By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Nov 22: The Sarawak government is set to take control of Bintulu Port Authority from the Federal government, with the entire process expected to be completed by July 2024.
Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak deputy minister-cum-Samalaju assemblyman Dato Majang Renggi highlighted that Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his 2024 Budget Speech had agreed to handover the Bintulu Port to the Sarawak government.
“We are in the process of preparing the required legal provisions and other necessary arrangements to assume control of Bintulu Port in tandem with the Federal government’s due process to repeal the following Acts: the Declaration of an Area in Bintulu District to be a Federal Port Act, 1979, and the Bintulu Port Authority Act, 1981,” he said in response to Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming during question time at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here today.
Pang had asked what is the expected time frame for the State government to assume control of Bintulu Port from the Federal government.
Meanwhile, the Tanjong Batu assemblyman had asked two supplementary questions: will the handover affect the current Bintulu Port operation, and what is the Sarawak government’s plan for Bintulu Port.
Majang noted that the handover of Bintulu Port involves the change of administration from the Federal government to the State government, and that the transition will not disrupt Bintulu Port operations.
On the Sarawak government’s plan for Bintulu Port, the Samalaju assemblyman further remarked that under the Sarawak government’s administration, Bintulu Port will play a pivotal role in facilitating Sarawak’s economic development, in particular the Oil and Gas industry and its midstream and downstream activities, edible oil, the proposed Supply Base, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), and the production of hydrogen and other biofuels. — DayakDaily
