KUCHING: The state government will review the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961 in a bid to consolidate all ports in Sarawak. “There are areas in the Ordinance that we have to look at to meet the demands of modern ports,” Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg told reporters after launching Sarawak Export Day 2019 at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
He said if it means the government spending money to improve facilities, it will do that to make sure all the state’s ports are capable of top-notch services.
“Now, people go for containerisation and modern management of ports; we have to be able to meet such demands,” he stressed.
Containerisation refers to a system of freight transport using intermodal containers — also known as shipping containers and ISO containers — which have standardised dimensions. “We have to look at other ports’ operations.
Maybe we have to upgrade certain facilities. “We may have to adopt computerisation in the management of our ports,” he added.
On industrial terminals, the chief minister said that the location would depend on where the proposed petrochemical complex would be built. “It has to be near ports because it is hazardous,” he elaborated. “There is a proposal to build a refinery, meaning that refinery has to be equipped with a jetty. That has to be looked into,” Abang Johari reiterated. In June this year, an integrated oil and gas complex was proposed to be built in Lawas.
