Transport minister wants R&R facilities along Pan Borneo Highway to be given attention

JELUKONG, Aug 4 2026: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin wants Rest and Service Area (R&R) facilities along the Pan Borneo Highway  to be given attention to ensure road users enjoy safer, more comfortable and efficient journeys.

Caption: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin (second right) visiting a canteen at Jelukong R&R

He said sufficient R&R facilities are important given that the highway is the main land transport route in Sarawak which supports the movement of logistics and the mobility of the people.

He added R&R facilities are not only function as resting places, but also play an important role in reducing the risk of road accidents due to driver fatigue.

He said this to reporters during a visit to the Jelukong R&R area along the Pan Borneo Highway today.

He also encouraged all road users to take full advantage of R&R facilities by taking adequate rest, especially for long-distance journeys.

"Driver fatigue is a contributing factor to accidents, especially on long journeys. Therefore, stopping and resting for a while can help avoid the risk of accidents and ensure a safer journey," he explained.

During the visit, he was also briefed by officers from the Sarawak Public Works Department on existing facilities, maintenance aspects and operations in the area.

Apart from reviewing the layout and facilities provided, he also exchanged views with relevant parties regarding proposed improvements to increase user comfort, convenience and safety.

The visit was a follow-up to the Sarawak Ministry of Transport's engagement session with transport industry players regarding the planning and improvement of R&R facilities along the Pan Borneo Highway.

He said his ministry would continue to work closely with the Sarawak Public Works Department and related agencies to ensure that all R&R facilities are always in good condition, safe and function optimally for the well-being of road users in the state.

Uggah tellsTechnical Committee to give priority and finalise all outstanding issues under MA63 by December 2026

PUTRAJAYA: All outstanding issues related to the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be given priority and finalised before December 2026 after negotiations on the matter have lasted for almost a decade.

Caption: The Sarawak delegation to the MA63 Technical Committee meeting

Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas said that efforts to expedite the resolution of matters that are yet to be finalised are crucial to ensure that the implementation of MA63 can be fully realised for the benefit of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

He stated this at the Technical Committee Meeting under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) Number 2 of 2026 held in Putrajaya yesterday.

The meeting was chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud as Deputy Chairman of the MTPMA63 Technical Committee.

The Sarawak delegation was jointly led by  Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Premiers  Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and  Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Also joining the delegation were Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations)  Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali,  Attorney-General Saferi Ali, Financial Secretary  Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, heads of departments and senior Sarawak government officials.

Meanwhile, the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS), Prime Minister's Department presented the status of the implementation of MA63 which proved 13 matters resolved, five matters resolved on an interim basis, two matters still pending but policy decisions made, four matters still under discussion and five others referred for consideration at the highest level.

Among the main issues discussed were the increase in the number of Sabah and Sarawak State Civil Service posts under Article 112 of the Federal Constitution, the implementation of Borneonisation of the Federal Civil Service, health issues, education, delegation of authority related to environment matters and the development of the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan border area.

In the meantime,  Mustapha also directed all federal ministries and agencies to provide full cooperation to expedite the resolution of pending MA63 issues.

The Sarawak government also remains committed to continuing to cooperate with the Federal Government and the Sabah State Government in ensuring that the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is implemented comprehensively in line with the spirit of federalism and the interests of the people of Sabah and Sarawak. -

Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau ICQS) border post expected to boost tourism, trade activities between Sarawak and West Kalimantan

LUBOK ANTU. Aug 4 2026:  The proposed opening of a cross-border bus route connecting Kuching with Putussibau, West Kalimantan through the Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex is expected to boost  tourism, trade, medical and cross-border economic activities between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.

Caption: The Sarawak delegation with West Kalimantan officials at the Lubok Antu - Nanga Badau border post

Minister for Transport  Lee Kim Shin said that the proposal was currently being refined through a working visit to ICQS Lubok Antu to review the readiness of facilities and receive feedback from relevant agencies and bus operators regarding the implementation of the new route.

He said based on information received from the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Musa Derek Sairwona, the journey by land from Putussibau to Pontianak currently takes about 20 hours.

"However, if the route through ICQS Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau and then ICQS Tebedu-Entikong is used, the travel time is expected to be shortened by more than half, thus offering a faster and more efficient travel option to users," he said in a press conference after conducting a work visit to ICQS Lubok Antu yesterday.

Caption: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin speaking to reporters

Lee said that the ministry also saw potential in developing Kuching as a regional transit hub capable of connecting the air and land transport network between Sarawak and Indonesia.

He said, with the direct flight service between Kuching and Jakarta and the participation of AirBorneo in the future, the cross-border bus route will form a more integrated transport ecosystem.

"Passengers from Indonesia can continue their journey through Kuching International Airport to various destinations, while passengers arriving in Kuching can also continue their journey to Kalimantan via cross-border bus services," he said.

According to him, the two bus operating companies, namely Biaramas Express from Sarawak and DAMRI from Indonesia, have expressed their readiness to commence operations as soon as all approvals from the relevant authorities are obtained.

In order to speed up the implementation of the project, he shared that the Sarawak Ministry for Transport will submit an official letter to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to request that the approval process for the proposed cross-border bus route be expedited.

Also participating in the visit were Deputy Minister of Transport (MOTS) Dr Jerip Susil, MOTS Permanent Secretary Wong Hee Sieng, Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching Musa Derek Sairwona, Sri Aman Division Resident Mahra Salleh and other dignitaries

82 higher education students receiving financial assistance from Larry Sng Education Fund

JULAU, Aug 4 2026:  A total of 82 higher education students from Julau and Pakan  received  their financial assistance through the second phase of assistance of the Larry Sng Education Fund (LSEF)  for 2026 involving a total of  RM41,000.

Caption: Julau MP Larry Sng (seated, centre) with the students after the handing over of the financial assistance from the Larry Sng Education Fund

Of the 82 recipients, one student is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), two are pursuing a Master's degree, and the rest are Degree and Diploma students.

In his speech, Sng said that the year 2026 recorded the highest number of applications since the creation of the fund, thus demonstrating the growing number of educational assistance among young people.

“To date, 261 students from Pakan and Julau have benefited from LSEF, thus demonstrating a sustained commitment in helping local students pursue their studies in higher education institutions.

“I hope this assistance will ease the burden on the students and their families and be an incentive to continue to succeed in their studies,” he said in his Facebook post.

The Julau Member of Parliament also reminded all recipients to always give priority to their studies, besides maintaining their physical and mental health throughout their studies.

He also reminded them not use any challenge or obstacle as an excuse to drop out, saying that they should keep studying hard and stay away from things that can affect their future.

He advised them if they are facing stress or anxiety, they should not keep it to themselves, talk to school staff, lecturers, friends or family so that a solution to the problem can be found immediately.

“I hope that all the recipients will continue to strive to achieve academic excellence and return to contribute to the development of the community after graduation,” Sng said.

Committee briefs governor on the proposed contract law reform during courtesy call at Astana Negeri

KUCHING, Aug 3 2026: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi received a courtesy call from the Committee to Review and Study the Contract Law Reform in Malaysia at the Sarawak State Astana on Monday.

Caption: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar receiving call from review committee on contract law reform

The courtesy call was in conjunction with the Engagement Session (SLU) on the proposed Contract Law Reform in Malaysia at the Sarawak zone level, which brought together national leaders and legal experts to discuss proposed contract law reforms so that the existing legal framework remains relevant to current developments.

The delegation was accompanied by Federal Court Judge  Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, Court of Appeal Judges Wong Kian Kheong and  Azizul Azmi Adnan, and the President of the Arbitration Court of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) and former Federal Court Judge Mary Lim Thiam Suan.

The courtesy call was aimed at strengthening strategic discussions on proposed contract law reforms at the Sarawak Zone level, thus ensuring that the country's legal system remains responsive to current needs.

Wan Junaidi, in his Facebook post, expressed hopes that the courtesy visit can continue to strengthen the relationship of cooperation between all parties, as well as being a catalyst for the formation of more inclusive, dynamic and far-sighted policies and legislation for the well-being of the people and the progress of Sarawak.

The engagement session also received cooperation and expertise from academic figures from higher learning institutions including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Taylor's University, as well as senior legal practitioners in the country.

Also present at the courtesy call were representatives from the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU JPM) led by its Director (Policy), Kevin Geh Kien Meng, together with Deputy Director (Policy), Dr Suharmi Ismail, as well as members of the Committee for the Review and Study of the Reform of Contract Law in Malaysia (CRRCL).