Sarawak Immigration Dpt detains 21 foreigners in raids conducted on premises in Pekan Siburan and Pekan Batu 7

KUCHING, Feb 27 2026: – The state Immigration Department has detained 21 foreign nationals in  raids carried out on premises suspected of conducting online gambling activities around Pekan Siburan and Pekan Batu 7, Jalan Kuching–Serian.

Caption: The foreigners are believed to have committed various immigration offences 

According to the department, in a statement posted on its Facebook page, the operations, were carried out from from over the last two days at several selected locations as a result of intelligence and continuous monitoring by the authorities.

“As a result of the operation, a total of 21 foreigners were detained for further investigation,” the department said, adding that 26  personnel from the enforcement division were involved in the operations.

It added all individuals detained are believed to have committed various immigration offences including not having valid travel documents and abusing the passes provided.

The department stressed that it will continue to intensify continuous and integrated enforcement operations on any foreigners who violate national laws, particularly under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

The public is also urged to continue to channel information to the authorities to ensure that the country's security and sovereignty are always maintained.

 

Sarawak Metro staff taking Technical Mandarin course to enhance their communication skills

KUCHINBG, Feb 27 2028: Following the successful completion of its ‘Mandarin Class for Beginners’ last year, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has recently continued the initiative with a more advanced ‘Technical Mandarin’ course that aims to enhance its staff’s communication skills.

Caption: Mandarin class for Sarawak Metro staff 

The ‘Technical Mandarin’ course serves to further improve staff proficiency in Mandarin particularly for better communication with the manufacturers of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles in China.

This year, Sarawak Metro is once again organising the language course in collaboration with the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project’s system package 1 contractor – EPR Mobilus GR JV Sdn Bhd (EMGJV) – together with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Professional Continuous Education Learning Department and Faculty of Education, Language and Communication.

The ‘Technical Mandarin’ course focuses on the operational work environment and incorporates relevant technical terminology, with the objective of strengthening communication skills in situations such as reporting issues, giving instructions, responding to emergencies, allocating tasks, reporting project progress, and participating in meetings conducted in Mandarin.

A total of 40 staff enrolled in this year’s course; undergoing the four-month course, which is scheduled to complete this June.

The course is one of the initiatives for Sarawak Metro’s Socio-Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) Programme, which aims to add greater value to the KUTS project.

Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa explained that it is encouraging to see the active participation of staff in learning new languages, especially as they are constantly engaging with international counterparts.

“It is always an added advantage to be able to speak more languages, especially when dealing with counterparts from other countries.

“Beyond professional requirements, acquiring a new language enhances individual growth and strengthens our collective organisational capability,” said Mazli.

He also emphasised that Sarawak Metro will continue to support initiatives that enhance employees’ knowledge, skills and capabilities, in line with its commitment in transforming the public transport system through the KUTS project.

 

Collapse of Jalan Pahlawan shophouses classfied as natural disaster, placed under purview of SDMC, says Dr Sim

SIBU, Feb 27 2026: The collapse of a row of eight units of shophouses along Jalan Pahlawan recently has been classified as a natural disaster and placed under the purview of the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

Caption: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian being briefed on the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project 

Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian said the decision was made by the State Cabinet after receiving a briefing from Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang Ming Tee.

“This incident has been classified as a natural disaster because no one could have anticipated it, and it could happen anywhere.

“It can occur in any peat soil area, not just in this location,” he told reporters during a visit to the incident site this afternoon, as quoted by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).

He explained that although SDMC operates at the state level, the Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee chaired by the Sibu Division Resident will coordinate response efforts and investigations locally.

The State Cabinet has also agreed to appoint relevant experts to determine the actual cause of the structural failure.

“We need experts to understand what is happening because this has broader implications.

“It is not just about this particular incident. The findings will help us determine what more can be done,” he added.

On another matter, Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government,  said that  the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project as a critical long-term solution to Sibu’s land and water challenges.

He said the State Planning Authority (SPA) has approved the master plan for the 815-acre site, which is now being managed by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA).

“The Sarawak Premier is very serious. RM30 million in consultancy fees has been paid to an international firm, Ramboll from Denmark,”he said referring to Abang Johari Openg.

“If we were not serious, why would we pay RM30 million?” he stressed.

He added that the project also involves a ceiling allocation of RM500 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for land acquisition to repurchase ageing houses in the area.

“After land acquisition, we will reclassify which areas are suitable for development and which are not, as this is the largest peat soil area here,” he said.

Dr Sim stressed that flood mitigation efforts in Sibu require close cooperation between the state and federal governments.

He therefore urged local Members of Parliament (MPs) to play their part in securing allocations from Kuala Lumpur, making reference to the RM2.4 billion successfully obtained by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof for flood mitigation projects in Kuching.

“Our MPs must also play their role. Flood mitigation is highly complex and only experts can manage it,” he said, adding that the state government is now awaiting the Sarawak Premier to officially launch the Sibu master plan.

 

67yo construction worker crushed to death in Simunjan

SIMUNJAN, Feb 27 2026: A 67-year old worker was crushed to death at a construction site at Kampung Sageng here this afternoon.

Caption: 67yo Chai Mui Kiong crushed to death by concrete block  

Simunjan Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said Chai Mui Kiong was crushed by the concrete block used for a load test on the ground surface of the construction project site.

It said firemen removed the victim from being stuck in the concrete structure and hand the victim over to the police for further action.

It said the incident happened at about 2.10pm at the construction site.
In a separate case in Serian, a woman escaped unhurt when a tree fell on her house at Kampung Sunang late this morning.

The incident involved a rotten tree that fell and then crushed the roof structure of a single-storey permanent house.

The incident had caused the roof and wall structure of the house in the living room and a room to collapse and crack.

Firemen then cut and removed the tree and its branches.

Elderly man is feared drowned when his longboat capsised in Long Napir

LIMBANG, Feb 27 2027: The search is on-going for a 64-year old man who is feared to have drowned after his longhouse was found to have capsised in Kuala Sungai  in Long Napir yesterday.

Caption: Search party looking for the 64yo Hendry Sian who was feared to have drowned when his longboat capsised 

Limbang Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said it received a call past midnight this morning, seeking assistance to look for Hendry Sian anak Tama Sian from Kampung Long Napir.

The department’s spokesman said village headman Joshua had informed that Hendry had gone out to repair his boat at 11:30am yesterday in the Kuala Sungai area.

Quoting the headman,the department said two villagers found the victim's boat overturned in the middle of the river.

It said the victim was not found at the location of the overturned boat.

The department said search efforts were carried out by the villagers using boats but the victim was not found.

A seach party made up of the firemen, police and the Civil Defence Department was formed this morning to look for Hendry.

The operations commander Stanley Liew reported that the search party had started moving downstream using the villagers' boats to begin the operation on the surface of the water together with the villagers.