SIBU: Rajang Port Authority’s (RPA) total throughput has recorded an average growth of 6.5 per cent annually in the past five years.
Announcing this, its General Manager Datin Helen Lim pointed out that even during the times of MCO (Movement Control Order) due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, RPA actually achieved an increase in total throughput of 8.4 per cent in 2020 over that a year earlier.
“As our core business and main cargo is containers, in terms of TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) – a measure of volume in units of twenty-foot long containers, RPA has in the last five years recorded an average increase of 10 per cent annually,” she stated at the RPA annual dinner held in RH hotel here on Tuesday night (Jan 10).
The occasion which was graced by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi as guest of honour was also attended by among others, Chairman of RPA Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Chew Chee Yau.
Lim disclosed that in terms of dollars and cents, RPA has been achieving profits after tax each year from RM740,000 in 2019 to RM2.2 million in 2020, RM4.6 million in 2021 and a whopping profit of RM10 million at the close of RPA’s 2022 financial year.
“This means that in 2020, our profit after tax was an increase of 200 per cent over that in 2019 and 2021, there was a further increase of 110 per cent and we expect another further growth of at least 117 per cent in 2022.
“Thank you to our customers, the shipping companies and agents as well as all concerned for your trust in RPA and your unfailing support towards this institution.
“RPA’s culture and values have been built on sharing and caring, I am hence happy to see that we are able to live up to “RPA gives back” as we have in our midst, representatives from the charity bodies to receive a small token from the Authority,” she enthused.
Salang who also spoke, was proud to be part of the team which has been able to show an exemplary performance in serving Sarawak, all its stakeholders and customers.
“To do all these, Datin Helen Lim, the dynamic general manager and her team require continued support from our customers, affiliates, the port community and the people in general.
“I am pleased to see that the port over the last five years has been making a steady profit after tax in spite of challenging times, especially in the last two years. Congratulations RPA management for holding steadfast in serving the community at large,” he said.
He asserted that this unwavering commitment has allowed the port to generate a profit after tax last year, amounting to almost RM10 million.
The port’s commitment and dedication, he said, have also been recognised internationally when it was recently awarded several accolades including the Best Managed Riverine Port from Lang International Corporate Titan Awards and the Corporate Excellence Award from Asia Pacific Enterprise Award which had also awarded Master Entrepreneur to the General Manager.
During the event, Salang also presented RPA’s contributions of RM3,000 each to six local charity bodies,namely, Sibu Kidney Foundation; Association For Children With Special Needs Sibu (Agape); Lembaga Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Sarawak, Cawangan Sibu; Methodist Children Home; Rumah Seri Kenangan Sibu; and Sibu Benevolent Society.
Nine local major shipping agencies also received appreciation certificates from him for their continuing support of services and facilities provided by RPA.
