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KUCHING, July 21: A comprehensive report and proposal for the transfer process of Bintulu Port from the federal’s jurisdiction to Sarawak is expected to be ready within one month.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that a sub-committee, comprising the Federal Transport Ministry (MOT) and Sarawak Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry, has been formed and tasked to work out the report and proposal.
The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Action Council meeting has agreed to form the committee chaired Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
“We are confident that the proposal can be worked out within a month so that the matter regarding the status conversion of Bintulu Port can have some finality.
“The proposal will be submitted to the MA63 technical committee before it is brought to the Cabinet for further decisions,” Uggah told a press conference after a mass thanksgiving prayer ceremony for 60 Years of Sarawak’s Independence organised by Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) at a hotel here today.
When asked about the compensation to the federal government for the port transfer to Sarawak, Uggah explained that all details and other terms would be worked out in due course, as the immediate priority is securing the federal government’s approval for the handover.
“The most important part now is for the federal government to agree with the transfer of the port, which is currently under federal jurisdiction, to Sarawak. The rest of the business details and the manner of the transfer will come naturally,” he added.
The Sarawak government has expressed its intention to take over Bintulu Port to include it among the State ports managed by a central port authority to be incorporated by State law.
This move aligns with the Federal Constitution and the Sarawak Constitution, which designate ports as being under the State government’s jurisdiction.
Yesterday, Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke said his ministry is actively laying the groundwork for the transfer, and negotiations between the stakeholders are ongoing.
After the MA63 technical committee meeting on July 18, Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof mentioned that the federal government has, in principle, agreed to the Sarawak government taking over the operations of Bintulu Port.
Going forward, the stakeholders will convene to address the legal and financial aspects related to the proposed takeover of Bintulu Port, including the amount of reimbursement or payment that Sarawak needs to make to the Federal government, the legal process involved, and the handling of Bintulu Port staff, who are currently considered federal employees.
Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Minister of Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang and Deputy Minister of Public Health and Housing Datu Penguang Manggil were present. — DayakDaily
