Over 300 hectares of peat land in Kuala Tatau Serupai have already been devastated by wild fires

TATAU, March 30 2026: A vast area of 300 hectares peat land in Kuala Tatau Serupai has been devastated by wild fires since March 23, according to Tatau Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said.

Caption: Firemen extinguishing the peat land fires 

Out of the total, firemen and personnel from other agencies have so far put out fires from 223 hectares.

“We have yet to extinguish fires in the remaining 74 hectares,” Tatau Bomba senior operation commander Sim Mui Chai said this evening.

A brief rain last night helped, but not enough to stop the fires from spreading.

The fire extinguishing operations were divided into three teams.

 All the three teams moved to the front to extinguish the smoke plume caused by the wind. 

The operations were suspended at 5.30pm and will resume tomorrow morning.

Nanta says his ministry has taken serious note on the implications of rising construction costs

KUCHING, March  30 2026: Works Ministry has taken serious note of the implications of rising construction costs following geopolitical developments in the Middle East, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has a direct impact on the stability of the global energy supply chain.

The minister Alexander Nanta Linggi (picture) said the increase in costs needs to be addressed within a comprehensive framework as the construction sector has significant dependence on fuel prices such as petrol and diesel, in addition to logistics and construction material costs that are closely linked to international markets.

“Given that the main cause is global geopolitical factors beyond domestic control, the impact of this cost pressure is also being experienced by most countries. In this regard, the approach taken must be strategic, targeted and data-based,” he said a a statement.

Manta was commenting on reports that over 41,000 or 30 per cent of the 138,000 contractors are at risk of winding up due the rising cost of diesel.

At the same time, many on-going construction projects are greatly affected and their completion be delayed due to the rising cost of diesel.

Nanta said his ministry is conducting a comprehensive assessment with relevant agencies and the industry to identify appropriate mitigation mechanisms, including in terms of project implementation, cost structure and the resilience of the construction sector supply chain.

“At the same time, the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) will strengthen its role as an industry coordinator by mobilizing strategic collaboration with relevant agencies and industry players to formulate pragmatic and high-impact policy proposals and intervention measures.

“The government is committed to ensuring the continuity of the implementation of national development projects as well as maintaining the stability of the construction sector through a policy approach that is responsive, adaptive and oriented towards long-term sustainability,” he added.

Julau MP says he will never support DAP's suggestion for EC to implement postal voting for Sarawakians residing in Malaya

KUCHING, March 30 2026: Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) Larry Sng said he strongly opposes a suggestion by Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Dr Kelvin Yii for the Election Commission (EC) to allow Sarawakians residing in Malaya to cast their votes through postal voting in the coming state election.  

PBM president Larry Sng says it is naive for the DAP to suggest posting voting for Sarawakians residing in Malaya

He said honestly he would never support this reform (casting votes through postal voting).

“ Not because I don’t want Sarawakians abroad to vote but because I am concerned with vote tempering.

“ It’s naive for the DAP to suggest this,” Larry, who is also Julau MP, said in his Facebook post.

On July 17, Dr Yii urged the 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 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.

Penan community now realising education is driving force in shaping their future

SUAI, March 30 2026: Education is increasingly seen as the driving force in shaping the future of the Penan community, particularly in raising the living standards among rural populations in Sarawak. 

PETIPUN president Nyurak Keti (third from right) says a proposal to use container units as temporary classrooms would be implemented to enable learning sessions in remote areas that still lack proper school facilities.

Sarawak Tipun Penan Development Association (PETIPUN) president Nyurak Keti said some Penan children still lack access to education, especially in remote and challenging areas.

He stated that the situation calls for serious attention and a coordinated response from all stakeholders including local leaders and relevant agencies to ensure no young generation is left behind in the national education system.

“If we aspire for Penan children to become doctors, lawyers or leaders, they must go to school. Education is the only pathway to transforming their future,” Nyurak, who is also Bintulu Divison Resident, said at the opening of the Penan Festival ‘Tipun Pinum Pengida Penan’ at Kampung Maring, Jambatan Suai last Saturday.

Present to officiate the event was Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development  Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Nyurak said that a proposal to use container units as temporary classrooms would be implemented to enable learning sessions in remote areas that still lack proper school facilities.

However, he acknowledged that funding constraints, particularly in transporting such facilities to remote locations, remain a pressing challenge that must be addressed.

In this regard, he urged all parties to strengthen collaboration in seeking solutions to expand education access for the Penan community.

He recommended that each longhouse set a target of producing at least one graduate as part of a broader effort to raise the community’s education standards.

He also called on the government to continue special recruitment of teachers from among the Penan community, while opening up more opportunities for Penan graduates to join the public service.

“This is crucial to ensure the Penan community does not fall behind in the pace of development,” he said.

Meanwhile, the two-day Penan Festival was also enlivened with various community activities including sepak takraw, football, long jump, and traditional games such as Pekang Luten.

Food, beverage and handicraft stalls were also set up, adding to the vibrancy of the programme which serves as a platform to reinforce unity and celebrate the identity of the Penan community.