The site of the new SK Tudan to close due to the presence of flammable gas underground

MIRI, Feb 6 2026: The Hazmat team from Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomab) station has found the presence of flammable gas, namely natural gas (methane, propane and butane) underground of the the new SK Tudan,  Lutong Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station said in a statement tonight. 

Caption: Hamzat team members conducting test on the site of the new SK Tudan- Photo by Bomba 

Accordingly, the Hazmat team recommended that the area be closed, it said.

“Any location with a drill hole or perforation must be closed or completely filled in if the area is to be opened to the public and schools,” Lutong station advised.

“Local authorities are also advised to ensure that no activities are carried out in the area until the drill hole has been completely filled in to avoid any safety risks,” it said.

It also issued an advisory services and confirmation from the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, Department of Environment (DOE) and Department of Chemistry Malaysia have been contacted.

The station said readings taken near the borehole using  four Gas Detector (GFG) equipment showed LEL readings between 30 per cent and above, indicating a high fire risk level.

“Gas monitoring in the surrounding area within a radius of five metres showed the LEL reading was 0%.

“It was found that the LEL reading was at normal levels when the borehole was closed, but the LEL reading increased significantly when the borehole was opened,” the station said.

 This morning, construction work of the SK Tudan’s new building was temporarily halted after an unknown type of gas was “seen” emitting out of a 33.9-metre deep pile hole.

Lutong station’s spokesman said decision to halt the construction work was made after discussions between the police, Sarawak Gas, the contractor and headmaster of SK Tudan.

He assured that continuous monitoring will be carried out while waiting for assistance from the  Bintulu station’s Hazmat Unit to arrive.

According to the spokesman, the Lutong station received a call from the contractor about 10.15am, informing about the emission of gas from the pile holes.

 

The sum of RM1.8 billion valuation of the Bintulu Port was amicably agreed between state and federal govts, MIPD office clarifies

KUCHING, Feb 6 2026: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) clarified today that the RM1.8 billion valuation of the Bintulu Port was amicably agreed through constructive engagement between the federal and the Sarawak governments. 

MIPD Permanent Secretary’s Office said the agreement was reached by the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Abang Johari Openg.

 “This reflects the strong spirit of cooperation and mutual respect underpinning federal–state relations,” MIPD office in a statement in response to Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan’s criticism of the amount to be paid by Sarawak government.

It said that the valuation represents the combined value of port assets based on detailed valuation exercises and negotiations.

“It is not an arbitrary figure,” MIPD office, referring to Voon’s comments.

“Historically, the land allocated for Bintulu Port was alienated to the federal government, with land premiums paid to the Sarawak government,” it said, adding that key infrastructure, including the LNG and Oil Terminals, was also constructed at the Bintulu Port Authority’s cost.

“The return of Bintulu Port is a foundational step towards a central port authority framework in Sarawak, enabling more coordinated and efficient port development, and strengthening Sarawak’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub.

“This move is fully aligned with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which prioritises modern, integrated infrastructure to drive economic diversification, sustainable growth, and enhanced connectivity, benefiting both Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole.

“The ministry remains committed to responsible stewardship of Sarawak’s ports and continued collaboration with all stakeholders to advance shared prosperity,” MIPD office said.

At a press conference, Voon questioned the willingness of the state government accepting to pay RM1.8 billion for the acquisition of Bintulu Port from the federal government.

He wanted a transparent disclosure by the Sarawak GPS government on why it agreed to the payment without public consultation.

He described the amount asked by the federal government as political extortion and called for an independent assessment body to be appointed to determine on how much the federal government has already earned from Bintulu Port over the decades.  

He claimed that the federal government had made lots or money from Bintulu Port -which could be in trillions of ringgits since the Port was taken over by the federal authority.

Voon also said for decades, Bintulu’s land, resources, and strategic location were used by the federal government to generate enormous revenue, without fair compensation to Sarawak.

He added that he has found no publicly disclosed record that the federal government paid any compensation to Sarawak at the time Bintulu was declared a federal port.

He also said that he has found no credible sources to show a payment been made to Sarawak related to that historical change.

“In other words, historically, there is no known cash compensation paid to the state by the federal government for the historical federal status of Bintulu Port,” he said.

On Feb 4, federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in Parliament that the Sarawak government had agreed to pay RM1.8 billion for the acquisition of Bintulu Port from the federal government.

 

Unidentified gas coming out from pile hole halts construction work at a site near SK Tudan in Lutong

MIRI, Feb 6 2026: Construction work at a site near SK Tudan was temporarily halted this morning after an unidentified type of gas was “seen” coming out of a 33.9-metre deep pile hole, Lutong Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station’s spokesman in a statement said.

Caption: Firemen installing barriers around the construction site - Photo by Bomba 

He said decision to halt the construction work was made after discussions between the police, Sarawak Gas, the contractor and headmaster of SK Tudan.

“After making a size-up,  Lutong station firemen installed barriers around the pile pillars involved.  

“Work at the construction site was temporarily halted due to safety factors,” the spokesman said.

He assured that continuous monitoring will be carried out while waiting for assistance from the  Bintulu station’s Hazmat Unit to arrive.

After ensuring that the situation was under control and safe, the firemen returned to the station.

According to the spokesman, the Lutong station received a call from the contractor about 10.15am, informing about the emission of gas from the pile holes.