By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 7: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong has called on the Sarawak government to look into a number of what she claimed to be ‘discrepancies’ in the management of Kuching Port Authority (KPA).
Among them is the RM370 million dredging project to deepen the navigational channel of 9 metres below chart datum of 23.4km stretch at Sarawak River, which was completed in 2020.
On the project, she discovered that the maximum draught for vessel channeling from Pilot station in Tanjung Po to Senari and Pending terminals is still 7.5 metres and not 9 metres as claimed.
“For a ship to channel from the Pilot Station at Tanjung Po to Senari port or Pending port, it will still have to wait for the high tide.
“There is no improvement on the draught condition and for the vessels to berth and unberth. I was told from Tanjong Po, it takes about one hour for the vessel to reach Senari Port whereas to Pending port it is about two hours during high tide,” she said when debating on the proposed Sarawak Ports Authority Bill, 2024 in the august House here today.
On top of that, she said it was unfair for KPA to collect channel maintenance fees of RM1 per ton for general cargo, bulk cargo vessel and Roro and RM36.25 per 20’ container (1 teu) and RM72.50 for 40’ container (2 teus), when the shipping community could not even enjoy the super highway services at Sarawak River.
At the same time, Yong requested the Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Ports (MIPD) Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to justify the appointment of KPA Port Sdn Bhd to collect the money and conduct other port services on behalf of KPA.
“Why would KPA entrust a ‘Sdn Bhd’ (private company) to do the collection of revenue and not themselves? After the collection, who did KPA Port Sdn Bhd pay the money to?
“What are the types of maintenance works if any which have been carried out? Which company is appointed to carry out the dredging maintenance work?” she questioned.
She also mentioned that for the stevedoring services, KPA Port Sdn Bhd has been subbing out the services to others and did not carry out the job themselves.
She further said KPA owns 30 per cent share holdings in KPA Port Sdn Bhd through Kuching Port Holding Sdn Bhd but there was zero revenue declared in Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) summary of financial information.
“Every year, KPA Port Sdn Bhd is making profits in millions, may we know why was there no dividend declared to Kuching Port Holding Sdn Bhd. What is the purpose of keeping the revenue zero? Why did KPA allow non declaration of dividend to its holding company? Tell us, where is the money?” she questioned. — DayakDaily
