Sibu Flood Mitigation Project consultants to undertake the RM2 billion Kuching Flood Mitigation project

SIBU, Jan 30 2026: The RM2 billion Kuching Flood Mitigation Project will be implemented by the consultants of the Sibu Flood Mitigation Project, Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian evealed, reflecting the Sarawak government's confidence in the capabilities and standards of implementation of the project.

Caption: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian says that the decision to engage the Sibu Flood Mitigation Project consultants  for the Kuching project was made by Premier Abang Johari Openg 

He said it was decided by Premier Abang Johari Openg following discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof recently.

According to him, the premier had specified appointing the consultants who handled the flood mitigation project in Sibu for the project in Kuching.

"This means that the premier sees the capabilities and standards of implementation of the flood mitigation project in Sibu to be on par with Kuching, and not the other way around," he said.

He said this when speaking at the handing over of appointment notices and certificates to 100 community leaders and village headmen in Sibu District.

Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG), explained that the Kuching flood mitigation project is a large-scale project funded by the federal government and is crucial in ensuring the well-being and safety of the people of Sarawak.

He also said that the Sarawak government will expedite the development of satellite centres outside Kuching to ensure more comprehensive access to quality health services and public facilities throughout the state.

“After we have developed an advanced centre in Kuching, services will be expanded through satellite centres,” he said, explaining that this is the state government's approach to ensure that the people outside Kuching are also able to enjoy quality services.

Touching on the role of the community leaders and headmen, Dr Sim stressed that grassroots leaders act as the frontliners of the state government services at the grassroots level and play a key role as a liaison between the people and the government.

According to him, their appointments are not just a title, but a great responsibility in delivering government policies and addressing the people's issues on the ground.

"The appointments show that the government respects your roles. You are all true representatives of the Sarawak government and the frontliners of service to the people.

"When the frontliners faces problems, it is the people's problem. Therefore, the community leaders and headmen play an important role as a bridge between the people and the government," he said.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister and Pelawan AssemblymanMichael Tiang Ming Tee, Bukit Assek Assemblyman Chieng Jin Ek, Sibu Division Resident Abang Mohammad Porkan Abang Budiman, Sibu District Officer Tsong Chow Choon, Temenggong Stanley Gramong Bandar, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting and Councillor Kevin Lau Kor Jie.

Abang Johari honoured with Sustainability Visionary Award at UNGCMYB members celebration night

KUAA LUMPUR, Jan 30 2026: Premier Abang Johari Openg last night received the Sustainability Visionary Award at the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) members celebration night 2026, dedicating the award to the collective efforts of Sarawak’s institutions, public servants and partners.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (cntre) receiving the Sustainability Visionary Award Thursday night
 

In his speech, he highlighted the critical importance of the night’s awards, which honour execution over mere ambition.

“They honour organisations that are moving beyond statements and frameworks into real, measurable action,” he said, sending a message that Malaysian companies are helping to drive the global sustainability transition.

Illustrating Sarawak’s commitment, the premier detailed the state’s integrated frameworks: the Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030, the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy, the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint, and the Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap.

“Energy will be our catalyst,” he affirmed, outlining plans to decarbonise production, transform oil and gas, and scale up renewables to position Sarawak as a regional sustainable energy partner.

He honoured the individuals driving change; sustainability managers, chief sustainability officers, and courageous chief executive officers.

“Strategies do not execute themselves. Policies do not reduce emissions. Roadmaps do not transform supply chains. People do,” he declared.

The premier urged the private sector to build the engines of progress, powered by integrity and sustainability, on the highway built by government policy.

He declared the end of the era of gradual sustainability and called for accelerated, tangible action from the private sector.

The celebration night, themed “The Sarawak Narrative: Driving Leadership in Private Sector Sustainability” brought together industry leaders and sustainability practitioners.

Learn from Sarawak formula of political stability and racial harmony, PBB Youth advises Malayans

KUCHING, Jan 30 2026: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth today fully supported a statement made by party secretary general Alexander Nanta Linggi in urging Malayans to learn from the Sarawak formula of governance, racial and religious harmony alongside development.

PBB Youth:  Sarawak formula of political stability and racial harmony is tried and tested and has been proven be working well in the state. 

The movement agreed with Nanta’s view that Sarawakians have become jaded to pervasive politics in Malaya which hampers national unity and progress, which is a stark contrast to the situation in Sarawak.

“Political stability is paramount for Sarawak and only through stability that progress can be achieved and unity can be preserved,” the movement said in a statement when commenting on Nanta’s statement on too much pervasive politics in Malaya.

It said Sarawak formula of political stability and racial harmony is tried and tested and has been proven to be working well in the state.

“It must be made very clear that Sarawak is very committed to Malaysia’s cause and through farsighted leadership, has identified that we are stronger together despite increasingly rampant anti-Sarawak narratives propogated and instigated by certain quarters and those with vested interests.

“By no means are Sarawak or its leaders are belittling Malaya, we are simply saying to look at Sarawak, and by following our lead, perhaps Malaysia too one day can prosper.

“The inclusive policies implemented by  Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of Premier Abang Johari Openg supporting all communities in Sarawak must serve as a model for Malaysia in preserving national unity.

“Only when we are united, we can no longer be distracted by frivolous issues surrounding race and religion as through unity comes acceptance and tolerance,” PBB Youth said.

It said it also echoes Nanta’s view on balancing autonomy and preserving state-federal relations.

It said it believes that Sarawak’s rights as well as ownership of its oil and gas resources can align with national interests through discussions, consultation and negotiations.

“As said and reiterated by the premier, both Petros and Petronas must co-exist and they must work together to develop the oil and gas sector in Sarawak.

“What we are asking is for Sarawak to also participate in the oil and gas industry to develop local talents as well as to tap into emerging green industries to grow our economy.

“This has been our position all along,” the movement said, stressing that there should not be any sentiments of Sarawak being “greedy” because all this while, the nation has immensely benefitted from resources extracted from Sarawak and will continue to benefit in the future through shared resources, expertise and economic vision.

PBB Youth also believed that a stronger Sarawak strengthens Malaysia and its time all Malaysians see it that way.

In an interview with a  private radio station, Nanta, who is also Works Minister and Kapit MP, said had suggested that the endless quarrels and bickering in Malaya have become so pervasive that perhaps Sarawak and the rest of the country were “never meant to be one nation”, separated by the South China Sea for a reason.

Quoted by Dayak Daily news portal, Nanta said has much to learn from the Sarawak Formula, an approach to governance credited to the premier that prioritises racial and religious harmony alongside development.

“Before you learn the formula, you must understand the personality of our premier. He’svery down to earth, visionary, and he doesn’t mince his words.

 "He says things sincerely and does things sincerely. He understands how to keep harmony among Sarawak’s multicultural,multi-ethnic communities,” Nanta was quoted as saying.

Despite Sarawak’s complex demographics, where Dayaks and Chinese make up about 70 per cent of the population while Malays account for roughly 30 per cent.