By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, July 18: The Miri lorry terminal project is at 31.82 per cent physical progress as of the end of June and is progressing ahead of schedule.
According to Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, the terminal is expected to catalyse a more efficient, safer, and better-organised logistics system in northern Sarawak, while supporting the growth of the State’s transportation and trade sectors.
Additionally, the terminal will provide dedicated parking areas, warehousing facilities, light maintenance services, and more comfortable accommodation for lorry drivers.
“It will not only reduce indiscriminate roadside parking but also create a safer and more systematic operating environment for the logistics industry.
“We also want to ensure the welfare of lorry drivers is given due attention because they are the backbone of the nation’s supply chain,” he said when speaking at an engagement dinner held in conjunction with the 133rd Council Meeting of the Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) here on Friday night (July 17).
According to Lee, the terminal was conceived following continuous engagement with industry players, who highlighted the need for more comprehensive transit facilities for heavy vehicles.
He said many lorries transporting goods from Kuching to Miri before continuing to Limbang, Lawas, Sabah, and Brunei are currently forced to stop along road shoulders to rest, creating safety concerns and compromising drivers’ comfort.
“Once completed, the terminal is expected to improve the movement of lorries in Miri, enhance the operational efficiency of logistics companies and reduce congestion caused by heavy vehicles stopping in unauthorised areas,” he added.
Lee also said the Sarawak government plans to build another terminal in the future to accommodate the rapid growth of the logistics industry. — DayakDaily
