KUCHING: Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions president Datuk Richard Wee welcomes the Sarawak government’s decision to take control of the Bintulu Port.
“It’s long-awaited news that our government is finally reclaiming Bintulu Port from the federal government.
“Being the only port in Sarawak not under our state’s control, its inclusion will allow the Sarawak government to consolidate all ports efficiently, fostering more synergistic operations for transportation and infrastructural development,” he said.
Wee added that this takeover creates opportunities to harness the financial strength of Bintulu Port for supporting the development of other ports in Sarawak.
This strategic approach is expected to enhance the economic viability of various port projects and contribute to the overall growth of the region.
“The state government could leverage Bintulu Port’s financial strength to support the development of other ports within Sarawak.
“Overall, it’s excellent news for us and a significant milestone in our Premier’s vision to diversify Sarawak’s revenue streams, in addition to the ongoing efforts to secure autonomy for Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations with the federal government.”
The handover of Bintulu Port to the Sarawak government is scheduled for June this year.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke assured that the state government would establish the Bintulu Port Board under the Port Board Ordinance 1961, ensuring smooth port operations post-transfer.
They also disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed next month to formalise the handover process from the federal government to the state government.
