Btg Sejingkat Bridge expected to be completed by August this year

KUCHING, July 8 2026: Batang Sejingkat Bridge project has now reached 94 per cent physical progress, one percent ahead of schedule, and is expected to be completed ahead of the contract date of 22 October this year.

 

Caption: Batang Sejingkat Bridge is now 94 per cent completed

Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Aidel Lariwoo said that with current developments, the project is expected to be completed in about two months.

"To date, the progress of the Batang Sejingkat Bridge project is at 94 per cent and is slightly ahead of schedule by one per cent.

"Overall, this bridge is expected to be completed in October this year, which is even earlier than the original schedule," he told reporters during a visit to the Batang Sejingkat Bridge project site here on Today.

According to him, the bridge is the first route under the development of the Sarawak Second Trunk Road package that connects Sejingkat, Kuching with the entire state's Second Trunk Road network.

He said that the performance of the entire implementation of the Second Trunk Road package was also very encouraging with some projects being ahead of schedule.

He said work on the bridge is now focused on the construction of the approach road on both sides of the bridge, particularly on the Sejingkat side, while work on the Tanjung Bako side is almost fully completed.

Aidel explained that the 1.2 kilometre long bridge was designed according to the R5 standard with a dual carriageway with two lanes each and will serve as the main route for users approaching from the coastal and interior areas of Sarawak to Kuching.

"When this bridge is completed later, there will be an increase in vehicles from the coastal and interior areas of Sarawak using this route to travel to Kuching," he said.

He also shared that the bridge is estimated to be able to accommodate about 15,000 vehicles a day after it is opened to the public later.

In a related development, he said the Batu Belat Bridge project that connects the Tanjung Embang area has been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) through the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) with an allocation of almost RM300 million.

He added that the Sarawak Government is also planning several more road alignments to support the development of a new airport and deep sea port in Tanjung Embang in the future.

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Sarawak Secretary spells out importance of Data, AI and new technologies in delivering real impact to the people

KUCHING. July 8 2026: The development of data governance, artificial intelligence (AI), and new technologies in Sarawak are capable of delivering real impact to the people, subsequently reinforcing the state government's digital transformation agenda.

Caption: Sarawak Secretary Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki says that the Sarawak government has taken concrete steps to establish the necessary physical and digital foundations, including the development of data centres

Sarawak Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said the state is at a pivotal moment where these three elements are no longer merely complementary, but have instead become strategic assets to strengthen governance, elevate public service delivery, and position Sarawak as a digital economy leader.

“In relation to this, the Sarawak government has taken concrete steps to establish the necessary physical and digital foundations, including the development of data centres, connectivity hubs, cloud computing platforms, and high-performance computing capabilities, which encompass initiatives like the Kuching AI Data Campus.

“These investments clearly prove one thing—that Sarawak is not just talking about digital transformation, but is realizing it progressively, from individual infrastructure to a complete system,” he said at the launch eremony of the Sarawak Data Governance Framework (SDGF) 2026 here today.

According to him, the outcomes of Premier Abang Johari's recent official working visit to Bristol, United Kingdom, also illustrated how the semiconductor, aerospace, high-performance computing, and AI sectors depend on data that is trusted, secure, and well-governed.

He noted that these technologies have massive applications across Sarawak's various strategic sectors, including forestry, earth observation, disaster management, carbon tracking, maritime monitoring, and service delivery in rural areas.

Commenting on the role of civil servants, he emphasized that the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) does not function merely as policy implementers, but also serves as policymakers, coordinators, and system designers that translate data into policy, information into decisions, and evidence into action.

Therefore, he added, every ministry and agency must ensure that government data remains consistent, secure, reliable, and responsibly shareable so that the SCS evolves into a data-guided, policy-driven, and future-ready institution.

He pointed out that without robust data governance, the government faces risks of fragmented systems, duplication of duties, inconsistent information, and weak inter-agency coordination.

“If the data used is weak, obsolete, or incomplete, then the generated outcomes will also be weak.

“That is why data governance is not just a technical requirement, but a public sector responsibility and a reflection of institutional discipline in ensuring data is managed with integrity, quality, and reliability,” he stressed further.

Among those present at the function were Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Digital Fabian Bigar, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operations) Hii Chang Kee, Deputy Attorney-General John Wayne Chamberlin Sirau, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunications (MUTS) Jafri Lias, Director of the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU) Grace Huong Siew Hung and Director General of the National Digital Department Suhaila Jaafar

Give AirBorneo more time to develop in stages before opening more flight routes, says tourism minister

MIRI. July 7 2026: Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzan said AirBorneo airline needs to be given more time to develop in stages before opening more flight routes.

Caption: Minister Abdul Karim  Rahman Hamzah (third from right) appeals to the travelling public to give time to AirBorneo as it was only launched in January this year

He said  AirBorneo is still in the early stages of operations and needs time to build capacity, including in terms of the number of aircraft and flight network.

“AirBorneo was only launched in January and there are not many aircraft yet. We cannot expect it to continue to be like Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines. Be patient.

"AirBorneo will develop in stages as stated by  the premier (Abang Johari Openg). It is not appropriate to compare with international airlines such as Emirates or Singapore Airlines," he said when met by the media after opening the International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality in Miri on Tuesday.

He was responding on whether Air Borneo would open routes from other parts of Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement on its Facebook page, AirBorneo announced that the inaugural flight on the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route is expected to begin on July 20, before being followed by the opening of the Kuching-Singapore route on July 27.

The statement also said AirBorneo is offering promotional fares as low as RM375 one-way for the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route through the Sarawakku Sayang Fare campaign, thus providing more affordable air travel options for passengers.

 Karim also described the RM375 fare for the inaugural Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route as one of the cheapest airfares for the route.

He said that the development of an airline requires careful planning, especially in terms of obtaining or leasing aircraft, which is not an easy and time-consuming process.

According to him, AirBorneo will focus in stages, starting with strengthening the flight network within Sarawak before expanding routes to other destinations such as Brunei and Singapore.

“Give it two or three years. Now AirBorneo has just acquired jet aircraft and they have a business plan to expand in stages,” he said.

Elaborating further, he said the rate showed AirBorneo’s efforts to offer more competitive air travel options to consumers.

He said fare setting needs to take into account various factors including fuel costs, passenger demand and operational capabilities to ensure the airline can be operated sustainably.

He added that as an island state, Sarawak needs a strong air transport system and having its own airline can reduce its complete dependence on external parties.

He explained that AirBorneo’s success needs to be assessed after a certain period when the company has more aircraft and a wider flight network.

Works Minister attending tender briefing on the overall implementation of Sarawak Cancer Centre

KUCHING, July 7 2026: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi today attended a tender briefing to have a clearer picture on the scope requirements, site conditions and overall implementation pf he Sarawak Cancer Centre.

Caption: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi says that existence of the Sarawak Cancer Centre will bring great meaning - especially to patients and families who need access to closer, integrated and quality cancer treatment.

He also visited the  site in Samarahan to review the initial progress of the project.

The project is a collaborative initiative between the federal  and Sarawak government, involving the construction of a 310-bed health facility with outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic and treatment services, medical support and non-medical support.

“More importantly, this facility will provide comprehensive health services for cancer and oncology patients in Sarawak, including stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, diagnosis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a more integrated manner at one location,” Nanta said in his Facebook post.

He added the project has certainly been long awaited by the people of Sarawak, saying that its implementation is not just about building a new health facility, but reflects the commitment of the federal government to strengthen the health service delivery system, improve the well-being of the people and ensure that access to quality treatment can be enjoyed more comprehensively.

He said the  Malaysian Public Works Department has been given a great trust and responsibility to realize this project.

“I am confident that with the expertise, experience and commitment of the department, this project can be implemented well according to the scope, quality, cost and period that has been set.

“I also express my appreciation to all parties involved in the planning phase until this project successfully entered the procurement stage, including the Ministry of Health,  Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance,  Sarawak government and related agencies.

“The close cooperation between the federal and Sarawak governments is proof that when we move together, great benefits can be translated to the people,” he said.

Nanta told all prospective tenderers and companies that the tender process can be carried out transparently, fairly and with integrity.

“The government is always committed to ensuring that each participation is assessed professionally based on the conditions, qualifications and criteria that have been set.

“I hope that the Sarawak Cancer Centre will in the future become another landmark in health services that brings great benefits to the people of Sarawak — not only for today, but also for future generations,” he said.

He added the existence of the Sarawak Cancer Centre will bring great meaning - especially to patients and families who need access to closer, integrated and quality cancer treatment.

More people choose social media platforms to air complaints, but better if they use their real names

SIMANGGANG, July 7 2026: The use of social media as a channel to submit complaints regarding public service issues and community problems is increasingly becoming the choice of residents in Sri Aman Division, thus reflecting the increasing awareness of the community on the rights and importance of more responsive government service delivery.

Caption: Participants of the Town Hallo session and officials from Sarawak Ombudsman Office 

Sri Aman Division Resident Mahra Salleh said the development is a positive sign because the community is now more proactive in providing feedback to government agencies, but the effectiveness of follow-up action depends largely on the willingness of the complainant to use their real identity.

“When they submit a problem on social media using their real name, it makes it easier for us to find and meet them to get an explanation before the solution can be implemented. On the other hand, the use of pseudonyms makes the process more difficult,” he said.

He said this when officiating the Sarawak Ombudsman Town Hall Session with Civil Servants and Communities in the Southern Zone organised by the Sarawak Ombudsman Office today.

Mahra added that Sri Aman Division is also among the areas that recorded a high number of complaints to the Sarawak Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) involving human rights issues, governance, and the quality of public service delivery.

According to him, the development shows that the community in the area is increasingly understanding their rights and daring to voice issues that require the attention of the authorities for the sake of improving government services.

He also encouraged the community to continue to use the correct and responsible channels in submitting complaints so that each issue can be investigated and resolved more effectively.

Meanwhile, the Town Hall session aims to increase understanding among civil servants and the community about the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance 2023, in addition to expanding knowledge about the functions and roles of the Sarawak Ombudsman in strengthening governance and improving the quality of public service delivery.

 

Also present were Lingga State Assemblyman and Sarawak Ombudsman Special Select Committee chairman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor and Sarawak Ombudsman Chiefi Abdul Ghafur Shariff.