KUCHING: Sarawak Shipping Association Chairman, David Chung, has urged the government to review the cabotage policy exemption granted to shipping between ports in East and West Malaysia. “We can’t see it achieving its original aim, such as the significant reduction in prices of goods, but it is eroding the interests of the local shipping industry as well as national sovereignty,” he said.
He also anticipated that Kuching Port or the state government to allocate more capital investment on port equipment. “Frequent breakdowns of Kuching Port Quay Cranes and Container Yard (CY) RTG Cranes caused delay in both containerised ships turn-around-time and consignees taking delivery of containers from CY.
“Do not solely look at the return for investment, but also look at it as a social responsibility because ports also provide strategic services to the society,” he said.
Chung also said that ships calling Bintulu Port recently experienced unusually long queues as some ships had to wait for more than a week for berth, while some were forced to omit calling in order to catch up with the original shipping schedule.
“The authorities concerned should act quickly to ease the severe congestion that would jack-up the costs of both ship operators and cargo interests,” he said.
On the subject of the implementation of the Sales & Services Tax (SST), Chung said it has left several teething problems to the stakeholders as the state-level Customs officers were unable to clarify certain detail procedures and requirements.
“As the association had always reiterated, before implementing any new regulations, the government and any authority should consult and introduce appropriate awareness to the stakeholders. “They should obtain feedback and ample time allowance should be given to make sure everybody has reached the required level of understanding first,” he said.
Earlier on, the Sarawak Shipping Association successfully held its annual general meeting (AGM) on October 27 and elected its committee members for the new term.
Apart from Chung as its chairman, the office-bearers for the 14th term (2018 – 2019) are as follows; Sim Mong Ang as First Vice Chairman; Pierre Song, Jason Ting, and Wee Boon Kian as Vice Chairmen; Lee Kim Kwang as Secretary; Ling Ung Hee as Assistant Secretary; Robert Ngui as Treasurer; Alex Chung as Assistant Treasurer; Chong Kang Wei as PR Officer; Abdul Aziz Hipeni as Assistant PR Officer; Yeo Hock Kiang as Welfare Officer; Lim Yik How as Assistant Welfare Officer; and Wong Chiew Kai, Lai Hua Seng, Vincent Chin, and Pakarudin Abdul Rashid as Committee Members.
