By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 7: Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi expressed his belief that the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill 2024 signifies a strategic move that positions Sarawak ideally to become a major transport hub serving the East ASEAN Growth Areas.
He emphasised that this initiative would complement Indonesia’s plan to develop their new capital, Nusantara, in Kalimantan.
Abdul Yakub elaborated that as a maritime region, Sarawak should capitalise on its geographical advantage and explore opportunities to accelerate its economy, especially considering the natural landscape offering suitable locations for the development of deep-sea ports.
“The creation of more deep sea ports would not only enhanced our maritime transportation network, but would also lead to the improvement in our land and even air transportation systems,” he said when debating in support of Sarawak Ports Authority Bill 2024 at Dewan Undangan Sarawak today.
Echoing his support for the bill, Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan emphasised the importance of operating the Sarawak Ports Authority on principles of being a private entity and result as well as profit-oriented.
He added that the Sarawak Premier’s Office shall be the custodian of the Bill while its implementing body may be referred to as ‘Sarawak Port Holding Berhad’ and the subsidiary ports be incorporated under Government Own Company (GOC) or Government Link Company under Sarawak Financial Office as shareholders.
“All dividends and profits generated by the port authority should be repatriated to the Sarawak coffers for the benefit of Sarawak and its people,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
