By Ling Hui
KUCHING, April 26: The Sarawak government is now aggressively pursuing negotiations with the Federal government to regain control of Bintulu Port so that there is no discrimination in terms of port dues in Sarawak.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government wishes to integrate all the ports in Sarawak, including Bintulu Port.
“Me and my colleagues in the Cabinet are negotiating to get Bintulu Port back to Sarawak’s fold. God-willing, it can be done.
“I have reported to the Prime Minister that under our constitution, all ports and harbours are under Sarawak’s jurisdiction. There should be no discrimination in terms of port dues.
“We, in Sarawak, want to integrate all ports in Sarawak, so Bintulu Port must be returned to Bintulu and also Sarawak,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari cited new investments in Bintulu, involving some RM8 billion from two oil and gas (O&G) companies.
He said Sarawak received RM4 billion investment from Shell to produce sour gas using new technology and another RM4 billion from Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP).
“This means we are adding value to the resources in Bintulu,” he said when attending the Ramah Tamah Mesra gathering at Kampung Warisan Jepak last night (April 25).
Also present at the event were Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Abdullah Fatimah, and Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip. — DayakDaily
