Dr Annuar proposes setting up Sibu Economic Forum Authiority to drive economic growth

SIBU, July 11 2026: The Sibu Economic Forum Authority has been proposed to drive economic growth in Sibu and the central zone of Sarawak through a more structured approach focused on investment and job creation. 

Caption: Deputy Minister DrAnnuar Rapaee says Sibu needs more economic activities

Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dr Annuar Rapaee said that while physical development in Sibu continues to be enhanced through various state government infrastructure projects, the town now requires a dedicated body focusing on economic development to spur business and industrial activities.

“Sibu needs more economic activities to create quality job opportunities. We do not want to continue losing talent when many Sibu-born youths migrate to work outside Sarawak and overseas.

“For this reason, I propose that a Sibu Economic Forum Authority be established to plan and implement an economic agenda that can transform Sibu into a new growth hub in the central zone of Sarawak,” he said at the Sarawak Ku Sayang (SKS) Sibu 2026 programme officiated by  Premier Abang  Johari Openg today.

According to Dr Annuar, Sibu’s strategic location enables the town to be developed into a food industry and logistics hub supplying needs throughout Sarawak, while stimulating the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and attracting new investments.

“This body will not only plan but also implement economic activities ranging from SMEs to larger industries to provide employment opportunities. Sibu will then grow at a faster pace compared with other areas due to its strategic location.

“If we have a large food industry, Sibu can become a food supply hub for the whole of Sarawak,” he added.

He also highlighted the issue of brain drain, which has become increasingly evident as many Sibu-born individuals choose to build their careers outside the state. This could expose the town to the risk of an ageing population if quality employment opportunities are not expanded.

In a related development, Dr Annuar praised the leadership of the Sarawak Premier for successfully introducing various transformative policies over nearly a decade, particularly in the education sector.

He said policies such as the use of English as the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics, free higher education at Sarawak government-owned institutions, and the establishment of state-owned international schools were strategic measures to produce globally competitive human capital.

He added that the approach had also received recognition from world-class economists, who viewed Sarawak as being on the right path through its four key pillars — economy, energy, environment and education.

Besides that, Dr Annuar said various infrastructure projects, including new roads, alternative routes, the redevelopment of Kampung Datu and the Kemuyang housing project, demonstrated the Sarawak Government’s continuous commitment towards improving the people’s well-being and strengthening Sibu’s development.

He hoped the people’s support for the Sarawak Premier’s leadership would continue so that the state’s development, education and economic agendas could be implemented continuously for the prosperity of all Sarawakians.

National legislations needed to be strengthened further, says DPM Fadillah

KUCHING, July 11 2026: National legislations, especially on security, need to be further strengthened to address the threat of radical and extremist ideologies, but efforts to shape the character of society based on noble values ​​must remain a priority.


Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said although the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) is in place, the act is not as strong as the Internal Security Act (ISA) in curbing security threats including issues involving religion, race and the royal institution (3R).

"That has already been made a policy decision but that is why we have to strengthen our country's legislation.

"We know that SOSMA is already there, but SOSMA is not as strong as the ISA when it comes to curbing the 3Rs, it is really difficult," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the closing a seminar on the Sustainability of Islam Nusantara Sarawak Maju Makmur 2026M/1448H at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) today.

However, Fadillah said that any effort to strengthen legislation must take into account the balance between national security and community harmony, in addition to meeting international standards.

According to him, legislation is only the last step in dealing with security threats, while efforts to form character and noble values ​​among the community must be given priority.

Elaborating further, he stressed that character formation is more important than focusing on legislation because it is the most effective approach to curbing the spread of radical and extremist beliefs among the community.

"What is more important is to form human values ​​themselves because character formation is more important to me than us focusing on legislation.

"Because in the end, if every individual can be born with a good personality, then we can put aside the radical and extreme nature, so in the end everyone will always love each other," he explained.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayub Khan Mydin Pichey, President of the Sarawak Islamic Council  Misnu Taha, Sabah Mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar and Senior Director of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department Dr Yamin Ismail were also present.

 

State govt examining approaches to expand access to dental health services to rural areas, says deputy health minister

KUCHING, July 11 2026: The Sarawak government is examining approaches to expand access to dental health services to rural areas, including through a proposal to integrate the service with the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) to ensure that residents in hard-to-reach areas continue to receive the treatment they need.

Caption: Deputy Health Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib says the government wants to ensure that no community in rural areas is left out

Deputy Health Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib said the initiative is among the government's efforts to strengthen the delivery of dental health services to be more inclusive and comprehensive, especially to rural and rural communities.

"We want to ensure that no community in rural areas is left out of receiving dental health services. That is why we are examining more effective delivery methods ,including the possibility of utilizing the Air Doctor Service," she told reporters the launching Sarawak-level Dental Health Promotion Week 2026 at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) today,

She said Sarawak currently has 53 fixed dental service facilities, in addition to being supported by eight mobile dental clinics that provide services in rural areas via the road network.

For settlements without road access, 127 mobile dental teams were deployed using four-wheel drive vehicles, vans and boats to conduct dental examinations and treatments for residents.

She said the government would continue to evaluate more effective service delivery methods to ensure that dental health coverage could be expanded according to the needs of the community, especially in rural areas.

In the same development, Hanifah said the health sector still needed more manpower, including dentists, specialists, nurses and support staff, to strengthen the capacity to deliver health services throughout the state.

“We still need more dentists, specialists, nurses and support staff to ensure that health service delivery could be strengthened, especially in rural and rural areas,” she said.

She said the matter would continue to be discussed with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to examine the need for additional dentists, specialists, nurses and support staff in an effort to strengthen health service delivery in Sarawak.

She also reminded the community to practise consistent dental health care because good oral health was an important component in ensuring well-being and quality of life.

MBKS Mayor Wee Hong Seng, Deputy State Health Director Dr Misah Md Ramli, Deputy Director-General of Health (Dental Health) of the Ministry of Health Malaysia Dr Fauziah Ahmad, and Deputy State Health Director (Management) of the Sarawak State Health Department Banges Munga.

 

Willie rubbishes opposition's claims that the cancellation of three major bridge projects was to make way for SSLR project

KUCHING, July 11 2026: Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament (MP) Willie Mongin today dismissed claims the cancellation of the Batang Lupar Bridge, Kuala Igan Bridge and Rambungan Bridge projects in 2018 was made to make way for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project

Caption: Puncak Borneo MP Willie says PH federal government called about 400 projects

He said the claims are inaccurate, misleading and not in line with the chronology, official government records and Parliament's Hansard.

“The fact is, after taking over the administration of the federal government in 2018, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has announced the review and cancellation of hundreds of development projects on the grounds of financial constraints.

“ On  October 5 2018, the media reported that around 400 government projects had been cancelled through an official statement from the Ministry of Finance, including projects with less than 15 percent progress, projects that have been approved but not yet tendered and projects that have been tendered but not yet started.

“Among the affected projects are three bridge projects in Sarawak,” he said in a statement expressing support to Premier Abang Johari Openg’s contention that the three bridges were cancelled by the PH government, not suspended as alleged by the opposition Sarawak DAP.

Willie said the then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had previously explained that several mega projects across the country had to be cancelled or restructured due to the country's financial position after taking over the administration. This was the then government's official stance on the rationale for reviewing the projects.

“The claims that the cancellation of the three bridge projects was made to make way for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Project is baseless and contradicts the facts.

“The three bridge projects were cancelled by the PH government in 2018. On the contrary, the SSLR Phase 1 Project had already started the procurement (tender) process as early as 2017 when  Fadillah Yusof held the portfolio as Minister of Works.

“Subsequently, the SSLR project was officially approved in 2020 at a cost of RM1.2 billion when the Ministry of Works was led by Baru Bian,” Willie said.

Premier Abang Johari wants community leaders to improve their leadership standards

SIBU, July 10 2026:  The leadership standards of community leaders need to be improved to be able to meet the needs of the new era that has witnessed rapid changes in technology, green economy and the global development landscape.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg says that  among the changes that the community leaders need understand include low-carbon economic development, carbon trading and digitalisation of government services.

Premier Abang Johari Openg said that they need to go beyond the traditional role of information transmitters, instead becoming leaders who understand government policies, master digital technology and are able to guide the people in facing current changes.

According to him, failure to understand new policies will create a gap in understanding between the government and the people, thus affecting the implementation of the state's development agenda.
"That is why the standards of community leaders, I apologize, need to be improved. Otherwise, there will be no correct understanding between the people and our policies and our policies are made to the needs of the new era," he said at a dinner with the community leaders night.

The premier added that among the changes that they need understand include low-carbon economic development, carbon trading, digitalisation of government services, use of technology in administration and development centered on environmental sustainability.

According to him, community leaders need to understand the approach so that it is in line with government policies that are adapted to the demands of the new era, especially in the aspects of digitalisation and use of technology.

"This is what we call 'bottom-up', from the bottom up, not from the top down.

"This is the policy of our government under my leadership from the beginning until today. That is why in this Sibu area we want community leaders to understand the policy that we are implementing today, which is that we are in line with the needs of the new era," he said.

He also reminded that the future of Sarawak depends on the ability of its own people to govern and develop the state without being too dependent on other parties.

"Sarawak must depend on the strength of Sarawak itself. Only Sarawakians can manage Sarawak," he stressed.