LABUAN: Labuan port, also known as Labuan Liberty Wharf, has come a long way over the years, but it has not quite yet reached where its operator wants it to be.
Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd (LLPM) wants it to be the port of choice in the region and strives to provide unrivalled port services to the global market.
LLPM chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohd Alias Abd Rahman said the port operator was committed to providing reliable, efficient and commercially viable port services and facilities to its customers and port users.
“We will strive to satisfy the port users and customers’ expectations by providing a value for money service, efficiently and promptly,” he told reporters after the LLPM’s 20th anniversary appreciation dinner here on Saturday.
He said LLPM had patiently weathered various challenges for two decades in providing port services that helped it to mature and be able to stay afloat.
“After over a mere two decades in service, we are becoming a more professional and efficient port service provider; thus we will commit to being driven by principles of quality improvement.
“We will be continually improving and documenting our processes and procedures, and we will do this by acting as a team to improve customer services,” said Alias, who is also the Labuan Chamber of Malay Entrepreneurs president.
“We welcome comments and suggestions on the provision of LLPM’s services to help serve even better,” he added.
LLPM, he noted, played an important role in ensuring cargo inflows and outflows were handled smoothly for the island’s economy.
“We still remember the early days of our operation in 1998, with only six staff members and infrastructure and assets lacking. LLPM was struggling to run the port efficiently amid criticism from various parties.
“We experienced financial issues to get (the port services) started as financial institutions refused to assist us. But we have redoubled our efforts constantly and the staff has increased steadily to more than 100 now. Banks are beginning to offer us various financial loan schemes,” Alias said.
He said the LLPM had expanded its operation, having inland depot (Container Yard 2) to cater for the increasing cargo capacity and a restructured organisation structure with seven departments to look after staffing, finances and daily operations. – Bernama
“The strong determination to see Malay entrepreneurs being able to be a port player has helped us get where we are today and gain the government’s trust in running the port. LLPM is still the leading containerised port on the duty-free island,” he said.
Alias said the LLPM would continue to play its role in line with its service motto of “Progressing together in the new era” (“Maju bersama era baru”).
“I’m pretty sure many of us still remember the congestion… Those were the days, as congestion has dropped significantly,” he added.
He concluded that the resilience of those working at the port, the understanding of customers and agreements with the port’s users had not only helped its recovery but driven up efficiencies. –Bernama
