Sarawak to take over running of Bintulu Port by July

KUCHING: Sarawak's takeover of Bintulu Port from the Federal Government is scheduled to be completed by July next year, says the state Deputy Infrastructure and Port Development Minister.

Datuk Majang Renggi said the state government was in the process of preparing the required legal provisions and other arrangements to assume control of the port in tandem with Putrajaya's due process to repeal the Bintulu Port Authority Act 1981.

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He said Bintulu Port was currently a Federal port under the purview of the Transport Ministry.

"The Sarawak government has persistently desired to take over Bintulu Port in restoring its rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

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"This vital Federal port plays a strategic role and is an important asset to complete Sarawak's economic ecosystem," he told Johnny Pang (GPS-Tanjong Batu) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (Nov 22).

Majang also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his Budget 2024 speech, had disclosed that discussions were ongoing between the Federal and state governments on the handover of Bintulu Port.

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To a supplementary question from Pang, he said the change of Bintulu Port's administration would not disrupt operations.

He added that under state administration, the port would play a pivotal role in facilitating Sarawak's economic development, particularly in the oil and gas industry, proposed carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and production of hydrogen and other biofuel.