Jimmy Teoh

Jabatan Alam Sekitar mengklasifikasikan Indek Pencemaran Udara di Miri sebagai tidak sihat manakala satelit Pentadbiran Atmosfera dan Samudera USA (NOAA 16) kesan 60 kawasan kebakaran di Sabah dan utara Sarawak.

A call came from Sarawak requesting the prime minister to step in and resolve the diesel shortage which has reached a 'very critical' level.

Schools have been forced to change sessions while Miri fire fighters continue to battle the spread of wild fires causing a haze which has enveloped northern Sarawak.

The government was reminded of the need to resolve the diesel shortage issue urgently as annoyed Sarawakians call on minister Shafie Apdal to resign.

Bus and lorry operators are warning of severe consequences for the public if the authorities don't buck up to end the diesel crisis.

It seems that it is not only the Dayaks in Sarawak who are heavy drinkers. Consumption of alcohol, according to a Chinese politician, is more than a custom now in the state.

Dirt cheap local brews with high alcohol content are being lapped up by youngsters in the state. But action is scarce as the distilleries are linked to local politicians.

As Sarawak's dominant ruling Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu contemplates elections, its leaders have embarked on quiet campaigning at the grassroots.

Latest developments seem to suggest so but pundits believe that Alfred Jabu's political aspirations may be cut short by his religious belief.

This is why, claims a leader aligned to the president, James Masing is pushing for the list to be used at this year's upcoming triennial delegates conference.

The opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap) has pulled out from contesting the Ba'Kelalan by-election at the eleventh hour, but will however throw its weight behind Independent candidate, renowned lawyer Baru Bian.

But the party remains tightlipped on his identity as it is worried that certain quarters may 'pester him' to withdraw.

The Sarawak National Party will have to go it alone, if it wants to field a candidate in the by-election.

This is the second Hornbill Skyways' helicopter to go down and the third crash in the state over the past three months.

It may be hazy in Sarawak but thankfully, the state's tourism is not affected. In fact, tourist arrivals to the state have gone up.

Those in power are said to be standing in the way of measures to sustain the fish population, which could become extinct in three years.

The embattled PBDS faction leader is keeping his line-up close to his chest for at least another three weeks, but it has not stopped tongues from wagging.

Low-cost housing projects in Sarawak should be upgraded and kept genuinely affordable for the people, says the association.

The state government aims to build quality affordable houses in the future and not 'stables' as the locals call the current low-cost houses.

Over-fishing and environmental degradation will wipe out the terubok population in the next three years if concrete steps are not taken to prevent further losses.

When the stakes are so high, is it any wonder that politicians say one thing and do another? PBDS rivals are in that 'strategic' mode.

The Sarawak party's two rival groups are said to have finalised agreement on a early October date for their Triennial Delegates Conference.

The going will be tough but the point is to give the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition a run for its money.

The Chinese population in the state is declining and a Unimas lecturer is suggesting that incentives be provided to boost the growth rate of the community.