Three key projects that are expected to improve the well-being of the Penan community in Metalun resettlement scheme

MURUM, Oct 6 2026: Murum State Legislative Member Kennedy Chupkai Ugon said he believes that three key development projects in Metalun — the newly completed Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Metalun building, the ongoing road upgrade to the area, and the Metalun Agricultural Station (currently at the tender stage) — are expected to strengthen access to education, connectivity, and economic opportunities for the Penan community of the Metalun resettlement scheme.

Caption: The Penan of Matalun resettlement scheme in Murum state constituency

He said the projects are part of ongoing efforts to improve the well-being of the community in the Murum resettlement area.

He stressed  education, infrastructure, and agriculture must be strengthened in tandem to create more opportunities for the community, particularly the younger Penan generation.

“Education builds the future generation. Roads open up connectivity. Agriculture creates economic opportunities. Telecommunications connect the community with the outside world,” he emphasised at the closing ceremony of Adet Tulat Apu Festival 2026 in Long Singu, Metalun yesterday.

Chupkai noted  efforts to improve telecommunications coverage in the area are also crucial to ensuring the community has better access to education, employment opportunities, and digital-based economic activities.

He added the development of infrastructure and basic amenities must go hand-in-hand with efforts to strengthen community capacity so that the benefits of development translate into an improved standard of living.

He urged parents to continue prioritizing their children's education and to encourage the younger Penan generation to pursue further studies and enhance their skills.

He emphasised that an educated and skilled younger generation is vital for continuing community development and contributing back to the local society.

Chupkai remarked that the Adet Tulat Apu festival plays a role in preserving heritage and strengthening unity within the Penan community.

He said that the spirit of *gotong-royong* (mutual cooperation)—an integral part of the Adet Tulat Apu tradition—should be upheld within the context of modern community development. “In the past, we worked together to secure sago for our survival. Today, we must work together to build a better future for our children and grandchildren,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Murum Penan Development Community (MPDC), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), community leaders, government agencies, and the residents of Long Singu for their cooperation in making the Adet Tulat Apu Festival 2026 a success.

Master plan is a boost to small medium entrepreneurs in Sarawak, says deputy premier

 KUCHING, Oct 6 2026: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan today said  a "Master Plan to Enhance the Competitiveness of SMEs in Sarawak," is a long-term roadmap to boost the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of small medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan chairing the main committee meeting of Sarawak Entrpreneur Development Coordination

Awang Tengah,m who is also the International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister, said the master plan focuses on innovation and digitalization, access to financing and markets, as well as capacity building and the strengthening of the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

"It is expected to enable local enterprises to benefit from investment growth through job creation, technology transfer, vendor development, and broader participation in supply chains," he told reporters after chairing the main committee meeting of Sarawak Entrpreneur Development Coordination

He said between 2021 and 2025, Sarawak recorded over RM116 billion in approved investments, while an additional RM11.2 billion was approved across the primary, manufacturing, and services sectors for the first half of 2026.

He added more than RM950 million has been jointly mobilised by the federal and Sarawak government agencies from January to October of this year to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem through financing, capacity building, training, and market access.

"The strategic collaboration between the Sarawak government, through the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED)—and UNIMAS Holdings Sdn Bhd also saw the appointment of six cluster heads - Business Premises and Incubators; Marketing; Research and Innovation; Financing Funds and Equipment; Digital; and Capacity Building.

Premier paying his last respects to the late Song, says he played a pivotal role in development of Kuching South

KUCHING, Oct 6 2026: Premier Abang Johari Openg has described the late Song Swee Guan as being remembered as a figure who played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for the development and administration of Kuching South, in addition to his dedicated service to the people throughout his tenure.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (right) and Deputy Premiers Douglas Uggah and Dr Sim Kui Hian  paying their last respects to the late former Speaker Song Swee Guan

He said Song was a humble individual who dedicated to serving the public.

As the first Mayor of Kuching South, the premier said the late Song played a crucial role in establishing the administrative framework of the Kuching South City Council (MBKS). 

“He laid the foundation for Kuching South and served the people well.

“He was also a very well-known figure in Kuching,” he told reporters paying his last respects to the late Song  at the Chan Funeral Parlour here this morning.

Also present were Deputy Premiers Douglas Uggah Embas and Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker  Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, and State Legislative Member for Batu Kitang Lo Khere Chiang.

Abang Johari said the late Song is also remembered for his strong grassroots support, having successfully won elections in Padungan and Kuching South City constituencies.

Elaborating further, the premier said the achievements reflected the public's acceptance of his leadership and his dedicated service to the community.

He added that the late Song was subsequently appointed as Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly and carried out those responsibilities admirably.

“He prioritised the interests of the people in the areas he represented, particularly Kuching South City,” he said.

The premier described Song's passing as a loss for Sarawak, a state that had witnessed his service and contributions in various capacities.


He also conveyed his condolences to the family and prayed that they would find the strength to endure this period of mourning.

The late Datuk Song Swee Guan, 84, passed away at 3:30pm on Sunday at the Sarawak General Hospital. 

UNIFOR to hold thanksgiving ceremony as part of programmes held in conjunction with Governor's birthday celebration

KUCHING, Oct 6 2026: An interfaith thanksgiving ceremony scheduled for 9 October is set to bring together people of various faiths, further strengthening unity and harmony in Sarawak.

Caption: UNIFOR director Georgina Apphia Ngau says that the thanksgiving ceremony will be among the programmes to celebrate the Sarawak Governor's 80th birthday celebration

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8pm and will be among the programmes held in conjunction with the 80th birthday celebration of Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR) director Georgina Apphia Ngau said the ceremony, to be held at the UNIFOR Complex, will involve various religious communities, providing an avenue for them to express gratitude while getting to know and understand one another better.

She said efforts to strengthen unity must continue to be given attention alongside the physical and digital development being undertaken in Sarawak.

“As we strive to advance Sarawak by implementing various forms of development, whether physical, digital or otherwise, we must also continue to safeguard unity in our state.

“Because if we are not united, if our state is not peaceful, we will not be able to carry out all the initiatives introduced by Premier Abang Johari Openg and the Sarawak government,” she said.

She said this when appearing as a guest on the Juh Randau talk show produced by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) at the UKAS Studio yesterday.

Georgina also stressed that the approach reflects Sarawak’s uniqueness where people of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds are able to live together without barriers.

She said UNIFOR continues to strengthen ties among religious communities through various initiatives, including friendly houses of worship programme which brings people of different faiths together in a closer and more relaxed setting.

SarawakPass Initiative achieving highest honour by winning the Premier Digital Economy Award, Digital Government Award

KUCHING, Oct 6 2026: The SarawakPass initiative, managed by the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU) under the Sarawak Premier's Department, achieved the highest honour at the Digital Economy Awards 2026 (DEA2026) by winning the Premier Digital Economy Award.

Caption: A representative of SarawakPass initiative receiving the Premier Digital Economy Award Monday night

Through the initiative "SarawakPass: Powering Proactive, Citizen-Centric Government Services," SarawakPass also won the Digital Government Award, enabling SCSDU to take home two accolades at the DEA2026 edition.

The awards were presented by Premier Abang Johari Openg during the IDECS26 gala dinner last night.

As the recipient of the Premier Digital Economy Award, SCSDU received a cash prize of RM20,000, while winners of individual categories received RM10,000 each.

DEA2026 recorded 128 entries this year compared to 116 in 2025, with 75 entries qualifying for the first stage of evaluation, up from 70 in the previous edition.

In addition to the Digital Government Award, SCSDU also won the Smart Solution Award, while NEUON AI Sdn Bhd received the AI ​​Innovation Award and One Medicare Sdn Bhd secured the Environmental Sustainability Award.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) won two categories, the Research and Development Award and the Digital Technology Award—while OB Research Sdn Bhd received the Digital Creative Industry Award. 

The achievement saw SCSDU and UNIMAS each secure two category awards, with the overall DEA2026 recipients showcasing innovations across various fields—including public service, artificial intelligence, research and development, environmental sustainability, and the digital creative industry.

Also present were State Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Utility and Telecommunication Minister and Minister-in-Charge of IDECS Julaihi Narawi; Sarawak Financial Secretary and Chairman of SMD Semiconductor Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; Chairman of Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) Dr George Chan Hong Nam; and Chairman of Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Deputy Chairman of IDECS Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

Sarawak makes history, officially accepts hosting rights for IWA WWCE 2028

GLASGOW, Oct 6 2026: Sarawak is set to make history by hosting the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) in Kuching, marking the first time this prestigious event will be held in the region.

Caption: Deputy Minister Liwan Lagang (5th from left) leading the Sarawak delegation to International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition in Glasgow

In a media statement, the Ministry for Utility and Telecommunication announced that Sarawak’s selection as host was formalised through an official handover from Glasgow to Kuching during the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

“Hosting the event will provide Sarawak with the opportunity to welcome the global water community while strengthening international cooperation and knowledge sharing within the water sector,” it said today.

The Sarawak delegation to the IWA WWCE 2026 was led by Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Liwan Lagang, alongside water sector leaders, professionals, policymakers, researchers and industry players from around the world.

Liwan said Sarawak is committed to ensuring the success of the IWA WWCE 2028 in Kuching and delivering a meaningful impact on the global water community. 

“We congratulate IWA and Glasgow on the successful hosting of this year’s congress. As the next host, we are committed to ensuring that the IWA WWCE 2028 in Kuching is a successful and impactful event.

“We aim to bring the global water community together in Sarawak to share knowledge, technology, and practical solutions that can help us address current and future water-related challenges,” he said.

He added that hosting the event also presents an opportunity for Sarawak to learn from global experiences, strengthen collaborations and explore new ideas and solutions for the water sector.

“We also view this as an opportunity for Sarawak to learn from global experiences, strengthen collaborations and explore new ideas and solutions for the water sector. 

“Beyond the congress itself, we want delegates to experience Kuching and Sarawak firsthand, enjoying the natural environment, the cultural diversity that reflects unity in diversity, local cuisine and the warm hospitality of our people.
“We look forward to welcoming the global water community to Kuching in 2028,” he added.

The IWA WWCE 2028 is expected to serve as a vital platform for the global water community to exchange ideas, experiences, and solutions as well as to strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities within the sector.

The congress will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK2), an expansion of the existing Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

In addition to attending the congress and the official handover ceremony, the Sarawak delegation participated in several working visits in the United Kingdom, including to the Winchburgh Wastewater Treatment Works and the University of Edinburgh.

These visits aimed to gain insights into best practices regarding plant operations and management, water research and innovation, water security and climate change, while also exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Also joining the Sarawak delegation were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry for Utility and Telecommunication Jafri Lias, Economic Planning Unit Sarawak (EPU) Director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awg Redzuan, Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) Sarawak Acting Director Tamida Da’adi and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd Malseni Jamal.