Govt servant arrested suspected to have been involved in hit and run accident that kills a longhouse resident

SIMANGGANG, Feb 9 2026: Police here have detained a  49-year-old  government servant  suspected to have been involved in a hit and run accident that led to the death of a longhouse man and seriously injuring his wife yesterday.

Sri Aman police chief Superintendent Dennis Bunyam said the suspect can help police in their investigation into the accident that happened about 4.30am yesterday morning.

He said the suspect was successfully tracked down before surrendering at the Sri Aman district police headquarters today.

He added  the suspect was also detained along with a sports utility vehicle (SUV) for further investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

In the meantime, the police expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the public who came forward to provide information and cooperated until the suspect was successfully tracked down

In the accident, longhouse resident Ranggau anak Berandak, 46, died while receiving treatment at the Sri Aman Hospital after the vehicle that he and his wife were travelling in was involved in  hit and run  accident at kilometre 7, Jalan Sri Aman.

Dennis  said Ranggau’s wife Chindu anak Malang, 36, suffered injuries and is being treated at the same hospital.

Both are from Rumah Eveylin, Ibol, Sungai Raya Undup.

Dennis said that initial investigations found that the victim was said to have finished changing the flat tyre of his vehicle on the shoulder of the road before being hit by another unidentified vehicle.

(UPDATED) Counselling services for 11-year old shoolgirl who was said to been abused by her stepmother

KUCHING, Feb 9 2026:The Social Welfare Department  (JKM) has sent counselling services to help an 11-year old schoolgirl, who was alleged to have been abused by her stepmother mother in Saratok, last week. 

Caption: Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri 

Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri said the move was aimed at providing protection and emotional support to victim who is still traumatised by the incident.

She said the girl is under the protection of  JKM, adding that the JKM protection officers  have  been mobilized and are now with the victim who is receiving  treatment at the Sarikei Hospital.

"The victim is not allowed to receive any visits for her safety and well-being," Nancy said when  asked to comment on the abuse case of an 11-year-old girl who was believed to have been abused by her stepmother in Saratok, last Thursday.

A 47-year-old suspect has been detained by the police to assist in the investigation.

 Saratok police have arrested a local woman on suspicion of abusing her adopted child to the point of causing physical injury.

The woman is believed to have committed the offence in Taman Kim Hin, last Thursday.

According to a statement by Saratok District police chief, DSP Mathew Manggie, his department received a report from the complainant, who is also the child's biological mother, on Saturday.

“The complainant received a WhatsApp message from the victim's school teacher, who is a neighbour of the victim, which is a video containing voice and sound, “ the police chief said in a statement.

“In the video, the victim's voice can be heard crying after being beaten by her adoptive mother using a hard object,” he said.

Investigations found that the reason the suspect beat the victim was related to the equipment she had to bring to go to tuition.

The 11-year-old victim also said that she had been beaten by the suspect frequently for the past year.

Initial examinations by Saratok Hospital and Sarikei Hospital Medical Officers found that the victim's injuries were “soft tissue injuries over the back and face”.

The suspect is now being remanded for four days starting yesterday, and the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children's Act 2001.

 

Sarawak govt spearheading the development of nano satellines for land survey oprations

BINTULU, Feb 9 2026: The Sarawak government is spearheading the development of nano satellites in the form of CubeSats to strengthen land survey operations and future development planning in the state.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg shaking hands with staff of the Land and Survey Department on his arrival to open the department summit 2026

Premier Abang Johari Openg said nano satellite technology is increasingly seen as a more efficient and cost-effective alternative for obtaining geospatial data directly from low Earth orbit.

He said the cost of producing conventional satellites in Europe is estimated at between €300 million and €500 million, whereas nano satellites, including CubeSats, cost only between €500,000 and €700,000.

“With this technology, Sarawak is capable of producing its own nano satellites to support mapping activities and data storage in low Earth orbit,” he said when speaking at the Land and Survey (LANDAS) Summit 2026 here today.

He stressed that data obtained through nano satellites will be used to enhance the state’s economic and spatial planning, particularly in land management, infrastructure development and sustainable growth.

“Data from low Earth orbit will enable land surveying works to be carried out more quickly, accurately and in an integrated manner, providing a clear picture of Sarawak’s physical landscape,” he said.

He also commended the Land and Survey Department Sarawak for its progress in adopting technology and digital data collection, and emphasised the importance of integrating the state’s land information systems with nano satellite technology.

The nano satellite initiative is also aligned with the use of satellite data in modern agriculture, high-technology industries, the digital economy, as well as urban and rural planning under the state’s 2030 development strategy.

Abang Johari added that the state government is committed to positioning Sarawak as a regional leader in small satellite technology within ASEAN, while opening up opportunities for researchers, academics and the private sector to collaborate in the development and application of nano satellite technology.

The recently launched Land and Survey Department Sarawak Strategic Plan 2026–2030 also incorporates initiatives involving the use of space technology to accelerate mapping works, data analysis and the development of higher-quality information systems.

Meanwhile, the event also witnessed the launch of the Premier of Sarawak Hall at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, symbolising the strategic relationship between the state government and academic institutions in the fields of geospatial studies, remote sensing and space technology.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration) Felicia Tan Ya Hua, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Abdullah Julaihi, Bintulu Division Resident Nyurak Keti and Land and Survey Department Director Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood.