Integrated ops involving various agencies battling to extinguish bushfire covering 16ha outside Sibu town

SIBU, March 27 2026: An integrated operation involving various agencies is now being intensified to control a bushfire covering an area of about 16 hectares here today. 

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Z one One Division chief Andy Alie (picture) said the extinguishing operation was carried out strategically through the division of three main sectors, namely A, B and C, with a strength of 50 personnel from the Sibu Fire and Rescue Station Central.

According to him, the geographical challenges also demanded high efficiency of the team as the personnel had to cross a stream before carrying out a combination of defensive and direct attacks to prevent the movement of the fire from spreading further.

“The division of sectors and assignment of personnel were completed as early as 9am, and the operation is now being actively carried out in all affected areas,” he said.

The operation was also supported by various agencies including RELA, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) as well as a volunteer team, reflecting strong cross-agency cooperation in dealing with emergency situations.

Bushfire outside Sibu town

At the same time, the Sibu DID has deployed excavators to carry out cleaning work and open new routes, thus facilitating the team's access to the fire location which was previously difficult to access.

Andy said Sibu Bomba received the first emergency call on March 23, but the operation could not be carried out earlier due to the location of the incident being located about two kilometres from the nearest access route and the lack of suitable access.

"The extinguishing operation could only be fully carried out today after the route was successfully opened through the cooperation of various agencies and the use of heavy machinery," he explained.

He added that close monitoring will continue to be carried out with the adjustment of operational strategies and the assignment of resources dynamically according to current developments in the fiel

Chinese Sng says as an elected MP from a Dayak constituency, it is also his responsibility to think about Dayak issues

JULAU, March 27 2026: Julau Member of Parliament Larry Sng said as an elected representative from a Dayak constituency, he feels that it is also his responsibility to think about Dayak issues, despite him being ethnically Chinese.

MP Larry Sng: As a suggestion, perhaps the various Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should come together and have a forum to discuss the Dayak issues. 

He said having assimilated himself with the community, speaking their language, appreciating the culture and adopting similar ways of thinking,  he is very conscious that he is not here to tell the people what they should be doing.

“As I have said in a recent podcast what are you not doing, that other people are doing? The answer is for the Dayak leaders to answer this. Not me,” he said in his Facebook post.

“As a suggestion, perhaps the various Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should come together and have a forum to discuss this,” Larry, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, said.

“They can also honour their community leaders who have succeeded in various fields like academia, business, sports and entertainment, and take the opportunity to chart a vision and shared goals for the community,” he said.

He agreed that since uniting all Dayaks under one party is difficult to fathom let alone achieve for now. he believes it is easier for all Dayaks to agree on some common ground, perhaps achieving higher representation in state seats or holding of government posts or improving equity in the private sector holding, etc.

“I believe that much can be achieved when people come together to share their opinion. This isn’t a challenge to GPS, or other races.

“On the contrary,  think the state government should very much be a part of it.

“It is not my intention here to play politics or to stoke Dayak sentiments. I just feel that if such issues are left untouched for too long, the racial harmony and unity in the state will be easily challenged when the disparity becomes too wide.

“It is also a good platform for GPS to showcase what they have achieved for the Dayaks and dispel any false truths with facts,” he added.

He noted that following his podcast interview on “Tuak Talk” he has received good feedback and support from members of the Dayak community and some minor criticisms.

Baru Bian vows to take legal actions against anyone who publishes defamatory statements against him

KUCHING, March 26 2026: Ba’Kelalan State Legislative Member (SLM) Baru Bian (picture) said he intends to take all necessary steps, including the commencement of legal proceedings, against the person(s) responsible for the publication of the defamatory

 statements against him. 

He referred to a post published on the Facebook page of account holder “Kam Agong Lawas Sarawak” yesterday which contains allegations that he, together with Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Member of Parliament for Lawas Henry Sum Agong, are involved in drug-related activities and corruption in Lawas.

“These allegations were subsequently republished and broadcast on Berita 7.57 on the same day,” Baru, who is Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) vice president, said in a statement.

“The individual responsible for this Facebook page has made numerous similar postings in the past. “However, this latest allegation crosses a serious line,” he said, stressing that the claims are entirely baseless, malicious, and clearly intended to damage his credibility and reputation as the SLM for Ba’Kelalan.

“The statements made by this person are false, defamatory, and constitute a serious attack on my character and integrity,” Baru, a lawyer, said.

“They appear to have been made with malice and with the clear intention of bringing me into public disrepute,” he added.

 

Firefighters deploying helicopter to water bomb the bushfires

TATAU,  March 26 2026:  Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has resorted to deploying helicopter in the efforts to put off the bushfires  that have spread to over 8 hectares of secondary jungle in Kuala Tatau Serupai here.

Caption: An helicopter ferry a bucket of water to be dropped on the fire spots 

Firefighters have so far extinguished the bushfire involving an area of 3 hectares since it started last Monday.

According to Tatau Bomba, the fire is now threatening to spread to the farms of the villagers in Kuala Tatau Serupai.

The villages, however, are not in immediate danger as the bushfires are far away.

The fire is believed to have started about 4pm on March 23.

Due to the current dry season, the bushfires grows bigger and spread to wider area.

According to Tatau Bomba, Miri Fire Brigade Air Unit arrived at the location at about 11am to help extinguish the forest fire due to the location not having sufficient open water sources for personnel to prevent the fire from spreading.

 A total of 15 extinguishing operations using the 'Water-Bombing' method have been carried out by the Miri Fire Brigade Air Unit in several fire spots at the location in the morning.

Currently, the operations by the Air Unit are still being carried out.

At 2pm, the operations Commander reported that the Miri Fire Brigade Air Unit has carried out 30 'Water-Bombing' Operations by taking water sources from seawater and now the Miri Fire Brigade Air Unit has gone to Bintulu Airport to refuel.

It was also reported that the area of the forest that has burned has increased to 8 hectares and the extinguishing so far carried out by Fire Brigade personnel has extinguished 3 hectares of the total burned area.