Bintulu Port Holdings president Ruslan Abdul Ghani will take over as SEB Group Chief Executive Officer, effective Nov 1

KUCHING, Aug 3 2026: Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad’s President and Group Chief Executive Officer Ruslan Abdul Ghani will assume the post of Sarawak Energy Berhad’s (SEB) Group Chief Executive Officer.

Caption: Ruslan Abdul Ghani taking over from Sharbini Suhali whose contract with SEB ends in October 2026 

He will take over from Sharbini Suhaili, effective November 1 this year.

Sharbini will complete his current contract with SEB at the end of October.

The board of directors  of SEB announced  Ruslan’s appointment and Sharbini’s retirement.

An engineer by training, Ruslan holds a Master of Science in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom and brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Before joining Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad, he spent 32 years with Petronas, serving in senior leadership positions in Malaysia and internationally, including Sudan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan.

During his tenure at Bintulu Port Holdings, he played an instrumental role in the successful transfer of the Port from federal to Sarawak ownership while driving organisational transformation, operational excellence and sustainable growth.

SEB chairman Ibrahim Baki said Ruslan’s appointment reflects the board's confidence in his ability to lead SEB into its next phase of growth.

"Ruslan brings extensive leadership experience, strategic vision and a proven track record of delivering transformation across complex organisations.

“His expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, combined with his strong commitment to operational excellence and sustainability, will enable SEB to continue advancing its long-term strategy while supporting Sarawak's renewable energy aspirations.

Ibrahim expressed the board's sincere appreciation to Sharbini for his outstanding corporate leadership and dedicated service to Sarawak Energy.

"Under his leadership, SEB has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's leading renewable energy utilities through the successful implementation of the Sarawak Energy Excellence Roadmap.

“He strengthened the group's operational and financial resilience, expanded regional energy connectivity and firmly positioned Sarawak as an emerging renewable energy powerhouse.

"During his tenure, Sharbini led the acquisition of the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant, strengthened Sarawak Energy's financial position while maintaining international investmentgrade and domestic AAA credit ratings and embedded a strong health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) culture across the organisation. Under his leadership, the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant received the International Hydropower Association (IHA) Blue Planet Prize 2025 and Hydropower Sustainability Standard Silver Certification, reinforcing Sarawak Energy's international standing in sustainable hydropower,” Ibrahim said.

It will be a grave political and historical mistake if Sarawak and Sabah not part of future federal government, says Soon Koh

KUCHING, Aug 3 2026: Senior politician Wong Soon Koh said it be would a grave political and historical mistake should a future federal government choose to sideline Sarawak and Sabah simply because it no longer depends on GPS or GRS for its parliamentary majority.

Caption: Bawang Assan SLM Wong Soon Koh says that without the participation of the two Borneo states, it would would inevitably strengthen regional consciousness in Sarawak and Sabah.

He said without the participation of the two Borneo states in the federal Cabinet, the implementation of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would almost certainly slow down.

“Negotiations on fiscal autonomy, administrative powers, education, healthcare, petroleum resources, revenue sharing and other long-standing constitutional matters could become increasingly difficult if there is no genuine political will in Putrajaya,” he said when responding to suggestions that the BN-PN would have enough parliamentary seats to form the federal government without the participation of Sarawak and Sabah.

He stressed without the participation of the two Borneo states, it would would inevitably strengthen regional consciousness in Sarawak and Sabah.

He said increasing numbers of Sarawakians and Sabahans understand their constitutional position and expect the federal government to honour the promises made in 1963.

“Attempts to marginalise the Borneo states will only unite their people in defending those rights,” he suggested.

“Thirdly, the federal-state relations could deteriorate. Mutual trust, which is essential for effective governance, economic planning and national development, cannot flourish if one partner feels ignored or treated as politically expendable.

“Fourthly, Malaysia’s long-term economic interests could also be affected,” he said, adding that Sarawak and Sabah are vital contributors to the nation’s energy security, natural resources, food security, environmental sustainability and strategic maritime position.

“National development cannot succeed if the aspirations of the two Borneo states are disregarded,” he added.

Wong, who is also Bawang State Legislative Member (SLM), said Malaysia cannot be governed solely from the perspective of the peninsular politics.

“The federation was never intended to be one in which one region dominates while the others merely follow,” he said, noting that it was founded on the principles of partnership, mutual respect, constitutional equality and shared responsibility.

He called on all political parties in Malaya—whether BN, PN, Pakatan Harapan or any future coalition—to publicly reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the full implementation of MA63.

He said the constitutional rights of Sarawak and Sabah must never depend on who forms the federal government or how many parliamentary seats a coalition commands.

“At the same time, this situation should serve as a timely reminder to the political leadership of Sarawak and Sabah.

“The strongest guarantee of our constitutional rights is not merely participation in the federal Cabinet,” Wong said, stating that it is the unity of the people and political leaders of Sarawak and Sabah in defending the interests of the two states.

He said regardless of party affiliation, leaders from both Borneo states must stand together whenever the constitutional rights and legitimate interests of our people are at stake.

He also said that history has shown that rights which are not defended will eventually be eroded. Rights that are firmly protected through unity, wisdom and constitutional means will endure.

“Malaysia’s strength lies in respecting the diversity of its regions, cultures and histories. A stable and prosperous Federation can only be built when every partner is treated with fairness, dignity and equality,” he said.

He reminded that the implementation of MA63 is not a favour to Sarawak and Sabah,  but is a constitutional obligation.

“It is a debt of honour. More importantly, it is the cornerstone upon which the future unity of Malaysia depends,” he said.

Ambassador Hendy Assan is the new director of Sarawak Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

KUCHING, Aug 3 2026: Career diplomat Hendy  Assan is the new director of the Sarawak Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking over from Fenny Nuli who is now the Malaysian Ambassador Austria, Slovakia and United Nations bodies since May this year.

Caption: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (right) receives a courtesy call from Ambassador Hendy Assan -

This morning he paid a courtesy on Sarawak Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at the Astana Negeri.

In a statement posted on his Facebook, the governor said the courtesy call was to officially introduce him as the new director appointed to lead the Sarawak Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“During the meeting, Ambassador Hendy Assan and I also had a friendly exchange and discussed various matters related to the role and scope of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' duties at the regional level, in addition to strengthening the strategic cooperation between the state government and the federal government, especially in foreign affairs and diplomatic relations,” the governor said.

“Hopefully, Ambassador Hendy will continue to excel in leading his diplomatic assignments and continue to strengthen the strategic cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sarawak state government in the future,” he added.

(UPDATED) Sarawak, Sabah will continue to play an important role in national's politics, PBB information chief says, dismissing Julau MP's view

KUCHING. Aug 2 2026: PBB information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has dismissed Julau Member of Parliament Larry Sng's suggestion that Sarawak and Sabah will no longer be playing a decisive role in the formation of the federal government after the next general election.

Caption: PBB information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says "in this politics, we cannot say that Sarawak and Sabah do not play a role in national politics".

 Karim said he believes Sabah and Sarawak will continue to play an important role in the country's political landscape, regardless of the outcome of the next general election. 

He said that a statement by Julau Member of Parliament Larry Sng that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are no longer decisive in the formation of the federal government is his personal view.

"In this politics, we cannot say that Sarawak and Sabah do not play a role in national politics," he said when asked to respond to Sng’s statement posted on his Facebook early today.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the IIUM Alumni Unmatic Gathering today.

Karim said GPS's participation in the Unity Government was made based on considerations to support the country's political stability, while the strategic positions of Sabah and Sarawak continue to make the two regions have an important role in the national political landscape.

On the coming Sarawak state election, Karim said based on his observations, the state election is expected to be held this year as the State Legislative Assembly’s (SLA) term is approaching its end.

He said that elections are usually held before the end of the term to ensure that the administrative process and mandate transition can be implemented according to the provisions set.

“From my own observation, elections really need to be held this year,”

“Elections are usually held before the end of the term. We do not want SLA to be automatically dissolved if something unexpected happens,” he said.

He added that the implementation of elections before the end of the term is a common practice to ensure the continuity of state administration.

Early today, Sng, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, has said that BN-PN formula was expected to form the next federal governing based on the results of the Johore and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

He suggested that BN-PN only needed an additional 14 parliamentary seats to form the federal government, pointing out that based on the 2022 general elections, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional have a combined 112 seats, just enough to form the federal government without the support of GPS and GRS.

 

Afternoon blaze destroys 23-door longhouse in Samalaju

BINTULU, Aug 2 2026: A 23-door Rumah Padang longhouse at Batu 37, Jalan Bintulu-Miri, was completely razed to the ground in an afternoon fire today.

Caption: This is what left after the fire has been extinguished

Samalaju Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), in a statement, said there were casualties report in the incident.

The department said it received a call at 4.30pm, informing of the fire that was licking the longhouse.

Upon arrival at the location, the operation commander reported a fire involving a 23-door, non-permanent longhouse on fire.

The firefighters from Batu Niah, Kidurong and Bintulu stations also came to put off the fire.