KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing explained that he was just saying that the state government is looking at its constitutional rights pertaining to state assets which the federal government has been administrating over the years.
“I am not a lawyer but there are laws passed by parliament which cannot be implemented in Sarawak without the endorsement of the state legislature,” he said.
Masing, who is also Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister, pointed out the Sea Territorial Act 2012 passed by Parliament cannot be implemented in Sarawak because the Sarawak legislature didn’t endorse it.
Masing made the explanation after federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke questioned the intention of the state government’s proposal to take over control of Bintulu Port.
“The federal law which the Minister of Transportation (MOT) mentioned may be one of them. As I said, we are looking at our state rights,” Masing said.
Loke commenting on Masing’s proposal said that it would not be easy for Sarawak as the port was established under a law in Parliament.
“I do not know what they mean by that. How do they take over Bintulu port? It is a federal port and we have a federal legislation,” he told reporters at the Miri DAP headquarters on Sunday.
Loke said it was not so simple for the state government to take over anything it wants from the federal government. It would hinder the state’s progress as it will be a long process.
Masing, who was given the new ports development portfolio in a minor cabinet reshuffle on August 22, recently confirmed that the state was aiming to take over Bintulu Port and that the state government is now studying its constitutional position as far as ports and harbours are concerned.
“We just have to get what is ours. We have neglected our rights in the past 55 years,” Masing said when asked to comment on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s remarks on the development of ports while announcing the new Cabinet line-up.
The port was established on August 15, 1981 under the Bintulu Port Authority Act 1981 as a federal body under the Transport Ministry.
Then incorporated on December 23, 1992 Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd was privatised in 1993 under the Ports (Privatisation) Act 1990.
