KUCHING, June 30: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) is looking into reviewing the overall policies, development and strategies to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of five ports in Sarawak.
Heeding the call by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, MIPD Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that these ports are critical as they form the arteries to further growth of Sarawak.
“Sarawak envisages a six to eight per cent growth in its Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“This depends a lot on our ports’ efficiency, development and the ability to offer world-class service to our clients, most of whom are foreign investors.
“So we too must plan out our strategies to achieve this target,”he said in a statement after witnessing the handing over of responsibilities from the ministry’s retiring permanent secretary Datu Safri Zainudin to his successor Chiew Chee Yau at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Uggah, who is also the Deputy Premier, urged the ports’ administration to be prepared to seek out and adopt the latest high technology to enhance services and performances.
“So I hope our new permanent secretary can play his role to chart out these enhancements,” he added.
Meanwhile, Safri who is retiring today after a six-month extension has been the ministry’s permanent secretary for 13 years.
He has served in the State civil service for 40 years, beginning as an engineer at the Public Works Department (JKR) headquarters in Kuching and serving in Sibu and Kapit Divisions.
His successor Chiew started as an executive engineer with a private firm before joining JKR in August 1999.
Chiew too had served in various capacities in Sri Aman and in JKR headquarters including a stint as a project manager for the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway.
In March 2020, he was appointed as an acting deputy director of the department.
Deputy Ministers Datuk Majang Renggi and Ir Aidel Lariwoo as well as State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and his two deputies Datu Sri Abu Bakar Marzuki and Datu Ik Pahon Joik were also present. — DayakDaily
