Premier Abang Johari to table State 2027 Budget on Oct 12

KUCHING, Oct 9 2026: Premier Abang Johari Openg will table the State 2027 Budget on the first day of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) meeting on Oct 12, Speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar told reporters after the pre-council meeting of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) State Legislative Members (SLMs) this afternoon.

Caption: Speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar says the State Legislative Assembly will sit from Oct 12 to 21, excluding Saturday and Sunday

He said the budget or Supply Bill (2027) 2026 will be among four Bills that will be tabled at State Legislative Assembly  which will sit from Oct 12 to 21.

He said the other three Bills are the Supplementary Supply 2026 Bill, 2026, Sarawak State Library Amendment Bill 2026 and the Public Holidays Amendment Bill 2026
 
“No new Bills will be introduced. Two of them are supply bills, including the budget, while the other two are amendment bills,” he said.

He said thee Supplementary Supply Bill (2026) 2026 will be tabled by Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas, while the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be tabled by  Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

The Public Holiday (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be tabled by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and Federal-State Relations)  Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

In a related development,  Asfia said a total of 336 questions including oral and written questions were received from 40 State Legislative Members (SLMs).


He said 264 questions out of 336 questions were for oral answers involving 37 SLMs, while the other 72 were written questions from 13 SLMs.

He added that the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT) received the highest number of questions with 36 questions submitted.

The pre-council meeting was chaired by Abang Johari, who is also GPS chairman.

Incorporate elements of two heritage sites into interior design concept of upgraded Miri Airport teminal project, Lee proposes to federal JKR

KUCHING, Oct 9, 2026: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin has proposed incorporating elements of Miri's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park - as well as the city's first oil well , the Grand Old Lady, into the interior design concept for the Miri Airport Terminal Building upgrade project.

Caption: Minister Lee Kim Shin encourages the inclusion of cultural elements representing Sarawak's other ethnic communities to ensure that the upgraded Miri Airport reflects the Sarawak's unity in diversity.

He made the proposal during a briefing by the federal Public Works Department (JKR)  project team, marking the conclusion of a three-day engagement and working visit programme initiated and coordinated by MoT.

During the briefing, the project team presented “Gateway to the Highlands” as the proposed design theme, drawing inspiration from Sarawak's ethnic cultures, particularly the heritage, traditional craftsmanship and artistic elements of the Orang Ulu communities.

Lee said he welcomes the concept, noting that Miri serves as an important gateway to the highlands and interior regions of Northern Sarawak.

He suggested that the design should also highlight elements of Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park, as well as Miri's first oil well, the Grand Old Lady, which symbolises the city's historical roots as the birthplace of Malaysia's petroleum industry.

He also encouraged the inclusion of cultural elements representing Sarawak's other ethnic communities to ensure that the upgraded airport reflects the Sarawak's unity in diversity.

He said the upgraded airport should reflect not only the cultural diversity of Sarawak but also the unique natural and historical attractions that make Miri a distinctive destination.

“Our airport should not simply be a place where passengers arrive and depart. It should also be a place where visitors can discover what makes Miri and Sarawak special,” he said in a statement.

He also expressed hope that the federal Ministry of Transport  and federal JKR would ensure that the interior design team, once appointed, conducts site visits to Miri Airport and relevant locations across Sarawak.

He stressed that the designers must gain first-hand understanding of the airport's surroundings, local communities and cultural heritage to develop an authentic design that truly reflects Miri and Sarawak.

The three-day programme, held from 7 to 9 October, included an engagement session with local cultural associations, artists and craftsmen in Miri, followed by study visits to Sarawak Cultural Village and the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching.

Among the officials invited to participate in the programme were Siti Marshitah binti Mohamad Yusof, Secretary of the Development Division, federal Ministry of Transport; Waznah binti Abdul Aziz, Senior Director of the Transport Infrastructure Engineering Branch (CIKP); federal JKR officers Lee Sheau Feng, Shahrul Affendy bin Abu Bakar, Farah Amirah binti Mian and Meor Emri Farid bin Meor Abdul Ghani; and Miri Airport Manager Mohd Zabidi bin Abdullah.

Representing the state Ministry of Transport were Permanent Secretary Wong Hee Sieng, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mohamad Lotfi bin Tuah, Head of Aviation Division Dayang Nurhayati Abang Ahmad, and other ministry officers.

Anwar tables a RM510 billion federal 2027 budget, against a projected revenue of RM380.8 billion

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 2026: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explained that the federal 2027 budget will continue the expansionary fiscal policy by leveraging the nation's collective strength, totaling RM510 billion compared to RM470 billion. 

He said a sum of RM376.8 billion is for federal operating expenditure; RM83 billion for federal development expenditure; RM25 billion for GLIC investments; RM11 billion for public-private investments; and RM14.2 billion for investments by Federal Statutory Bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated (MKD) companies. 

"This year, federal revenue is projected to be higher at RM363.6 billion, compared to the original estimate of RM343.1 billion," he said, adding that for the coming year, revenue is expected to rise further to RM380.8 billion.

He explained that the West Asia crisis has driven fuel subsidies up to RM40 billion, pointing out that the fiscal deficit for 2026 is now projected at 3.6 percent, compared to the original target of 3.5 percent.

"However, this rate remains on a downward trajectory from 5.5 percent (2022) and 3.7 percent last year," he added, noting that the 2027 deficit will decrease further to 3.3 percent, moving towards the 3 percent target by 2028. 

Anwar said the reduction in the deficit and controlled levels of new debt enable the federal government debt-to-GDP ratio to decline consistently: 65.2 percent (2025), 64.0 percent (2026), and a projected 63.7 percent (2027).

Budget highlights: Sarawak to receive RM16.2 billion, SARA recipients to receive RM150 every month, Senior Citizens Bill to be drafted, bedridden OKU to receive RM600 monthly

Among the highlights of the federal budget 2027 tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today

Caption: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim tabling the federal budget 2027

1.Sabah to receive RM18.7 billion next year, up from RM17.6 billion this year while Sarawak to receive RM16.2 billion next year, up from RM15.1 billion this year.

Road projects in Sabah and Sarawak would continue, with an allocation of RM3.3 billion.

The Letter of Acceptance (SST) for the Miri section of the Trans Borneo Highway has been issued, while those for the Limbang and Lawas sections are expected to be issued by the end of this year.

The Sarawak-Sabah Link Road 1 and Pan Borneo Sabah Phase 1B targeted for completion by the end of next year. 

In addition, RM350 million in Federal road maintenance funds has been set aside for G1-G4 contractors in Sabah and Sarawak

2.The allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) to increase to RM16 billion in 2027 from RM15 billion, with all STR recipients eligible for SARA of up to RM150 a month or RM1,800 a year.

Malaysians aged 18 and above who are not STR recipients would also receive SARA MADANI payments of RM100 on two occasions, before Aidilfitri and in conjunction with the 70th National Day celebrations.

The two forms of assistance to benefit up to nine million STR recipients and 13 million Malaysians, including traders.

Allowing SARA to be used to purchase wet and fresh produce at 216 farmers’ markets or tamu under the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) nationwide.

Total allocations for subsidies, assistance and incentives next year would exceed RM80 billion, including fuel subsidies expected to remain high at RM40 billion and nearly RM3.3 billion in
assistance from the Social Welfare Department.

3.. The federal government agreed to double the number of Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships offered to students from Sabah and Sarawak, some 4,200 students will have the opportunity to pursue higher education every year.

On the Sibu Special Economic Zone, federal government to begin formal negotiations to finalise the incentive framework, a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

4. The service tax rate for elderly care services will be reduced from eight per cent to six per cent effective Jan 1, 2027, with a full exemption for care fees of up to
RM96,000 annually.

The allocation for Elderly Assistance would also be increased to RM1.3 billion next year, benefiting nearly 200,000 recipients.

The government to draft a Senior Citizens Bill to address neglect and strengthen the comprehensive care ecosystem as the nation prepares to transition into an ageing society.

Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) to train 8,000 individuals to strengthen the workforce in the elderly care sector, while creating employment opportunities in the field.

Two National Integrated Care Centres of Excellence (NICE) would be established in Penang and Sarawak to support training, research and elderly care services.

5. The overall allocation for assistance to persons with disabilities (OKU) to be increased to RM1.5 billion, benefiting more than 300,000 individuals.

The allowance rate for the care of bedridden OKU and chronic patients to be raised to RM600 a month from RM500, while the income threshold to qualify for the OKU worker allowance had been increased to RM2,000.

Budget highlights: Increase in allocation for repairing and maintaining schools, 12 matters under MA63 finalised, special grants expected to be settled by year end

Among the  highlights of the federal government 2027 budget tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today

Caption: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim tabling the 2027 federal budget

1. An increase in allocation for repairing and maintaining all types of schools from RM1 billion to RM2 billion.

Nearly RM1.3 billion has been allocated to upgrade 682 dilapidated schools, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

A total of 3,500 additional classrooms are expected to be completed by the end of this year through the Industrialised Building System (IBS) method to accommodate the
increase in Year One pupils.

2. Twelve matters under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have been finalised under the MADANI government.

These included establishing permanent representatives from Sabah and Sarawak on the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), as well as the handover of Bintulu Port, which is now
owned by Sarawak.

Another matter that has been finalised is the handover of MASWings to Sarawak, which has been rebranded as AirBorneo, while the federal government continues to provide
RM209 million in subsidies benefiting 820,000 passengers in the interior.

On the Special Grant for Sabah and Sarawak, the payment would be settled before the end of the year, with negotiations with both states continuing to
finalise a fair and sustainable annual formula.

3. The Health Ministry has been allocated RM47.7 billion under Budget 2027.

The federal government is also committed to ending the contract doctor issue, with the MADANI Government having appointed more than 15,000 contract doctors to permanent posts since 2023, including 4,000 this year.

For 2027, more than 9,000 contract doctors will be offered permanent posts, meaning that doctors who successfully complete their housemanship will subsequently be offered permanent medical officer positions.

In recognition of the contributions of 47,000 paramedics and nurses, the Pos Basic Incentive Payment would be increased to RM200 from RM100, while the Air
Health Service Incentive Payment would rise to RM100 from RM30

4. Government agrees to defer loan repayments in 2027 for National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers earning RM2,500 or less per month.

The borrowers earning between RM2,500 and RM3,000 per month, on the other hand, will be required to make minimum repayments of only RM50 monthly

The measures are expected to benefit more than 400,000 PTPTN borrowers.

The PTPTN borrowers who have no outstanding arrears and make regular repayments will be given a 10% discount.

5, The government provide up to RM20 billion in housing financing guarantees through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP) to assist 80,000 first-time
homebuyers, particularly self-employed individuals without fixed incomes.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government also proposed a full stamp duty exemption on loan agreements and instruments of transfer for the purchase of first homes priced up to
RM500,000

RM295,000 allocation for the Development and Security Committees of two longhouses in Lubok Antu

LUBOK ANTU, Oct 9 2026: A total of RM295,000 has been allocated to the Seremat and Soh Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) to strengthen the development of facilities and community activities in the areas concerned.

Caption: Deputy Minister Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh speaking at the meet-the-people session at Rumah Ringkai Rabit

Of the total, JKKK Seremat received RM180,000 through the Rural Small Project (MRP) and Rural Transformation Project (RTP), while JKKK Soh received RM115,000 through both allocations.

The allocation was announced by Deputy Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, who is also the State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Batang Ai, at a meet-the-people session  at Rumah Ringkai Rabit, Seremat today.

At the same event, the Seremat Women's Bureau also received RM10,000, while the Soh Women's Bureau received RM5,000 through the MRP to support the implementation of women's development activities.

The programme also opened up a space for residents to voice local needs, including assistance to the Women's Bureau and proposals for the construction of bridges to improve communication facilities.

Meanwhile,  construction of the Sebeliau-Bilararap Road will improve the connectivity of the rural communities of Batang Ai and Engkilili, thus opening up economic opportunities and facilitating residents' access to basic amenities.

Malcolm officially launched through the Melasi Menoa Jalan Sebeliau-Bilararap Programme yesterday.

When completed, the road is expected to facilitate the movement of residents and the transportation of agricultural produce and local products to the market, in addition to saving travel time.

The road will also improve access to schools, health services and public facilities, including facilitating movement during emergencies.

The project is part of the Sarawak government's ongoing efforts to strengthen rural infrastructure to bridge the development gap and improve the well-being of the rural community.

Meanwhile, the Berenggang Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) received a Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocation of RM10,000, while the Women's Bureau received RM5,000 to support the implementation of community and welfare activities for the residents.

The allocation was approved by Malcolm during a meet-the-people session  at Rumah Bunyau Kudang, Berenggang.

The session served as a platform for residents to directly convey their needs and development proposals to the leader, particularly regarding longhouse facilities and infrastructure development in the area.

Among the requests submitted by longhouse chief Bunyau Kudang were the installation of tiles for the longhouse veranda area and funding to support the activities of the JKKK and the Women's Bureau.

He also noted the presence of over 20 longhouses along Jalan Lemanak, thereby emphasizing the importance of connectivity and infrastructure development for the local community.

In his speech, Malcolm urged the community to cooperate with the Public Works Department (JKR) and contractors to ensure that construction works proceed smoothly and without interruption.

He stressed that community cooperation and unity are vital to ensuring that planned development projects are successfully implemented and bring benefits to the residents.

(UPDATED) Bamboo industry must shift towards the production of high-value goods, says deputy minister

KUCHING, Oct 9 2026: The state's bamboo industry must shift towards the production of high-value goods and large-scale commercialization to unlock new economic opportunities, particularly for local enterprises and rural communities, said Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Len Talif Salleh.

Caption: Deputy Minister Len Talif Saleh (third from left) says the developing the bamboo industry requires strategic planning, continuous research, and collaboration among all stakeholders to transform the resource into a competitive industry that generates economic benefits for Sarawak.

He said the potential of bamboo should not be limited to the cultivation of raw materials, instead, it must be harnessed through research, technological development, and the creation of products that meet market demand.

He said areas with potential for exploration include biochar, activated carbon, furniture, bamboo flooring, composite panels, and bamboo shoot-based products, alongside handicrafts and souvenirs that can be produced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“If we attempt too many things simultaneously, resources will be spread too thin, and the products may fail to penetrate the market. We need to focus on specific areas and execute them well,” he said when  officiating the ‘Sarawak Bamboo Day’ 2026 seminar today.

He emphasized that developing the industry also requires continuous investment and human capital development to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of the bamboo-based processing and manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (Pusaka) general manager Zainal Abidin Abdullah said the corporation is identifying high-potential bamboo species for commercial cultivation through research on 23 species at the Sabal Forest Reserve for the development of a downstream industry based on sustainable resources.

He said the trial plot, covering approximately 25 hectares, was established in late 2018 to identify species suitable for commercialisation.

He added site houses around 10,000 seedlings across 23 bamboo species, comprising 12 local species and 11 exotic species from countries including Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Myanmar. 

“The project aims to develop a bamboo plantation model that is technically and commercially viable, ensure a sustainable supply of quality planting material, and support the future development of the bamboo industry.
“The project also provides training to local communities and investors on bamboo cultivation,” he said.

He added the site is also utilised for education, research, and training programs in collaboration with local universities, in addition to hosting visits from prospective investors interested in exploring the industry's potential.

Zainal noted the Sarawak Bamboo Industry Development Policy, introduced in 2023, outlines the industry's development trajectory through downstream activities, research and development (R&D), innovation, and sustainability.

“Bamboo has the potential to be processed into various value-added products, including furniture, panels, flooring, packaging materials, textiles, tissue paper, biomass, biochar, food products, and modern handicrafts,” he added.

Sun bear mother, cub and other animal and bird species found inside a forest concession area cleared for commercial plantation

BELAGA, Oct 9 2026:  Indigenous communities living beside the Bakun reservoir have documented a sun bear mother and her cub, along with 26 other animal and bird species, inside a forest concession currently being cleared for a commercial bamboo plantation .

Caption: The sun bear and cub caught by camera-trap in a forest concession area cleared for bamboo plantation.

A joint statement released by environmental group SAVE Rivers and the Borneo Project said a-trap survey, carried out by local teams over two months, provides the strongest evidence yet that the area is a biodiversity hotspot that should be protected rather than converted to monoculture.

The statement noted that the Bornean sun bear is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a Protected Species under Sarawak's Wild Life Protection Ordinance. 

It said the evidence of a mother with a cub indicates a breeding population that depends on intact forest for survival. Sun bear populations across Borneo have fallen by an estimated 30 to 35 percent, and the species is increasingly rare in Sarawak because of habitat loss and poaching.

The statement said the survey also recorded the White-fronted Langur, the Tufted Ground Squirrel, and the Bornean Great Argus, all of which are Totally Protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, and two macaque species listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The sighting of a Bornean Bearded Pig in the survey is also particularly significant – as populations across Borneo collapsed after African swine fever in 2020. 

According to documents obtained by the community, there are plans to convert more than 20,000 hectares of native forest to bamboo. Clearing began in early 2025 and prompted seven Kenyah, Kayan, Lahanan and Penan communities (Uma Belor, Uma Lahanan, Uma Kelep, Uma Penan Talun, Uma Balui Liko, Uma Juman and Uma Daro) to lodge a police report in September 2025 demanding suspension of the licence.

"We have already raised this directly with the premier,” said Denis Hang Bilang, Chairman of the Customary and Native Land Committee of Hulu Balui, referring to Abang Johari Openg, adding: “When we met with him at his office on February 25, 2026, we asked him to re-establish our rights over the unsubmerged land within 10 kilometres of the reservoir bank. That land is ours, and it is where these animals live." 

Satellite monitoring by The Borneo Project shows that clearing in this concession has resumed in recent months, and that old logging roads through the area have been re-established. 

Many communities were already displaced once, when the Bakun reservoir flooded their ancestral lands in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The forest now under licence is much of what remains of their ancestral lands.

"The sun bears and other wildlife caught on our camera traps may well be the very animals that were rescued and released during the Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue (WiMoR) programme in 2010–2011, a joint effort by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Sarawak Energy”, continued Bilang. 

“The state spent time and money saving these animals once. Why destroy their habitat now?" the statement asked.