Senate president heads list of individuals receiving awards and medals in conjunction with the Governor's 80th birthday celebration

KUCHING, Oct 10 2026: Senate president Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah heads a list of 1,350 individuals receiving awards and medals in conjunction with the 80th official birthday celebration of Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar  today.

Awang Bemee receives the *Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak* (P.N.B.S.) award, which carries the title 'Dato Sri'.

THe other recipients of the award are Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Azizah Nawawi;  Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Abdul Wahab Aziz; and  businessman Tay Ah Ching @ Tay Chin Kin.

Four other individuals receive *Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang* (P.G.B.K.) award, which carries the title 'Datuk'.

They are Appeal Court Judge Dean Wayne Daly, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Idris Buang amnd Senior Private Secretary to the Governor, Syed Hamzah Syed Paie.

Six individuals are the recipients of the *Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak* (D.J.B.S.) award, which carries the title 'Datu'.

They are Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Morshidi Frederick, Dzulkornain Masron, State Agriculture Department director Dominic Chungat, Climate and Energy Diplomacy Unit director in the Premier's Department Dr Angelia Liew San Chuin,  Dr Peter Morin Michael Paong, and Ustaz Mual Suaud.

Additionally, 24 individuals received the *Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak* (P.S.B.S.) award, which carries the title 'Dato'.

Among the recipients are Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol, Senator Susan Chemerai Anding, Friday Belik, Sim Yaw Hang, John Ko Wai Seng, Professor Firdaus Abdullah, and Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit,  Professor Lau Hieng Ho, Omar Mahli, Dr Veronica Lugah, Abang Rahmat Yusuf, and Shariman Jamil.

Also listed are Temenggong Chek Bujang, Temenggong Abdullah Jamil, Temenggong Henry Bujang Sendan,  Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, Abang Ehsan Abang Abu Bakar, Major General Mohd Sobirin Mohd Yusof, Lau Kim Swee, Azerina Mohd Arip, Kong Chiong Ung, Abg Bohari @ Abang Buahari Abang Zen, as well as a posthumous recipient, the late Sibat Buyong.

For the Johan Bintang Sarawak (J.B.S.) category, two individuals are listed as recipients,including one posthumous recipient, while two individuals received the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (J.B.K.).

One individual received the Johan Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (J.P.C.), while 17 individuals were awarded the Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (P.P.C.).

Meanwhile, four individuals received the Pingat Perwira Negeri (P.P.N.) Gold—including three posthumous recipients—while five individuals received the P.P.N. Bronze, including one posthumous recipient.

The list of recipients also covers the categories of Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (P.B.S.), Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (P.B.K.), Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (P.P.B.), Ahli Bintang Sarawak (A.B.S.), Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (A.B.K.), Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (P.P.T.), and Bentara Bintang Sarawak (B.B.S.). 

Premier Abang Johari to table State 2027 Budget on Oct 12

KUCHING, Oct 9 2026: Premier Abang Johari Openg will table the State 2027 Budget on the first day of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) meeting on Oct 12, Speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar told reporters after the pre-council meeting of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) State Legislative Members (SLMs) this afternoon.

Caption: Speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar says the State Legislative Assembly will sit from Oct 12 to 21, excluding Saturday and Sunday

He said the budget or Supply Bill (2027) 2026 will be among four Bills that will be tabled at State Legislative Assembly  which will sit from Oct 12 to 21.

He said the other three Bills are the Supplementary Supply 2026 Bill, 2026, Sarawak State Library Amendment Bill 2026 and the Public Holidays Amendment Bill 2026
 
“No new Bills will be introduced. Two of them are supply bills, including the budget, while the other two are amendment bills,” he said.

He said thee Supplementary Supply Bill (2026) 2026 will be tabled by Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas, while the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be tabled by  Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

The Public Holiday (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be tabled by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and Federal-State Relations)  Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

In a related development,  Asfia said a total of 336 questions including oral and written questions were received from 40 State Legislative Members (SLMs).


He said 264 questions out of 336 questions were for oral answers involving 37 SLMs, while the other 72 were written questions from 13 SLMs.

He added that the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT) received the highest number of questions with 36 questions submitted.

The pre-council meeting was chaired by Abang Johari, who is also GPS chairman.

Incorporate elements of two heritage sites into interior design concept of upgraded Miri Airport teminal project, Lee proposes to federal JKR

KUCHING, Oct 9, 2026: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin has proposed incorporating elements of Miri's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park - as well as the city's first oil well , the Grand Old Lady, into the interior design concept for the Miri Airport Terminal Building upgrade project.

Caption: Minister Lee Kim Shin encourages the inclusion of cultural elements representing Sarawak's other ethnic communities to ensure that the upgraded Miri Airport reflects the Sarawak's unity in diversity.

He made the proposal during a briefing by the federal Public Works Department (JKR)  project team, marking the conclusion of a three-day engagement and working visit programme initiated and coordinated by MoT.

During the briefing, the project team presented “Gateway to the Highlands” as the proposed design theme, drawing inspiration from Sarawak's ethnic cultures, particularly the heritage, traditional craftsmanship and artistic elements of the Orang Ulu communities.

Lee said he welcomes the concept, noting that Miri serves as an important gateway to the highlands and interior regions of Northern Sarawak.

He suggested that the design should also highlight elements of Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park, as well as Miri's first oil well, the Grand Old Lady, which symbolises the city's historical roots as the birthplace of Malaysia's petroleum industry.

He also encouraged the inclusion of cultural elements representing Sarawak's other ethnic communities to ensure that the upgraded airport reflects the Sarawak's unity in diversity.

He said the upgraded airport should reflect not only the cultural diversity of Sarawak but also the unique natural and historical attractions that make Miri a distinctive destination.

“Our airport should not simply be a place where passengers arrive and depart. It should also be a place where visitors can discover what makes Miri and Sarawak special,” he said in a statement.

He also expressed hope that the federal Ministry of Transport  and federal JKR would ensure that the interior design team, once appointed, conducts site visits to Miri Airport and relevant locations across Sarawak.

He stressed that the designers must gain first-hand understanding of the airport's surroundings, local communities and cultural heritage to develop an authentic design that truly reflects Miri and Sarawak.

The three-day programme, held from 7 to 9 October, included an engagement session with local cultural associations, artists and craftsmen in Miri, followed by study visits to Sarawak Cultural Village and the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching.

Among the officials invited to participate in the programme were Siti Marshitah binti Mohamad Yusof, Secretary of the Development Division, federal Ministry of Transport; Waznah binti Abdul Aziz, Senior Director of the Transport Infrastructure Engineering Branch (CIKP); federal JKR officers Lee Sheau Feng, Shahrul Affendy bin Abu Bakar, Farah Amirah binti Mian and Meor Emri Farid bin Meor Abdul Ghani; and Miri Airport Manager Mohd Zabidi bin Abdullah.

Representing the state Ministry of Transport were Permanent Secretary Wong Hee Sieng, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mohamad Lotfi bin Tuah, Head of Aviation Division Dayang Nurhayati Abang Ahmad, and other ministry officers.

Anwar tables a RM510 billion federal 2027 budget, against a projected revenue of RM380.8 billion

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 2026: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explained that the federal 2027 budget will continue the expansionary fiscal policy by leveraging the nation's collective strength, totaling RM510 billion compared to RM470 billion. 

He said a sum of RM376.8 billion is for federal operating expenditure; RM83 billion for federal development expenditure; RM25 billion for GLIC investments; RM11 billion for public-private investments; and RM14.2 billion for investments by Federal Statutory Bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated (MKD) companies. 

"This year, federal revenue is projected to be higher at RM363.6 billion, compared to the original estimate of RM343.1 billion," he said, adding that for the coming year, revenue is expected to rise further to RM380.8 billion.

He explained that the West Asia crisis has driven fuel subsidies up to RM40 billion, pointing out that the fiscal deficit for 2026 is now projected at 3.6 percent, compared to the original target of 3.5 percent.

"However, this rate remains on a downward trajectory from 5.5 percent (2022) and 3.7 percent last year," he added, noting that the 2027 deficit will decrease further to 3.3 percent, moving towards the 3 percent target by 2028. 

Anwar said the reduction in the deficit and controlled levels of new debt enable the federal government debt-to-GDP ratio to decline consistently: 65.2 percent (2025), 64.0 percent (2026), and a projected 63.7 percent (2027).

Budget highlights: Sarawak to receive RM16.2 billion, SARA recipients to receive RM150 every month, Senior Citizens Bill to be drafted, bedridden OKU to receive RM600 monthly

Among the highlights of the federal budget 2027 tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today

Caption: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim tabling the federal budget 2027

1.Sabah to receive RM18.7 billion next year, up from RM17.6 billion this year while Sarawak to receive RM16.2 billion next year, up from RM15.1 billion this year.

Road projects in Sabah and Sarawak would continue, with an allocation of RM3.3 billion.

The Letter of Acceptance (SST) for the Miri section of the Trans Borneo Highway has been issued, while those for the Limbang and Lawas sections are expected to be issued by the end of this year.

The Sarawak-Sabah Link Road 1 and Pan Borneo Sabah Phase 1B targeted for completion by the end of next year. 

In addition, RM350 million in Federal road maintenance funds has been set aside for G1-G4 contractors in Sabah and Sarawak

2.The allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) to increase to RM16 billion in 2027 from RM15 billion, with all STR recipients eligible for SARA of up to RM150 a month or RM1,800 a year.

Malaysians aged 18 and above who are not STR recipients would also receive SARA MADANI payments of RM100 on two occasions, before Aidilfitri and in conjunction with the 70th National Day celebrations.

The two forms of assistance to benefit up to nine million STR recipients and 13 million Malaysians, including traders.

Allowing SARA to be used to purchase wet and fresh produce at 216 farmers’ markets or tamu under the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) nationwide.

Total allocations for subsidies, assistance and incentives next year would exceed RM80 billion, including fuel subsidies expected to remain high at RM40 billion and nearly RM3.3 billion in
assistance from the Social Welfare Department.

3.. The federal government agreed to double the number of Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships offered to students from Sabah and Sarawak, some 4,200 students will have the opportunity to pursue higher education every year.

On the Sibu Special Economic Zone, federal government to begin formal negotiations to finalise the incentive framework, a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

4. The service tax rate for elderly care services will be reduced from eight per cent to six per cent effective Jan 1, 2027, with a full exemption for care fees of up to
RM96,000 annually.

The allocation for Elderly Assistance would also be increased to RM1.3 billion next year, benefiting nearly 200,000 recipients.

The government to draft a Senior Citizens Bill to address neglect and strengthen the comprehensive care ecosystem as the nation prepares to transition into an ageing society.

Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) to train 8,000 individuals to strengthen the workforce in the elderly care sector, while creating employment opportunities in the field.

Two National Integrated Care Centres of Excellence (NICE) would be established in Penang and Sarawak to support training, research and elderly care services.

5. The overall allocation for assistance to persons with disabilities (OKU) to be increased to RM1.5 billion, benefiting more than 300,000 individuals.

The allowance rate for the care of bedridden OKU and chronic patients to be raised to RM600 a month from RM500, while the income threshold to qualify for the OKU worker allowance had been increased to RM2,000.