KUCHING: The abolishment of the cabotage policy as announced by the federal government will help to weather the rising cost of living in Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari said it would also avoid double handling cost as shipping of cargo would not have to go through the container hub in Port Klang.
“I know that certain sector is not happy, but we have to consider the need of the consumers. Hopefully it will to reduce and weather the rising cost of living,” he told the media after the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Pre-Council meeting held at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters at Jalan Bako, yesterday.
The announcement of the abolishment of cabotage policy, which was introduced in 1980, was made by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Sabah, yesterday, following the call by Sarawak and Sabah Chief Ministers to the federal government to abolish the policy.
The abolishment of the cabotage policy would take effect from 1 June, however, it is still pertinent to all cargo operations in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.
