Bintulu Port takeover catalyst for prosperity: Minos

KUCHING: The state government taking over of Bintulu Port is very much needed for Sarawak to grow prosperous in the coming years.

In stating this, political analyst Datuk Peter Minos pointed out that ports are a major lifeline for commerce and industry for a country much like highways and airlines.

Taking Singapore Port as an example, he stated that it is a big source of national revenue on top of providing jobs and income to the people.

“As Bintulu itself is a fast growing industrial hub, its port is vital and much required. Therefore, it is very good and wise that the state government had requested the port from the federal government.

“We thank the federal government for handing it over to the Sarawak government as it is not easy to give away one of your cash cows,” he said when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune on Tuesday (Jan 9).

He said if Bintulu Port is well managed and expanded, Sarawak stands to earn billions per year from the port.

“On top of that, locals and Sarawakians in general can get job opportunities from this. Moreover, if the Indonesian government needs Bintulu Port to partly serve its huge capital city of Nusantara, it will be great.”

It was reported that Bintulu Port will be handed over to the Sarawak government in June this year.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and federal Minister of Transport Anthony Loke stated that the state government will create the Bintulu Port Board under the Port Board Ordinance 1961, to ensure the operation of the port will run smoothly once the state government takes over.

They said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed next month to realise the handing over of the port to the state government by the federal government.