Sarawak records 5,609 road accidents in early 2026 as fatalities rise sharply

Lee (second left) presenting goodie bag to a motorist during a Road Safety Campaign at a petrol station in Pujut, Miri on May 5, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

MIRI, May 5: A total of 5,609 road accident cases were recorded in Sarawak between January and March 2026, raising growing concern over road safety levels in the State.

In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said that of the total, 99 cases were fatal accidents, resulting in 107 deaths.

He added that 30 serious accident cases were recorded, involving 39 people who sustained severe injuries, while 69 cases involved minor injuries affecting 87 victims.

“The remaining 5,411 cases involved only property damage,” he said when speaking at the Road Safety Campaign organised by Endaya Construction Sdn Bhd at a petrol station in Pujut on Monday (May 4).

Lee also revealed that Miri recorded 1,165 accident cases from January to April 2026, marking a four per cent increase compared to 1,120 cases during the same period last year.

More worrying, he said, was the rise in fatal accidents from 14 to 19 cases, while fatalities increased from 15 to 20 deaths, which marked an increase of more than 30 per cent.

High-risk locations identified include the Miri By-Pass, Kuala Baram By-Pass, Persisiran Pantai Road, Pan Borneo Highway, and Miri–Airport Road.

Several accident “blackspots” have also been identified, including Beraya Road, sections of the Pan Borneo Highway in the Suai area, and the stretch of the Miri By-Pass from Emart Riam to the Tanjung Batu junction.

Lee said the main causes of accidents include driver negligence, uneven road conditions, and inadequate street lighting.

“Road safety does not depend solely on enforcement. It also requires safe infrastructure and responsible behaviour from all road users,” he stressed. — DayakDaily