The Borneo Post

A total of 39 personnel from the Kota Kinabalu, Lintas and Penampang fire stations were deployed to the scene to conduct the firefighting operations. — Malay Mail photo KOTA KINABALU (Aug 30): Three children were killed in a fire that swept through more than 200 houses in three villages here early this morning. The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said in a statement that the victims were identified as Nana Abdullah, four; Mohd Asrul Abdullah, six; and Nurfarahdilah Mohd Tajihah, eight.

A motorcyclist wearing a facemask riding through the haze at Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching on Aug 29, 2026. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (Aug 30): Air quality in Serian deteriorated sharply from a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 273 at 8pm on Saturday to 364, a hazardous level by 8am on Sunday. According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s Daily Haze Watch, four air quality monitoring stations in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy API readings at 8am.

A motorcyclist wearing a facemask riding through the haze at Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching on Aug 29, 2026. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (Aug 30) Serian recorded a hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 357 as of 7am today, with three other areas in Sarawak recording very unhealthy air quality. According to the Department of Environment’s (DoE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), Samarahan recorded an API of 293, placing it in the very unhealthy category.

Kapit Health assistant officer Dr Geoffery Sylvester Sabang presents a health talk during the ANMS drive at Rumah Surie. KAPIT (Aug 30): The recent Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS) programme at Rumah Surie in Nanga Temalat, Song here recorded encouraging participation from the longhouse folks.

Pansar staff in a group photo during the tree planting event at UPMKB grounds. BINTULU (Aug 30): Pansar Berhad planted 503 native trees at Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) on Saturday as part of its efforts to support biodiversity and environmental sustainability. The initiative, held in conjunction with the company’s Tree Planting and Family Day, involved 120 Pansar employees and their family members from Sibu, Miri, Kuching, and Bintulu.

Premature babies are vulnerable to RSV infection not only because of their small size, but because their lungs, airways and immune defences are still developing. KUCHING (Aug 30): For many families of premature babies, birth does not come with the celebration they had imagined. There may be few congratulatory messages, and there might not even be a chance to hold the baby before he is rushed away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and placed inside an incubator.

Wong (second left) receives a souvenir from a member of the event’s organising committee. SIBU (Aug 30): Turning handicrafts into economic opportunities can help preserve cultural heritage while providing additional household income, said Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

A motorcyclist wearing a facemask riding through the haze at Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching on Aug 29, 2026. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (Aug 30): School holidays are usually a time for family outings, weekend adventures and a welcome break from routine — but for some families in Kuching, the worsening haze has put those plans on hold. Instead of cycling in the park, brisk walking or making holiday trips, parents are keeping their children indoors as deteriorating air quality blankets the city.

Dr Annuar (left) inspects the SAYS site, which is set to undergo a facelift. SIBU (Aug 30): A total of RM470,000 has been allocated to upgrade the iconic Sibu Active Youth Space (SAYS) at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 2, with the works targeted for completion by January next year. State Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said the funding was secured from the state government in February this year.

Lau (fifth left) flagging off the charity run. SIBU (Aug 30): Chinese independent secondary schools are not part of the national compulsory education system and therefore are not free of charge, said Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau. The Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese School Management Boards chairman said as privately run institutions, the collection of school fees was necessary to maintain their basic operations.