencies and the use of heavy machinery," he explained.

He added that close monitoring will continue to be carried out with the adjustment of operational strategies and the assignment of resources dynamically according to current developments in the fiel