Once the road project is completed, travelling time between Miri and Mulu will be shortened from nine to two hours, says Uggah

MARUDI, April 13 2026: Once completed, the 142-kilometre long Miri-Marudi, Marudi- Mulu and Long Lama-Long Panai (MMMLL)  road project will shorten traveling time between Miri and Mulu to just two hours, from the present nine hours, Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas (picture) said at the ground-breaking ceremony today.

He said the road project, worth RM3.8 billion, is expected to be completed within 48 months and will have a major impact on development in the Baram area.

“The MMMLL road project as a whole will provide a comprehensive road network, with a main line of 142 kilometres, a 30.5 kilometre bypass linking villages, and the construction of 11 major bridges and 11 minor bridges,” Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said.

“Overall, the MMMLL road project will benefit approximately 404,679 people in the Miri Division, improving access to education and healthcare, distributing agricultural produce, and opening up new economic opportunities including tourism and commercial activities.

“ In addition to improving mobility and the economy, this project also supports the government's development aspiration,” he said.

He added the construction of this road network will be linked to the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Phase 2 which is also being actively implemented.

Water supply disruption issue a concern for residents of Sibujaya

SIBU, April 5 2026: The issue of the prolonged water supply disruption in Sibujaya continued to be a concern when local residents took the opportunity to voice their grievances during a goodwill visit by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culturei Tiong King Sing (picture) on Saturday.

The visit, in conjunction with the festive season, provided an opportunity for residents to share the difficulties they faced, illustrating the critical importance of solving infrastructure issues in the area.

 

“The water disruption has caused the people to live in hardship! Most residents are now forced to buy mineral water from supermarkets for cooking.

 

“Not only that, when the disruption continues, traders are also unable to do business as usual and their livelihoods continue to be affected.

 

“More outrageously, I have also received complaints that even though there is no water, the water meter is still running and charges are still being levied. There is no water but the meter is still moving, what is the logic behind this?” said Tiong in a statement today.

 

He, who is also the Dudong State Assemblyman, stressed that the frequency of the disruptions is now seen as a pressing issue that directly affects the well-being of the community throughout Sibujaya.

 

He explained that the matter had previously been raised in the State Legislative Assembly in November 2023 as an effort to find a solution.

 

Therefore, he hoped that the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT) could detail an effective action plan to ensure that water supply stability could be achieved for the benefit of the residents in the long term.

 

“So far, I understand that the most affected group is the residents of low-cost houses and low-cost apartments.

 

“Their lives were already difficult; now the situation is getting worse, as if these people are being pushed into a corner with no way out,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, he also conveyed the hopes of the residents who wanted to see direct involvement from the ministry, including a proposed meeting with the Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunications, Julaihi Narawi to personally review the actual situation on the ground.

 

“This problem has been going on for too long! It cannot be postponed any longer! And it absolutely should not be postponed.

 

“The people hope that the authorities can resolve this issue comprehensively and not let the people continue to live in worry and uncertainty, not knowing when water disruptions will occur again,” he said.

 

 

Comprehensive study needs to be conducted before granting third generation Chinese the Bumuputera status, former senator says

KUCHING, April 5 2026: A comprehensive study needs to be conducted before any proposal is agreed upon to grant Bumiputera status to the third generation Sarawakians of Chinese descent, former Senator Abun Sui Anyit (picture) has stressed.

He said at this stage, the proposal is premature  as well as for the Sarawak government to issue any official response.

“Several fundamental questions need to be addressed, such as who are the representatives of the Dayak and Malay communities who are said to be in agreement with the proposal and what form of study or consultation has been carried out?” he asked in a statement today when responding to Julau MP Larry Sng’s proposal.

Abun Sui, who is also PKR Hulu Rajang branch chief, also wanted to know who were the parties involved in the study, and what were the detailed findings.

“Issues affecting the status of Bumiputeras are not trivial matters, but are closely related to the Constitution, customary rights, history and sensitivities of the community in Sarawak.

“In this regard, any proposal must be supported by transparent data, credible research, and inclusive consultation, not merely general statements,” Abun Sui, who is a practising lawyer, said.

“Until clear and detailed information is presented, it is more appropriate that we refrain from making any premature conclusions or taking a position,” he stressed.

Recently, Larry, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, has urged the state government to grant Bumiputera status to the third generation Sarawakians of Chinese descent.

He declared that if Raghad Kurdi, wife of former Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud, and her two childre, being Syrians, could be granted the Bumiutera status, despite being in Sarawak for a short period, there was no reason why the Chinese, who have lived in Sarawak for over 100 years, could not be accorded the Bumiputera status.

State rights activist Peter John Jaban warned against granting the indigenous status to the third generation Chinese, saying that it was not that easy to grant the status as it involved customs, history and the origins of the indigenous communities while PBB information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stressed that granting the status must comply with the provisions of the Federal and State Constitutions.

 

 

Health Ministry aims to fill 15,000 vacancies for certified nurses this year

SIBU, April 4 2026: The Health Ministry (MoH) is targeting to fill 15,000 vacancies for certified nurses in the public hospital nation-wide this year to strengthen the national healthcare system, deputy minister Hanifah Hajar Taib (picture) has said.

 

She said the step is crucial to addressing the increasingly significant manpower shortage currently being faced.

She sad the demand is driven by the country's ageing population trend and the rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions, which require long-term monitoring.

“We often hear that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, and that statement is indeed true. Their role transcends clinical protocols; they become the link between a patient's sense of isolation and a sense of belonging,” she said while officiating the Diploma in Nursing Programme and Nursing Simulation Lab at Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) on Saturday.

Hanifah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mukah, further emphasised that the skills of nurses — rooted in empathy and high sensitivity — can transform a treatment environment into a more meaningful healing space.

During the ceremony, she praised MPI’s initiative in introducing the diploma programme, describing it as timely for meeting job market demands.

She welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MPI, Rejang Medical Centre, and Borneo Medical Centre, which offers full sponsorship and allowances to students.

She noted that such collaborations between educational institutions and the private sector are excellent examples of driving growth while fulfilling social responsibilities to strengthen the public health system.

The three-year Diploma in Nursing at MPI is now open for registration, with the first cohort intake beginning on 27 April 2026.

The programme is open to SPM leavers with at least credits in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics (Basic/Modern/Additional), and Science (Science/Biology/Chemistry/Physics), alongside passes in English and one other additional subject.

AThe diploma is globally recognised and fully complies with guidelines accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the Malaysian Nursing Board (MNB).

Also in attendance were Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, MPI Board of Directors Chairman Paul Wong Hee Kwong, MPI Deputy Chairman Dr Peter Tang and Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference President Rev. Dr Lau Hui Ming.