By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 14: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) now requires restructuring, including an increase of 60 to 100 additional officers and personnel, to address the growing workload and new responsibilities.
Minister and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah emphasised the importance of this adjustment, noting that MIPD currently employs 42 officers and staff.
“We certainly need the additional manpower as we have several critical projects ahead,” he said during an appreciation dinner for government departments and agencies held here last night (Dec 13).
Uggah also pointed out that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Abdul Johari Tun Openg has granted an unprecedented budget allocation of RM1.31 billion for the coming year.
“Our goal is to ensure that every cent of this allocation benefits the people fully,” Uggah added.
He acknowledged that this will lead to more work being done and more projects being delivered on time.
The addition of the port portfolio to MIPD further underscores the need for more manpower.
“We are in the final stages of transforming the Bintulu Port Authority into a State port. Although the original deadline was Nov 30, we have been given an extension until Dec 30. Due to factors beyond our control, we are now working hard to complete this transfer by Jan 30, 2025,” Uggah explained.
One of the Ministry’s most ambitious projects is the development of the Tanjung Embang deep-sea port, a key vision of Abang Johari.
“We must ensure this vision becomes a reality, allowing the port to compete with other regional hubs. We are fortunate to have the support of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) in this endeavour,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo, MIPD permanent secretary Datu Chiew Chee Yaw and Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak director Dr Cassidy Morris were among those present. — DayakDaily
