RM1.8 bln Bintulu Port takeover agreed in principle as handover enters final stage

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Feb 4: In principle, the federal government and the Sarawak government have agreed on a takeover value of RM1.8 billion for Bintulu Port, as both sides enter the final stage of the process to hand over the port to Sarawak.

In a TVS news, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said a joint technical committee is currently refining the legal aspects of the transfer to ensure that all obligations of both parties are fully met.

He explained that Bintulu Port remains a federal port for now and continues to be regulated by the Bintulu Port Authority until the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2024, or Act 859, is fully enforced.

“The process must be finalised in accordance with the provisions under Act 859 before the stipulated effective date to enable the Sarawak government to take over the regulation and governance of the port,” he said.

Loke added that the RM1.8 billion takeover value includes the payment method as determined by the federal government.

He was responding to a question from Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew (Pakatan Harapan–Sibu), who sought clarification on the current status of Bintulu Port and the amount to be paid by the Sarawak government for the takeover.

Responding to a supplementary question on whether the federal government would provide further assistance after the takeover, Loke stressed that there would be no additional funding.

He explained that ports under the federal government do not receive operational funding as they are operated by private concessionaires, including Bintulu Port, which is operated by Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad.

“The Bintulu Port Authority functions as a regulatory body and will continue to receive annual concession fees from the concessionaire, while any investment for port expansion and development will be undertaken by the concession operator itself,” he said. — DayakDaily

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