Small number of students should not be an excuse to marginalise rural schools, laments Lubok MP

LUBOK ANTU, Aug 23 2026: A small number of students is not an excuse for schools in rural areas to be marginalized from receiving attention and support they deserve.

Caption: Lubok Antu MP Roy Angau says attention to rural schools should be seen as a long-term investment in human capital

Member of Parliament for Lubok Antu Roy Angau Gingkoi said rural schools face their own challenges compared to schools in urban areas, especially in terms of facilities, access and student welfare.

He said a small number of students should not determine the level of attention given to a school because every student has the potential to succeed.

He said this when speaking at the SMK Lubok Antu Parents-Teachers Association outreach programme to SK Nanga Delok, Batang Ai, yesterday.

He believed that attention to rural schools should be seen as a long-term investment in human capital development regardless of the number of students.

Roy also paid attention to several school needs including facilities that can facilitate student movement and support learning and co-curricular activities.

The issue of water supply in the dormitory was also given attention to ensure that the welfare and comfort of students were maintained.

In support of efforts to improve educational facilities at SK Nanga Delok, he announced an allocation of RM100,000 from the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) in 2027 for the school's upgrading work.

In addition, RM15,000 through the Minor Rural Project (MRP) has also been allocated to the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) of SK Nanga Delok.

PBK Voon mocks Chieng Jen's appeal to Sarawakians to vote in more SLMs from DAP in coming state election

KUCHING, Aug 23 2026: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan mocked at Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s appeal to Sarawakians to vote in more State Legislative Members (SLM) from state DAP in the coming state election.

Caption: PBK president Voon Lee Shan says declining in DAP state seats contributed to the strength of GPS

He noted that both Chong,who is Padungan SLM, and Violet have already been given many terms of opportunity by Sarawakians, yet their performance has been weak. 

“Instead of weakening GPS, the decline in DAP's number of seats under their leadership has, in PBK’s view, contributed to GPS becoming stronger,” he said in a statement when reacting to Chong’s appeal. 

Voon, a former DAP SLM for Batu Lintang, said Sarawakians should now consider giving PBK an opportunity to take over the role of leading the opposition or even as the government to protect people first, not Malaya first and not Sarawak first 

“Sarawak First is about mega infrastructure and development benefitting the capitalists but not Food on the Table for the people which both GPS,  DAP and Malaya are able to help to the expectation of people

“The era of Malayan-style politics and Malayan-based political parties in Sarawak should come to an end,” he said, adding that Sarawakians want local political parties that understand Sarawak's own interests, aspirations and political realities. 

He called on Sarawakians to give local Sarawak parties a stronger mandate and allow themselves to determine the future political direction of the state.

Recently, Chong called on Sarawakians to vote in more SLMs in the coming state election, so to give louder voices in the legislative assembly.

He said Sarawakians should not allow him and Violet alone to challenge GPS in SLA. 

Abang Johari: Major state events postponed due to haze and hot weather conditions

KUCHING< Aug  23 2026: The Sarawak government has decided to postpone several major events due to the prevailing  haze and hot weather conditions affecting the state.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg says the state government wants to avoid problems,  so it has to postpone the major events 

Premier Abang Johari Openg said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure, especially to protect the health and safety of the public.

“The government has decided to postpone major events, such the National Day, Maulidur Rasul celebration and Sarawakku Sayang Programme, which will take place in the next two weeks.

“We have to postpone them, because especially those who suffer from asthma, are quite scared in this kind of weather. We want to avoid problems, so we have postponed everything because we cannot carry it out in the next two weeks,” he told reporters after officiating the AI ​​For Makers: Borneo Makers Festival 2026 programme today. 

He said the national level Malaysia Day celebration 2026 scheduled to be held on September 16 still depends on the weather conditions and current air quality.

He said he informed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a recent meeting when both were in Brunei to attend the Malaysia-Brunei bilateral meeting.

According to him, haze is still a problem especially in the southern part of Sarawak since the celebration will be held in Kuching.

The premier said the state government is monitoring the development of haze and weather conditions before determining further action regarding the organization of future events.

St Leonard's church new building was declared open by the Catholic Archbishop of Kuching

BAU, Aug 16 2026: St Leonard’s Church new building was declared today, five years after its construction commenced, by the Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Dr Simon Peter Poh today.

Caption: Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Dr Simon Peter Poh affixing his signature on the plaque at the opening of the new church building

The new building was fully completed in September last year, marking a significant moments for the Christian community on Kampung Atas here.

The construction of the new church was initiated in 2016 to replace the existing building, before the first project papers were prepared in 2019.

However, the construction faced several challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020,  implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and funding constraints.

The church committee prepared an architectural plan to be submitted to the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) before the application was approved in August 2020 with an allocation of RM100,000.

The allocation was among the initial resources to begin construction, while additional grant applications to UNIFOR continued throughout the construction period from 2021 to 2025.

In addition to UNIFOR, the project also received government support through the Rural Transformation Programme(RTP) allocation through the Bau District Council and the Public Works Department (JKR).

In an effort to meet the financial needs of the project, a fundraising Committee was also established to mobilise contributions from registered Christian families, local communities, business entities, corporate companies, as well as local figures and entrepreneurs.

With the cooperation and support of various parties, the main church building was completed in September 2025, thus becoming an important achievement for the people of St Leonard Kampung Atas Church and the local community.

After the opening ceremony, mass prayer led by Dr Poh together with the Rector of St Stephen Bau Parish Peter Liston.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Transport Henry Harry Jinep, Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoi, President of the Sarawak Research and Development Movement Association (REDEEMS) Peter Nansian Ngusie and Chairman of the St Leonard's Church Atas Bau Fidelis Colgeon Albert Ahin.

 

Hasidah says a change in the federal government will not affect Sarawak's determination to uphold its rights under MA63

KUCHING:, Aug 16 2026: Deputy Minister of Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali has assured that any change in the federal government will not affect Sarawak's determination to uphold the state's rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Caption: Deputy Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali assures that Sarawak will continue to reclaim its rights even if there is a change in the federal government

She said the decision remained a major agenda of the Sarawak government to ensure that the rights of the people of the state continued to be protected.

“The work of upholding MA63 will continue as long as we are in the hands of the Sarawak government. One of our agendas is to uphold Sarawak's rights.

“Regardless of who is in charge of the federal government, our efforts to defend Sarawak's rights through  MA63 will continue to be pursued as long as necessary,” he said.

She said this when interviewed by reporters after opening the Women's Seminar 'Ideal Family for Women: Happy to Heaven' at the Wisma Sabati Auditorium, here today.

She said the decision reflected the Sarawak government's commitment to ensure that the interests of the state were given priority in the relationship between the state government and the federal government. -