By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 31: Sarawak is set to benefit from the federal government’s push to boost the shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry, with plans to upgrade bunkering infrastructure at key ports across the nation under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling 13MP in Parliament today, said the government will intensify efforts to attract strategic investments to expand Malaysia’s shipping capacity and upgrade bunkering infrastructure in several states, including Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.
“This initiative will contribute towards the goal of making Malaysia a competitive and sustainable regional maritime hub,” he said.
Efforts will also be channelled towards building modern, efficient and sustainable port infrastructure to support low-carbon maritime trade, including the construction of the third terminal in Pulau Carey, the development of Westports 2 container terminal, and the expansion of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor.
With 94.6 per cent of Malaysia’s trade activities relying on sea access, Anwar said the country’s maritime legal framework will be reviewed and updated to ensure it remains relevant and competitive, through the Maritime Law Review and Reform Committee.
At the same time, the government will intensify efforts to protect marine ecosystems by eradicating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and expanding the use of the tagal or tagang system—a community-based sustainable fisheries practice—across coastal, island and marine areas nationwide. – DayakDaily
