Retirement from service does not mean you cannot continue to contribute to society, Fatimah tells teachers

DALAT, Aug 25 2026: Retirement from service does not mean that retired teachers retire from the world of education and humanity, Fatimah Abdullah stressed, stating that on the contrary, the experience, knowledge and values they possess can still continue to contribute to society.

Caption: Minister Fatimah Abdullah says retirement only ends official duties as a teacher

The Minister of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development said that retired teachers have extensive experience that is very valuable in guiding the younger generation, supporting families and strengthening community development.

"Retirement only ends the official duties as a teacher, but never ends the values, knowledge and calling of an educator,” Fatimah, whois also a retired teacher, stressed.

"A teacher's classroom is actually never truly closed. "Only the walls have changed to be wider," she said  at the Dalat retired teachers' reunion gathering at the Dalat Welfare Complex today.

She said after retirement, former teachers can continue to contribute through various spaces in society such as community halls, libraries, residents' associations, youth activity centres, learning spaces and community activities.

She said the experience of retired teachers can be used to guide children to read and write, help young people build self-confidence and share experiences related to education, careers and life.

"Retired teachers can also play a role in preserving local language, literature, oral history and culture which are important treasures to be recorded and passed on to new generations.

"Retired teachers' contributions to society need to be implemented with an appropriate approach, including through humility, a willingness to listen and understand the needs of the community.

"This is because society does not necessarily need individuals who come with all the answers, but rather they also need people who are willing to listen, appreciate experiences and help find solutions," she added.

In this regard, she encouraged retired teachers to continue to choose spaces to contribute according to their abilities, health and interests, whether in the fields of education, literature, culture, welfare, guidance of the younger generation or community development.

Fatimah, who is also Dalat State Legislative Member, said that contributions to society do not necessarily start with large-scale programmes, but can instead be started through small actions that are carried out sincerely and continuously.

PKR VP Roland Engan says nothing wrong for Chieng Jen to appeal for more DAP candidates voted into state assembly

MIRI, Aug 25 2026: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Roland Engan today defended Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chong Jen’s appeal to Sarawakians to vote in more DAP candidates into the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) in the coming state election.

Caption: PKR vice president Roland Engan says political competition must focus on a competition of ideas

He said that there is nothing constitutionally and legally wrong for Chong to seek support from the voters, pointing out that all political parties are doing the same thing in the run-up to every state or parliamentary elections.

“Political competition must focus on a competition of ideas, principles, and comprehensive strategies to develop Sarawak as a whole.

“It should not degenerate into a debate on who is more "Sarawakian" simply because of the difference in status between national political parties and regional or locally based parties,” Roland said in a statement.

Chong, who is also Padungan State Legislative Member (SLM), was mocked by Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan for appealing to Sarawakians to vote in more DAP candidates into SLA.

Voon said the weak leadership of the Sarawak DAP has boosted the strength of Gabungan Pari Sarawak (GPS).

He also urged Sarawakians to support local parties such as PBK in the state election.

Stop criticising Sarawak DAP over its appeal to Sarawakians for more YBs, PBK president told

KUCHING, Aug 25 2026: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has been asked to stop criticising the Sarawak DAP over its appeal to the people to  elect its candidates into the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) in the coming state election.

 Caption: Sarawak DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) organising secretary Chong Hong Hien says he wonders if PBK is genuinely committed to serving the people of Sarawak and truly wants to be the eyes and ears of Sarawakians in SLA 

Sarawak DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) organising secretary Chong Hong Hien said PBK should look at itself before crticising the Sarawak DAP.

“PBK is a very typical election party. Since the 2021 Sarawak state election, it has yet to establish even a single basic service centre.

“More importantly, despite not having established any service centre, PBK was nevertheless able to travel to Sabah to participate in the Sabah state election held at the end of last year,” Chong said in a statement.

He wondered if PBK is genuinely committed to serving the people of Sarawak and truly wants to be the eyes and ears of Sarawakians in SLA, overseeing the Sarawak government, then it should not merely keep repeating the seemingly attractive slogan of ‘Sarawak independence’.

“ Instead, it should serve the people of Sarawak on the ground, reach out to communities, understand the problems faced by the people, and criticise unfair and unreasonable policies of the Sarawak government,” he said.

Chong said PBK cannot, on the one hand, claim that it wants to replace DAP and become Sarawak’s mainstream opposition party, while on the other hand appearing to be increasingly close to SUPP.

“If a political party cannot even clearly articulate its basic political position and principles, how can it expect Sarawakians to believe that it can represent the people and provide checks and balances against the government in SLA?” he asked.

Chong stressed that PBK’s participation in the coming state election is something that can be expected, and that the emergence of a wider range of political parties actively participating in elections is, in itself, a positive development and a step forward for Sarawak’s democratic process.

However, he pointed out that having more political parties contesting elections alone is not enough. “What Sarawakians really want to know is: what exactly can a political party that has not even established a service centre do for the people of Sarawak?” he asked.

He said Sarawakians do not need political parties that only appear before elections and disappear after elections, nor do they need parties that merely know how to shout slogans.

“What Sarawakians need is a political party with firm positions, clear principles, genuine grassroots presence, and the commitment to continuously speak up for the people,” he said.

Voon, a former DAP SLM for Batu Lintang, had suggested recently that Sarawakians should now consider giving PBK an opportunity to take over the role of leading the opposition or even as the government to protect people first, not Malaya first and not Sarawak first 

“Sarawak First is about mega infrastructure and development benefitting the capitalists but not Food on the Table for the people which both GPS,  DAP and Malaya are able to help to the expectation of people

“The era of Malayan-style politics and Malayan-based political parties in Sarawak should come to an end,” he said, adding that Sarawakians want local political parties that understand Sarawak's own interests, aspirations and political realities. 

He called on Sarawakians to give local Sarawak parties a stronger mandate and allow themselves to determine the future political direction of the state.

SFC issuing licences for crocodile eggs collection in move to control the reptile population

MIRI, Aug  24 2026:  Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is issuing licenses to collect crocodile eggs as part of its approach to managing the reptile population in a controlled and sustainable manner.

Caption: SFC crocodile management section director Dr Mohd Izwan Zulaini Abdul Gani 

Wildlife Officer of the SFC crocodile management section Dr Mohd Izwan Zulaini Abdul Gani said the initiative was introduced two years ago and several licenses have been issued, but the response is still low.

He said  SFC is ready to work with licensees to collect crocodile eggs from wild habitats, especially in areas that have the potential to pose a risk to human safety.

“Apart from hunting licenses, we actually have a license to collect crocodile eggs which may not be known to many.

“There have been several applications and licenses issued, but the response is still low,” he said when delivering a briefing at the Inter-Agency Special Task Force Meeting on Human-Crocodile Conflict Management Number 1 of 2026 at a recent Miri Division Resident’s Office..

Dr Mohd Izwan said that the SFC recently received a report on the discovery of a crocodile nest in an oil palm plantation area in Miri.

“Because there was no licensee willing to collect the eggs, the SFC took action to remove them from the area to reduce the risk to plantation workers and the surrounding residents.

“When there is a nest, female crocodiles are usually also nearby and this situation can be dangerous,” he explained.

He said that Miri previously had at least one licensee collecting crocodile eggs who collaborated with the SFC to remove the eggs from the wild habitat.

Commenting on crocodile breeding, Dr Mohd Izwan, who has almost 15 years of experience in reptile management, said that the largest number of eggs he had ever found in a nest in Sarawak was about 70.

According to him, although there are claims that a crocodile can produce up to 100 eggs, the maximum number is estimated to be around 80 based on field observations.

He also explained that female crocodiles need to mate with male crocodiles to produce fertile eggs, while female crocodiles that do not mate can still lay eggs but the eggs will not produce young crocodiles.

He said that understanding crocodile breeding patterns is important to help the SFC determine appropriate population management methods, including through licensed egg collection in certain areas.

Wild fires at Samunsan Forest Reserve extinquished by firefighters

LUNDU, Aug 24 2026: Firefighters have succeeded today in putting out wild fires that has devastated two hectares of Samunsan Lundu Forest Reserve, after five days' efforts.

Caption: We did it, say the firemen after they have put out the fire at the Samunsan Forest Reserve

Lundu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received  call in the afternoon of Aug 20 from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

Operation commander Muhamad Hazijul Abdul Mujun said that fire has devastated two hectares of the forest reserve before it was put under control.

The firemen carried  out extinguishing operations using the fire Forest pump, 1 500-foot hose, one open  source nozzle (nearby river).

The extinguishing operation is complete. Work is underway to pack up equipment and operational supplies.

The operation to put out the fire has been completely ended by 4.10pm and the machinery and personnel have returned to the station.