SARAWAK STATE ASSEMBLY PASSES SARAWAK PORTS AUTHORITY BILL

KUCHING, May 7 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly today passed the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill to establish a central port authority to manage, regulate, control and administer all ports in Sarawak.

Tabled by Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the bill was passed after 20 members of the state assembly participated in the debate session.

When tabling the bill, Uggah said Sarawak has recently undergone a massive economic development whereby port development plays a crucial role and must undergo transformation by forming a central port authority.

“The consolidation of Sarawak port authorities into a central port authority could bring increased efficiency. A centralised authority can streamline operations, remove redundancy, and implement uniform policies across all ports.

“This can lead to more efficient use of resources, faster turnaround times and reduced operational costs,” he said.

Uggah said with a central body, strategic planning can be more coordinated and comprehensive, taking into account the development needs of the entire region rather than individual ports.

“The proposed new centralised Port Authority will replace all existing Port Authorities in the state.This Bill, when passed will also replace the pre-Malaysia law, the Ports Authorities Ordinance 1961,” he added.

When debating the bill, Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong) said in order to achieve maximum efficiency, it is crucial to ensure that Sarawak’s port infrastructure and system are of the highest quality.

“A strong and efficient operation will foster the necessary confidence to attract investment in production and distribution systems, supporting the growth of manufacturing and logistics, thus creating employment and increasing the level of income of the people,” he said.

-- BERNAMA