Sarawak Water apologises for the ommission of a "Dayak" opition from online survey

KUCHING, Oct 17 2026: State-owned Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd (SW) has tendered its apologies for the omission of a “Dayak” option from the ethnicity question in its Customer Satisfaction Survey for Water Supply Services.

In a media statement posted on Facebook, it acknowledges its mistake and understands that it has caused concern and hurt. 

"It was unintentional, and we take responsibility," SW said today.

It said the survey has been temporarily taken offline while it reviews and revises the response options to better reflect Sarawak’s diverse communities. 

"The revised survey will be made available once the review is complete.

"We thank everyone who brought this matter to our attention. Every community we serve deserves to be recognised and respected, and we will strengthen our review process to ensure our surveys reflect Sarawak’s diverse communities," SW explained.

Two Sarawakian students make Malaysia proud after winning second place in world RoboMission junior category competition

ZAGREB, CROATIA, Oct 17 2026:  Two young Sarawakian students have made Malaysia proud after securing second place in the world in the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe, held in Zagreb, Croatia.

Caption: The two Sarawakian students (centre) of Borneo International School in Miri, taking the second place at the World Robot Olympiad 2026

Matthew Cheong and Timothy Cheong, both students of Borneo International School, represented Malaysia under team "Malaysia Boleh" and achieved an outstanding result at the international robotics championship.

Held from October 13 to 16 2026, the championship brought together around 220 teams from 45 countries, providing a highly competitive platform for young robotics enthusiasts to demonstrate their capabilities in programming, engineering and problem-solving.

Competing against talented young roboticists from around the world, the Sarawakian duo demonstrated strong technical skills, teamwork and determination to secure second place in the RoboMission Junior category.

The team was trained by TESSLAB, a robotics training centre based in Miri, Sarawak, where the students underwent intensive preparation in robot design, programming and competition strategies.

Their participation was made possible with sponsorship from the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), reflecting the state's continued commitment to supporting young talents in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In a memorable moment during an interview following the competition, Matthew and Timothy expressed their appreciation to Sarawak Government, for the support extended to their team.

Their spontaneous expression of gratitude highlighted the meaningful impact of the Sarawak government's support in providing opportunities for young talents to pursue their ambitions and compete at international level.

The achievement comes as Sarawak continues to strengthen its emphasis on STEM education, innovation and talent development, in line with the State's aspirations to build a highly skilled and technologically capable workforce.

The success of team "Malaysia Boleh" also demonstrates the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, specialist training centres and government agencies in identifying, nurturing and developing young talents.

With the right guidance, resources and opportunities, young Sarawakians have shown that they are capable of competing alongside some of the best young minds from around the world.

Their accomplishment is also expected to inspire more young Sarawakians to explore robotics, programming and other technology-related fields, while encouraging greater participation in STEM activities and international competitions.