Firefighters battling raging fire in Similaju area

BINTULU, March 24, 2026: Firefighters are currently battling a raging fire that has destroyed approximately three hectares of forest in the Similaju area.

Caption: Forest-fire in Similaju area - Photo by Bomba 

The Kidurong Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), in a statement, said extinguishing operations are ongoing.

A team of seven firefighters, equipped with firefighting gear, has been deployed to contain the blaze.

Extinguishing operations are being carried out by deploying 2x 400-foot streams, 2x water source nozzles from machinery and water tankers.

 Work to control the spread is underway.

The department said it received a distress call from a member of the public at around 7pm, reporting the fire.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Tatau Serupai, also within the Bintulu division, firefighters are working to put out separate bushfires.

According to Kidurong Bomba, about three hectares of forested land have been affected. Today marks the second consecutive day that firefighters have been battling the fires.

 

After 20 years of waiting, Wei Wei finally gets her Identity Card with the "K" status

SIBU, March 24 2026:  After 20 years of living in uncertainty, Lau Wei Wei has finally obtained a Malaysian identity card with a  'K' status, thus changing her life status as a Sarawakian.

Caption: Lau Wei Wei receiving her Identity Card with the "K" status from Deputy Minister Michael Tiang - Photo by Ukas 

Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang Ming Tee said the success was the result of the efforts of the Pelawan Service Centre which helped resolve the documentation issues Wei Wei had faced since birth.

“Wei Wei’s mother is a native Sarawakian but does not have an identity card. Therefore, Wei Wei faced various difficulties in obtaining a MyKad with the ‘K’ status before.

“Today, with the help of our service centre under the leadership of Kapitan So Teck Kee, she successfully obtained citizenship, which is a MyKad with the ‘K’ status as a Sarawakian,” he told reporters at his service centre here today.

At the same time, he said Kapitan So Teck Kee together with Penghulu Ting Tien Huat are currently assisting in the application for an identity card for Wei Wei’s mother.

He also revealed that the issue of stateless individuals still occurs in Sarawak and requires continuous attention from various parties.

“Based on the National Registration Department, any Sarawakian, whether the mother or father is a Sarawakian, and born anywhere in Malaysia, is still eligible to be registered with the prefix ‘K’,” he said.

He stressed that the prefix ‘K’ is not just an identity, but also opens up access to various state government facilities including educational and welfare assistance.

“The Sarawak government provides many initiatives for MyKad ‘K’ holders, including secondary education, higher education and assistance such as SKAS,” he said.

In this regard, he urged Sarawak parents to ensure their children are registered to obtain their due rights.

Baru Bian elected as chairman of PDP Ba'Kelalan division at its triennial general meeting

LAWAS, March 24 2026: Ba’Kelalan State Legislative Member (SLM) Baru Bian (picture) was elected as chairman of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Ba’Kelalan division as its recent triennial general meeting held here.

According to a Facebook post by PDP Ba’Kelalan service centre, the meeting, held on March 18 went smoothly and full of unity.

“This meeting showed the unity and strong commitment of PDP members to continue fighting for the development and future of the people of Ba’ Kelalan,” the post said.

The post went to congratulate Baru, who is also PDP vice president, being elected as chairman of the Ba’Kelalam division,  together with the new leadership who will continue the party’s struggle.

“With experience, commitment and support from the people, we are confident that Baru will continue to lead the voice and better development for Ba’ Kelalan,” the post said.

It added that the struggle is not just for today, but for the future of the generations of Ba’ Kelalan.

Prior to the 2021 state election, Baru won Ba’Kelalan on PKR ticket.

He left PKR in 2020 and in the 2021 state election, he stood as a Parti Bersatu Sarawak (PSB) candidate and retained his Ba’Kelalan seat.

When PSB was dissolved, Baru joined PDP  in 2024 and was made a vice president.

Before leaving PKR, he was its Sarawak chapter chairman

Joseph Blandoi to replace Paulus Gumbang in Batu Danau?

KUCHING, March 24 2026: Speculations are being viralled on social media that incumbent Paulus Gumbang may be replaced by  a state-government linked statutory authority general manager Joseph Blandoi in Batu Danau in the next state election.

Caption: Salcra general manager Joseph Blandoi is among the names being floated to contest in Batu Danau on GPS ticket in the state election 

Paulus, 75, won the Batu Danau seat in the 2011 state election on a Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP)- Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket.

However, he and three other leaders were later sacked following an uprising against the party leadership.

The others were Rosey Yunos (Bekenu), Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru) and Sylvester

Entri Muran (Marudi).

Under the directive of the then Chief Minister Adenan Satem, SPDP reinstated them to ensure political stability in the BN.

However, their membership in SPDP was uncertain and a result, Paulus and Rosey contested in the 2016 state election as direct candidates of the BN while Nansian and Entrie did not contest.

After the 2016, Paulus and Rosey were accepted as PBB members.

At the moment, there is no indication to say that Paulus will not defend his seat.

According to an analysis by “Sarawak First”, Batu Danau is increasingly seen as one of the seats that is most likely to undergo a reform process ahead of the upcoming state election.

In the 2016 state election, Paulus won Batu Danau with a majority of 2,939 votes, but in the 2021 state election, that majority has shrunk to just 706 votes, indicating that the voters wanted a change of their elected representative from GPS.

Among the names that have cropped up to replace Paulus as GPS candidates was Jopseh Blandoi.

Apart from being the general manager of Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra), he is also the president of Sarawak Bisaya Association and chairman of the Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA).

Blandoi has a close relationship with the state government leadership, especially Deputy Premier and PBB deputy president Douglas Uggah and Minister of Food Industries, Commodity and Regional Development and PBB senior vice president Dr Stephen Rundie.

Governor, wife express deep appreciation to visitors who attended their Hari Raya open house

KUCHING, March 23 2026: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi  Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi have expressed their deepest gratitude to the visitors who attended their Hari Raya open house on March 21 and 22 at the Astana Negeri.

Governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says the attendance far exceeded the initial expectations 

In a statement, the governor said the presence of almost 27,000 visitors who came to pay their respects to convey Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to him,  his wife and family members was very touching.

“On the first day alone, we received 25,000 visitors, while almost 2,000 guests attended on the second day,” he said.

Wan Junaidi said the attendance far exceeded the initial expectations, but it reflects the strong family spirit among the people from the villages of Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Betong and Sibu districts and the people of Kuching city.

“To welcome the guests on the first day, there were 14 stalls, almost all of which were small traders from around Kuching city, who provided a variety of traditional dishes such as satay, ketupat, rendang, curry, ice kacang, kolok mee, mee jawa and of course the iconic Sarawak Lapis Kek.

“We are very grateful that they had sufficient food and drinks for everyone to enjoy,” the governor said.

He added the atmosphere of this celebration was very lively, saying that he and his wife felt very happy to see the presence of people from various ages, races and religions.

“The effect of unity cannot be valued with money,” he added.

The governor said the beauty of this diversity brightened the event when the guests arrived in their respective ethnic traditional costumes, stating that he himself  wore a tengkolok and his wife wore a baju kurung with keringkam decorations that are quite synonymous with Sarawak's cultural heritage.

He expressed his confidence that the celebration will continue to be a platform to strengthen the bond of friendship and brotherhood among Sarawakians