DPM Ahmad Zaid to chair coordination committee meeting tomorrow on projects in Sarawak under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry

KUCHING, April 13 2026: Deputy Prime Minister  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived here this evening to begin a two-day working visit to Sarawak.

Caption: Deouty Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid waving at reporters as he leaves the RMAF base soon after arriving in Kuching 

His arrival was welcomed by Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development  Martin Ben

Tomorrow morning, Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to chair the coordination committee meeting on projects in Sarawak under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry as well as to handover rural water supply projects to the Sarawak government at the Federal Secretary’s office at Sultan Iskandar Building.

Later in the afternoon, he will pay a courtesy call on Premier Abang Johari Openg before departing for Kuala Lumpur.

Also accompanying him was Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development and Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament Rubiah Wang.

 

Policemen to temporarily monitor filling stations in Sarawak, says DPM Fadillah

KUCHING, April 13 2026: Police personnel will temporarily monitor filling stations in Sarawak, including 22 in Limbang, Lundu and Lubok Antu, to allow the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry enforcers to focus on locations at risk of leakage of controlled goods, particularly fuel. 

Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof (picture) said  the ministry will also focus on 16 Sarawak Fishermen’s  Association locations that house diesel depots for the use of fishermen, 25 unbranded petrol stations, 153 privately-permitted skid tanks and also illegal jetties that carry out bunkering activities in the rivers of Sarawak.

“The enforcers will also focus on the stability of prices and supply of other controlled goods,” Fadillah said in a statement today.

He said the launch of  Ops Tiris 4.0 (Integrated) phase on March 16, involving several agencies, has yielded positive results in less than a month, adding that as of April 12,  13,759 total inspections were recorded nation-wide.

Of these, 99 cases involving diesel with a seizure value of more than RM 3.1 million;. 61 cases involving RON95 petrol with a seizure value of RM 95,387.65;. 30 cases involving LPG with a seizure amounting to RM45,103.34; and. 49 cases involving cooking oil, sugar and wheat flour.

“As of yesterday,  the total value of seizures nation-wide has reached RM 11 million.

“For Sarawak, a total of 48 cases have been recorded with a seizure value of RM 6.7 million.

“This success is the result of the hard work of our strategic partners from Police Department, General Operations Force , Marine Police Force, Immigration Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and Border Control and Protection Agency,” Fadillah said.

He urged the people to the eyes and ears of the government, saying that close cooperation between the federal government and  Sarawak is the key to ensuring that the economic sovereignty is preserved for the well-being of future generations.

Once the road project is completed, travelling time between Miri and Mulu will be shortened from nine to two hours, says Uggah

MARUDI, April 13 2026: Once completed, the 142-kilometre long Miri-Marudi, Marudi- Mulu and Long Lama-Long Panai (MMMLL)  road project will shorten traveling time between Miri and Mulu to just two hours, from the present nine hours, Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas (picture) said at the ground-breaking ceremony today.

He said the road project, worth RM3.8 billion, is expected to be completed within 48 months and will have a major impact on development in the Baram area.

“The MMMLL road project as a whole will provide a comprehensive road network, with a main line of 142 kilometres, a 30.5 kilometre bypass linking villages, and the construction of 11 major bridges and 11 minor bridges,” Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said.

“Overall, the MMMLL road project will benefit approximately 404,679 people in the Miri Division, improving access to education and healthcare, distributing agricultural produce, and opening up new economic opportunities including tourism and commercial activities.

“ In addition to improving mobility and the economy, this project also supports the government's development aspiration,” he said.

He added the construction of this road network will be linked to the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Phase 2 which is also being actively implemented.

Water supply disruption issue a concern for residents of Sibujaya

SIBU, April 5 2026: The issue of the prolonged water supply disruption in Sibujaya continued to be a concern when local residents took the opportunity to voice their grievances during a goodwill visit by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culturei Tiong King Sing (picture) on Saturday.

The visit, in conjunction with the festive season, provided an opportunity for residents to share the difficulties they faced, illustrating the critical importance of solving infrastructure issues in the area.

 

“The water disruption has caused the people to live in hardship! Most residents are now forced to buy mineral water from supermarkets for cooking.

 

“Not only that, when the disruption continues, traders are also unable to do business as usual and their livelihoods continue to be affected.

 

“More outrageously, I have also received complaints that even though there is no water, the water meter is still running and charges are still being levied. There is no water but the meter is still moving, what is the logic behind this?” said Tiong in a statement today.

 

He, who is also the Dudong State Assemblyman, stressed that the frequency of the disruptions is now seen as a pressing issue that directly affects the well-being of the community throughout Sibujaya.

 

He explained that the matter had previously been raised in the State Legislative Assembly in November 2023 as an effort to find a solution.

 

Therefore, he hoped that the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT) could detail an effective action plan to ensure that water supply stability could be achieved for the benefit of the residents in the long term.

 

“So far, I understand that the most affected group is the residents of low-cost houses and low-cost apartments.

 

“Their lives were already difficult; now the situation is getting worse, as if these people are being pushed into a corner with no way out,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, he also conveyed the hopes of the residents who wanted to see direct involvement from the ministry, including a proposed meeting with the Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunications, Julaihi Narawi to personally review the actual situation on the ground.

 

“This problem has been going on for too long! It cannot be postponed any longer! And it absolutely should not be postponed.

 

“The people hope that the authorities can resolve this issue comprehensively and not let the people continue to live in worry and uncertainty, not knowing when water disruptions will occur again,” he said.