Uggah: Sarawak govt to take full control of Bintulu Port by December

KUCHING (Aug 28): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has confirmed that a clear timeline has been set for the full handover of Bintulu Port to the Sarawak government by this December.

In a statement, he said a key meeting was held in Putrajaya today, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the federal and Sarawak governments, which outlines the transition of Bintulu Port from a federal port to a state port.

Uggah, who is also Sarawak Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, and federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke co-chaired the Joint Federal-State Committee at the Ministry of Transport Malaysia office in Putrajaya.

He said the purpose of this meeting was to address any outstanding issues and to ensure a seamless transition of Bintulu Port to the Bintulu Port Authority (Sarawak).

“We have established a clear timeline, and we are on track for the port to be fully handed over by the end of December 2024,” he said.

He added this meeting also marked the first convening of the joint committee since the successful passage of the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2024 in Parliament on July 17, this year.

According to press reports, the Dewan Rakyat had on July 17 approved the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2024 and the Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port (Repeal) Bill 2024.

The Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Bill, sought to repeal the Bintulu Port Authority Act 1981, to dissolve the Bintulu Port Authority established under the act, to provide for the vesting of its properties to the government or Sarawak state government or any entity empowered or appointed by the state government under the relevant written laws and to provide for related matters.

The Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port (Repeal) Bill 2024, sought to repeal the Declaration of an Area in the Bintulu District to be a Federal Port Act 1979, following the change in the status of Bintulu Port from a federal port to a state port.

Uggah had said on July 18 that all ports across Sarawak now belonged to the state government following the handing over of Bintulu Port.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had on July 17 said the dissolution of Bintulu Port Authority and the change in the status of Bintulu Port from a federal port to a state port were in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

He also mentioned the move was also in accordance with the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961 where all ports in Sarawak are under the authority of the state government.