(From left) Fadillah, Julaihi and Rabiah show their thumbs up after the earth breaking ceremony. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KOTA SAMARAHAN: Road users commuting to Kuching will have another option once the upgrading of the Route 8101 Jalan Datuk Mohd Musa to a four-lane road is completed by middle of 2023. Senior Minister (Works) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this 11.6km road upgrading project, which costed around RM180 million, would solve the traffic congestion on this road which leads to Kota Sentosa from Samarahan. “There are 43 schools and five government clinics in this area, and the number of people using this road is about 70,000 in one day. Because it is a two lane-road (single carriageway with one lane for each direction), there is often traffic ...

Fadillah (left) visits SK Grogo after attending the press conference at JKR Sarawak’s office in Wisma Saberkas in Kuching. KUCHING: Forty-one dilapidated schools are being rebuilt, while repair works on another 52 schools are being planned. Senior Minister (Works) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof disclosed these figures to the press yesterday, stating that the project was funded via Sarawak’s RM1 billion contra loan payment to the federal government. So far, the Sarawak government had paid back RM700 million to the federal government for the purpose of repairing dilapidated schools, he added. “Out of the RM700 million paid back to the federal government, a total of RM350 million has been utilised to rebuild 41 schools under Phase I; and 52 schools, under ...

(From second left) Abdul Aziz, Lee, Razami and representatives from the commercial vehicles association after attending the meeting at Miri Resident Office. MIRI: Transport Minister of Sarawak Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the federal Ministry of Transport (MOT) Information Management Section is coordinating the effort to set up an online Land Public Transport Licensing System with Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) in Sabah and Sarawak. Lee who is also Senadin Assemblyman said he had held a meeting with CVLB Sarawak director and officers following public complaints on the long delay in processing of commercial vehicle licences in the state especially here. “The system would be used to process any type of application related ...

BINTULU: The Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) would reopen 14 markets and hawker centres beginning June 17, in line with Sarawak government’s instructions under the Recovery Movement Control Order, said general manager Rodziah Morshidi. They are Pasar Utama Bintulu, Pasar Tamu Bintulu, Pasar Ikan Lama, Tapak Niaga Assyakirin, Tapak Niaga Food Truck Tg Batu, Pasar Hujung Minggu Jalan Tun Openg, Pusat Penjaja Local Centre Fair Choice, Pasar Sungai Plan, Gerai Pantai Tanjung Batu, Perhentian 1Malaysia, Pasar Medan Jaya, Pusat Penjaja Pasar Malam Bintulu, Pusat Penjaja Bandarjaya, and Pusat Penjaja Pantai Muhibah. Nevertheless, Rodziah reminded all that before operations could resume, all operators must carry out the cleaning works. “During the cleaning activities, ...

Uggah said SDMC will not follow the National Security Council (MKN)’s decision to charge 50 per cent of the quarantine fee on those returning to the state and quarantined at hotels. Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi KUCHING: Sarawakians returning to the state will not need to pay hotel quarantine fees, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) announced today. The committee will not follow the National Security Council (MKN)’s decision to charge 50 per cent of the quarantine fee on those returning to the state and quarantined at hotels. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also SDMC chairman, said only foreigners quarantined in hotels in Sarawak will be charged full fees. “That is KL (Kuala Lumpur or federal government)’s ...

Uggah (left) speaking during a press conference, Also seen is Dr Chin. – File photo KUCHING: Bistros are included in the list of premises that are not allowed to open during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period in Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. He said although bistros sell food and even offer takeaways, they are still not allowed to open. “Bistros cannot be opened, full stop. We apologise to the bistro owners. Same goes for nightclubs. You (patrons and owners) will be arrested,” he said after announcing that SDMC has decided that Music Cafes, night clubs and bistros are not allowed to operate during the CMCO period today. The SDMC announcement was made after Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail ...

File photo for illustration purposes KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has decided to allow open house visits during the coming Hari Raya and Gawai celebrations but for only one day in line with the federal government’s announcement earlier. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is the chairman of the committee, said celebrants are also required to limit their visitors to only 20 people and they must only be close family members. “The state government apologises to all Sarawakians celebrating Hari Raya and Gawai because we have to enforce some restrictions. This is a tough time and therefore we hope everybody is prepared to make some more sacrifices.   “We have made a lot of sacrifices in the ...

Dyg Morliah (left) receives a mock cheque from representative of Tecktonic and Sons Company, while (from second left) Awang Tengah, Henry and Naroden look on. LAWAS: Ramadan and Hari Raya donations are being given to help the less fortunate members of society. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said donations were still given even under the Movement Control Order (MCO) to lessen the financial burden of the target groups. “I also urge all Sarawakians to strictly obey the MCO to ensure we are free from the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said at the presentation of Bukit Sari constituency’s Hari Raya donation to mosque and surau officials, Lawas Islamic Welfare Trust Board staff, community leaders, and staff of Bukit Sari Service Centre yesterday. Chairperson ...

Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof KUCHING: Some 7,000 Sarawak students in Peninsular Malaysia who have been stranded since the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force on March 18 will be brought home in stages starting May 1, said Senior Minister (Infrastructure Cluster) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday. He said the government is currently collecting detailed information on each student from the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, matriculation colleges, teacher training institutes and Mara colleges. “The information is necessary to identify where they are studying and living and (the destination in Sarawak) they are returning to,” he told the media after a special Covid-19 meeting with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba here. He ...

File photo shows Fatimah (left) with an elderly resident of an old folks’ home in Kuching. KUCHING: Everyone should continue doing charity work throughout Ramadan this year, amidst the challenges posed by the prolonged Movement Control Order (MCO). In stating this, Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah says due to Covid-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the MCO, the usual Ramadan practice of treating the less-advantaged people to ‘buka puasa’ (break-of-fast) in places like hotels, restaurants or houses of the donors, is not permitted. “Apart from the obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadan, Muslims are also encouraged to give ‘sedekah’ (alms), be they in ...