Proposed Bintulu Port takeover to be part of MA63 agenda, says Sarawak deputy premier

KUCHING, May 24 — Sarawak’s proposed takeover of Bintulu Port, the country’s premier liquefied natural gas (LNG) port, will be pursued under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) agenda, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said today.

He said the negotiations between the state and federal governments on the proposal were ongoing.

“With the impending reorganisation of the state ports which would come under a single regulatory authority, a State Ports Authority, the Bintulu Port should be one of the cluster of state ports whose future development and growth will be harmonised or streamlined with the other ports in Sarawak,” he said in his winding-up speech in the Sarawak assembly.

Uggah, who is also the state minister of infrastructure and port development, said it was in Sarawak’s interest that the Bintulu Port be defederalised and regulated under the state’s jurisdiction.

“In this respect, the Sarawak government has registered its interest in taking over the Bintulu Port from Putrajaya,” he added.

He stressed that pursuant to the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Committee 1962, the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution was amended to incorporate Item 15 of List IIA whereby the legislative authority over ports and harbours, except those declared by federal law as federal port, is vested in the states of Sarawak and Sabah with effect from Malaysia Day.

Uggah said the current State Port Authorities, comprising Kuching, Rajang, Miri, Tanjung Manis and Samalaju, will undergo a restructuring exercise to ensure a smooth transition into the new entity known as Sarawak Ports Authority.

“A central port authority for Sarawak or Sarawak Ports Authority will be established to regulate, streamline and coordinate the management, operation, planning, and development of all ports to ensure that each of the port plays its niche role in promoting trade and business. The federal government took over the development of the Bintulu Port in 1981 with the establishment of the Bintulu Port Authority under the Bintulu Port Act 1981 and it came under the federal Ministry of Transport.

The Bintulu Port Authority's responsibilities include the development, administration, marketing and supply of complete and efficient port services with the aim of making Bintulu Port the largest and most efficient transport and distribution centre in the BIMP-EAGA network.

The Bintulu Port started its operations on January 1, 1983.