KUCHING: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) will set up a sub-committee to look into the proposed change in the status of Bintulu Port.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the sub-committee will be chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali with the Sarawak Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry and federal Transport Ministry as members.
The two ministries will prepare a full report and proposal for the Bintulu Port status change.
“We are expecting the report to be completed within a month so that the matter can have some finality.
“The proposal will then be submitted to the MA63 Technical Committee before it is brought to the Cabinet for further decision,” he said at a press conference held after he officiated at the thanksgiving prayer ceremony in conjunction with the Sarawak 60th anniversary of independence within Malaysia held here today.
Uggah, who is also the Infrastructure and Port Development Minister, said the set-up of the sub-committee was agreed during the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee Meeting on July 18.
During the meeting, Sarawak presented its plan and intention to take over the Bintulu Port, which is currently under the federal government.
He said the change in port status is also in accordance with the Federal and State Constitutions.
“We have made a presentation on our intention and plan to change the status of (Bintulu Port) from a federal port to a state port. We want the port to be under a single entity,” he said.
It has been previously reported that the Sarawak government wants to take back Bintulu Port from Putrajaya as part of strategies for the overall development of ports in the state.
Bintulu Port, which was declared a federal port through an Act passed in Parliament in 1978, became operational in 1981 to mainly serve the oil and gas industry.
On Jan 1, 1993, Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd was granted a concession to operate the port, in which the Sarawak government has 39.7 per cent shares with Petronas and MISC Bhd together holding 30.8 per cent.
