Sarawak Transport Minister proposes new maritime committee following reinstatement of cabotage policy

Lee (seated, centre) and other officials in a group photo during the engagement session held at a hotel in Kuching on Aug 8, 2024.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 9: Sarawak Minister for Transport (MOTS), Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, has proposed to set up a Sarawak Maritime Committee to look into various maritime matters including shipping, maritime transport logistics and safety.

According to a MOTS press release, the proposal to establish the Sarawak Maritime Committee was met with unanimous agreement from those in attendance.

It went on to say that Lee will have his ministry form the committee, with members drawn from various stakeholders in the maritime industry, chambers of commerce, and representatives from relevant government departments and agencies.

“According to Dato Sri Lee, the purpose of setting up the committee is to get all the stakeholders and relevant agencies together, and gather all the issues and facts relating to maritime and logistics matters in Sarawak and work out the transformational road map,” it said.

MOTS, led by Lee, held an engagement session yesterday (Aug 8) at a local hotel here with key stakeholders from the shipping industry, shipbuilders, logistics companies, chambers of commerce, port authorities, Customs, Immigration, the Marine Department, and other relevant agencies.

The session was convened to discuss the recent reinstatement of the cabotage policy for Sarawak, as announced by the federal Minister for Transport, Anthony Loke.

Also present were MOTS deputy minister Dato Henry Harry Jinep, and Section Head for Riverine and Maritime MOTS, Teo Swee Ann. — DayakDaily