Efforts are being worked out for the 17 additional state seats to be rectified by Parliament, says Nanta

KUCHING,  Feb 7 2026: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi today said efforts are being  worked out for the additional 17 state assembly seats to be rectified by Parliament before they can be used in the coming state election expected to be held towards the end of this year.

Caption: GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi (seated, second from right) speaking to reporters after the GPS supreme council meeting - Photo by Ukas 

However, he said so far he has no details on the matter.

“When the exact date for it to be brought to parliament, I am not certain,” Nanta, who is also PBB secretary-general, told reporters after the GPS supreme council meeting, chaired by GPS chairman and Premier Abang Johari Openg, at PBB headquarters, Jalan Bako.

The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (SLA) approved the additional 17 seats during its sitting in June last year.

With the additional 17, Sarawak now has 99 seats.

Nanta, who is also federal Works Minister, said GPS will hold its convention  April 19l at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

He said the convention, the first since GPS was established in 2019, will focus on the achievements of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

“Representatives from all four GPS component parties will be invited to attend the convention, although the total number of delegates has yet to be finalised,” he said.

He added that a main organising committee will be formed to ensure the smooth running of the convention, with  Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas appointed as its chairman.

According to him, the deputy chairmen will be held by the presidents of the GPS component parties, namely Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP) and Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP).

Also present at the GPS supreme council meeting were Deputy Premiers Uggah and Dr Sim Kui Hian.

 

Domestic trade ministry seized 125 packets of cooking oil, each found to be less than the specified weight of 1kg

KUCHING, Feb 7 2026: An enforcement team from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has seized a total of 125 packets of cooking oil from a business premises in Sejingkat two days ago.

Caption: Each packet of cooking oil is found to be less than the specified 1kg in weight 

According to the ministry director Matthew Dominic Barin, each packet of the cooking oil was found be less than the specified weight of 1kg.

He said all packets were then seized by the enforcement  team.

“Acting on complaints from the consumers, the ministry sent the enforcement team to the premises following complaints via KPDN e-complaint portal regarding allegations that  1kg packet of cooking oil was found to contain less than the specified weight of1kg,” Dominic said today.

He said the inspection was carried out with 125 samples of 1kg packet cooking oil weighed using a High Precision Weighing Instrument “Pre-Package Class II” to determine the accuracy of the weight of the 1kg packet cooking oil.

He added the inspection results found that all 125 samples of 1kg packet of cooking oil inspected were less than 1kg with an average overall weight of 0.9791kg.

He added a total of 12,410 kg of 1kg cooking oil packets worth RM31,025 were seized from both premises.

Dominic said case action was taken against both premises for suspected offences under Paragraph 7, Trade Descriptions (Marking of Quantity for Goods Available in Packages) Order 2023, namely failing to comply with the permitted difference limit.

He added prompt action has been taken by the ministry in taking action against premises that violate the regulations set so that consumer rights can be protected.

 

Elderly man found unconscious inside his parked car, later confirmed dead by medical personnel

KUCHING, Feb 7 2026: A 69-year old man found was unconscious inside his parked car at Jalan Batu Kawa, Moyan-Malihah here this afternoon.

Caption: Firemen in the process of opening the doors of the parked car - Photo by Bomba 

He was later confirmed dead by the personnel from the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Petra Jaya Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, in a statement, said the station was informed of a man inside his car about 12.16pm today.

“A team of firemen, upon arrival at the location, found a man was unconscious still in an Axia car which was locked from the inside and the engine was still running,” the station said.

The man was identified as Bong Teck Chin.

The firemen then opened the car door with special equipment.

“The victim was confirmed by MoH personnel to have died at the scene. The victim was then handed over to the police for further action,” the station, adding that the team returned to the station after the situation was safe.

Dr Sim re-appointed as Adjunct Professor of Medical Faculty, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, for another term

KUCHING, Feb 7 2026: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian’s term as Adjunct Professor, Medical Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) has been extended by another year.

Dr Sim Kui Hian:“Playing my roles and doing my parts for Sarawak nation building since 2001" 

He received a letter from the university on November 28, 2025, stating that his re-appointment started on Dec 1, 2025 and to end on November 30, 2026.

“It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as Adjunct  Professor since 2004,” he said in his Facebook post last night.

“ My teacher, my mentors and my colleagues been teaching me over the years, often “free”,” he wrote.

He said it is not only his duty but also his responsibility to teach, and to mentor the younger generations of “my noble medical profession even is free.  

“Playing my roles and doing my parts for Sarawak nation building since 2001,” Dr Sim, who is also SUPP president and Minister of Health, Housing and Local Government.

Among his duties as an adjunct professor are to give lecture, give practical session and conduct seminars.

According to the terms of the re-appointment, he is also required to get involved in research and consultation related to the medical faculty.

 

The site of the new SK Tudan to close due to the presence of flammable gas underground

MIRI, Feb 6 2026: The Hazmat team from Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomab) station has found the presence of flammable gas, namely natural gas (methane, propane and butane) underground of the the new SK Tudan,  Lutong Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station said in a statement tonight. 

Caption: Hamzat team members conducting test on the site of the new SK Tudan- Photo by Bomba 

Accordingly, the Hazmat team recommended that the area be closed, it said.

“Any location with a drill hole or perforation must be closed or completely filled in if the area is to be opened to the public and schools,” Lutong station advised.

“Local authorities are also advised to ensure that no activities are carried out in the area until the drill hole has been completely filled in to avoid any safety risks,” it said.

It also issued an advisory services and confirmation from the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, Department of Environment (DOE) and Department of Chemistry Malaysia have been contacted.

The station said readings taken near the borehole using  four Gas Detector (GFG) equipment showed LEL readings between 30 per cent and above, indicating a high fire risk level.

“Gas monitoring in the surrounding area within a radius of five metres showed the LEL reading was 0%.

“It was found that the LEL reading was at normal levels when the borehole was closed, but the LEL reading increased significantly when the borehole was opened,” the station said.

 This morning, construction work of the SK Tudan’s new building was temporarily halted after an unknown type of gas was “seen” emitting out of a 33.9-metre deep pile hole.

Lutong station’s spokesman said decision to halt the construction work was made after discussions between the police, Sarawak Gas, the contractor and headmaster of SK Tudan.

He assured that continuous monitoring will be carried out while waiting for assistance from the  Bintulu station’s Hazmat Unit to arrive.

According to the spokesman, the Lutong station received a call from the contractor about 10.15am, informing about the emission of gas from the pile holes.