KUCHING: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) has been tasked with negotiating with the Ministry of Transport (MoT) in Putrajaya over the state’s plan to take back the Bintulu Port.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas revealed that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg gave the directive during the monthly state cabinet yesterday (Feb 2).
“The port is now a federal port under the MoT, but the Premier said he only wanted the port in Bintulu,” he said during the ministry’s Chinese New Year gathering at a local hotel here yesterday.
Uggah said that since it is not a small task, the ministry therefore needs to look at the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961 with the hope of tabling a Bill in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting by the end of the year.
“This is no small task, we also have the Samalaju Port there too,” he said.
The state government wants the Bintulu Port to be part of the cluster of state ports, under a central port authority which will be incorporated by state laws.
Uggah added that another big task for the ministry is to come up with the Sarawak Port Masterplan.
The study is aimed at improving and enhancing the efficiency of port services, port security through the installation of the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), Aids to Navigation (AtoN) facility, crane, dredging works and exploration of new business opportunities.
For this, he said the state government had set aside RM4 million for the study, starting with the Miri Port Authority.
At the same time, Uggah said the ministry and all agencies under it still have a lot to do this year.
“We have revived many sick projects although they are still a nagging problem. We still have 340 critically delayed projects,” he said.
During a recent state development coordination committee meeting in Kapir, the Premier called on the Public Works Department (PWD) and Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to ensure all development entrusted to the ministry be completed on schedule and with the stipulated quality.
“I am optimistic that with our close collaboration, support, and understanding we can rise to the occasion. We can learn from our past mistakes, the success we have achieved and many new technologies that we can use.
“I am also very grateful to my two deputy ministers Datuk Majang Renggie and Aidel Lariwoo for being very helpful and supportive,” he said.
On the ministry’s performance last year, Uggah said out of the RM7.724 million operating expenditure, it managed to spend RM7.548 million or 97.71 per cent.
However, on the development expenditure, out of the RM942.991 million allocated, it had spent RM642.751 million or 68.16 per cent, he said.
Aidel and his wife Dayang Ernie Awang Hashim, Majang, Uggah’s wife Datuk Doreen Mayang, Betong member of parliament Dr Richard Rapu, MIPD permanent secretary Chiew Chee Yaw and PWD director Richard Tajan were among those present at the function.
