By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Mar 20: Minister for Transport Sarawak (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin reveals that a task force has been formed to investigate issues faced by the shipping industry regarding ship registration and survey for vessels exceeding 500 gross tonnes (GT) operating in Sarawak waters.
Lee told reporters this at a press conference following a briefing on ‘Ships Survey and Proposal in Sarawak’ by the Ship Classification Malaysia (SCM) today at a hotel in Kuching.
“We have decided to form a task force to look into the details and come up with a proposal.
“Meanwhile, the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA) was asked today in our briefing to submit proposals within one month.
“A task force has been formed, led by our director of marine departments for the Sarawak region, with members from my ministry, the Sarawak Rivers Board (LSS), SCM, the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA), Shipbuilders Association, and the Sarawak Association of Maritime Industries (SAMIN),” he explained.
He said that all stakeholders get together and go into detail and come up with a full proposal before deciding and submitting it to the marine department on the subject matter.
“The Ministry is of the opinion that it is high time that steps are taken to resolve the issues faced by the shipping industry players on the ship registration and survey plying in Sarawak waters.
“Currently, vessels above 500GT must be surveyed by the Malaysian Ship (KM) Registry, which causes some difficulties to the shipping industry players in Sarawak.
“Therefore, it is important to resolve the issue of ship registration and inspection for ships over 500GT in Sarawak waters to facilitate the transport of essential goods, particularly during times of crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
The Transport Minister continued by stating that through the briefing on the ‘Ships Survey and Proposal in Sarawak’ by SCM, MOTS gathered information, opinions, and recommendations from all parties involved to resolve the issue.
“MOTS will be looking at the possibility of discussing further this issue with the Federal authorities concerned,” he added.
Various stakeholders, including government agencies such as the Sarawak Attorney General Chambers, the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit, the Department of the Premier of Sarawak, LSS, the Jabatan Laut Malaysia Wilayah Sarawak, SSSA, and SAMIN, attended the briefing earlier. — DayakDaily
