PMX approves RM150 million allocation for repair works on Sungai Sarawak barrage

KUCHING, March 13 2026: The federal government has approved an allocation of RM150 million for repair works on Sungai Sarawak barrage which has been affected by erosion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (picture) said his deputy Fadillah Yusof had requested the allocation from him during the previous government cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his deputy Fadillah Yusof had requested the allocation from him during the previous government cabinet meeting.

He explained that the allocation application was approved during today’s State Development Meeting held at the Satria Pertiwi Complex which was also attended by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg.

"So we have agreed after listening, around RM150 million has been allocated to immediately repair the barrage," he said when speaking at the Sarawak Level Madani Iftar ceremony 2026 at the Sarawak State Mosque, Petra Jaya.

Fadillah, when met by reporters, said that the allocation of RM150 million was to address the issue of erosion at the barrage, especially in the upstream and downstream areas.

He said that this matter was discussed in the context of the flood limitation plan, and a state study on the integrity of the barrage was one of the important things requested before approval could be given.

"Only the study from the state needs to be given as soon as possible so that we can take it to the Ministry of Economy and also to the Cabinet," he explained.

On March 10, Sarawak Minister of Transport Lee Kim Shin had said that Fadillah had acknowledged the urgent need to undertake remedial works to address the deteriorating structural conditions of the Sarawak River Barrage.

Lee said that Fadillah, in a meeting with a delegation of the state MoT, also wanted the expansion of riverbed scouring both upstream and downstream of the barrage to be continued.

“These works are essential to ensure the continued effectiveness of the barrage in supporting flood mitigation efforts in Kuching and its surrounding areas,” Lee said in a statement.

According to Lee, Fadillah stressed the importance of enhancing the river monitoring system and encouraged closer collaboration between the federal Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and its state counterpart on the proposed upgrading of telemetry stations at barrage.

“The upgrading initiative is expected to improve real-time monitoring capabilities and strengthen flood management operations along the Sungai Sarawak Basin,” he said.

 

Fuziah: No cases of traders caught selling 1kg polybag of cooking oil to non-Malaysians during inspections since March 1

KUCHING, March 13 2026: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has carried out 563 inspections in Sarawak since March 1 to ensure strict compliance with the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag of cooking oil. 

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Fuziah Salleh sayssince March 1, a total of 13,564 inspections relating to the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag cooking oil to non-Malaysians have been carried out nationwide

“The inspection results found that so far no cases have been recorded in Sarawak to date,” the ministry’s deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said in a statement.

She said the ministry’s enforcement division team visited a supermarket in Matang to inspect the level of compliance with the implementation of the ban, the team found that transactions involving 1kg polybag cooking oil at the premises were under control with sufficient supply.

“During the visit, a Notice of Prohibition on the Sale and Purchase of 1kg Polybag Cooking Oil to Non-Malaysians was also handed over to managing director of of the supermarket  as a reminder regarding compliance with the regulations in force,” Fuziah said.

She said that since March 1, a total of 13,564 inspections relating to the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag cooking oil to non-Malaysians have been carried out nationwide.

“The results of the inspections found that no case action was recorded, while only seven complaints were received regarding the implementation of the ban,” she added,

Fuziah noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs also implemented the OPS PANTAU 2026 from 19 February to 20 March 2026 as a proactive government measure to monitor the supply and prices of essential goods throughout Ramadan and ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

She said a total\, 4,838 inspections were carried out in Sarawak during the same period, addig that the monitoring results found that 53 complaints were received and 142 cases were recorded, with 115 on-the-spot compounds issued against traders who committed the offence.

15 flood mitigation projects, costing RM3.39 billion, in Sarawak, says PETRA

PUTRAJAYA, March 13 2026: : A total of 15 flood mitigation projects are being and will be implemented with a total cost of RM3.39 billion to strengthen comprehensive and phased flood mitigation measures in Sarawak.

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) in a media statement today said the projects that are being implemented through the federal Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

“Of the total, five projects are at the pre-implementation stage, three projects are currently being implemented while seven projects have been fully completed,” the statement said.

According to the statement, under the 12MP, 453 river conservation works have been completed at a cost of RM50.9 million which involves efforts to increase river flow capacity and stabilize banks to reduce the risk of flooding in affected areas.

In addition, PETRA announced that 548 contingency emergency projects were also implemented at a cost of RM45.3 million to address damage to river infrastructure and immediately reduce the risk of flooding in affected areas.

To further strengthen flood mitigation efforts, the federal government has also allocated RM50 million under the 13MP to implement minor river conservation works in Sarawak including river channeling, repairing collapsed banks and upgrading related assets to ensure that the drainage system and rivers function more efficiently.

PETRA reiterated its commitment with the Sarawak government to continue to improve flood management capabilities through the implementation of flood mitigation projects, river conservation and continuous collaboration with the state government and relevant agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of the people are always maintained.

Sarawak's developnent agenda is focus of meeting co-chaired by Anwar and Abang Johari

 KUCHING, March 13 2926: Sarawak's development agenda and its current development were the focus of development meeting held at the Satria Pertiwi Complex here this afternoon. 

Caption: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (6th from right) and Premier Abang Johari Openg (7th from right) posing for camera before they started their meeting - Picture by Ukas 

The meeting was co-chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Abang Openg to discuss the implementation of development and matters related to the state's needs.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was part of the prime minister's ongoing approach of going down to the states to hold direct discussions with state government leadership on the implementation of development and other needs involving the states.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Premiers Douglas Uggah Embas and Dr Sim Kui Hian, Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Minister Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts  Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development Fatimah Abdullah,  Minister of Transport Lee Kim Shin, Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Julaihi Narawi, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Roland Sagah Wee Inn, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud.

Also present were Chief Secretary to the federal government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Sarawak Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and State-Federal Relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications (Telecommunications) Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications (Utilities) Ibrahim Baki, Financial Secretary  Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Sarawak Attorney-General Saferi Ali, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning & Development),  Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and Sarawak Deputy Secretary (Administration) Felicia Tan Ya Hua.

Earlier, Anwar arrived for a half- day visit to Kuching.