Premier: Proposed deep sea port in southern Sarawak to serve general cargo, oil and gas needs

Abang Johari (seventh left) in a group photo with other distinguished guests during SCORE's 15th anniversary gala dinner at BCCK Kuching on Nov 17, 2023.

By Shikin Louis & Chris Lidom

KUCHING, Nov 17: The proposed deep sea port located in southern Sarawak will provide services for general cargo as well as an oil and gas hub, says Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said the new port is one of the major projects planned for the southern region of Sarawak as the State aims to achieve its agenda to become a high income developed State by the year 2030.

“For the South, we are going to build a new port and this is going to be a deep sea port.

“Then, we are going to build clusters within the port; one for general cargo and the other one for oil and gas hub from the South,” he said during the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy’s (SCORE) 15th anniversary gala dinner held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here earlier tonight.

Abang Johari, who is also Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) chairman, added that the State government is currently working with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to make the port a reality.

“We hope we can become a major player in the exploration of gas in the southern region of Sarawak.

“With that scenario towards 2030, I believe that Sarawak can become the hub of economic activities within the region,” he added.

Among those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is chairman of the Highland Development Agency (HDA); Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who is chairman of the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA); Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Federal Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi who is chairman of the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) and RECODA chief executive officer Datu Ismawi Ismuni. — DayakDaily