Caption: Suhaili (left) visiting the crew change operations temporary facility at Wisma ASB.
KOTA KINABALU: Labuan's oil and gas sector could be disrupted due to the delay in implementing an Immigration screening system, says Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman.
The Labuan MP said that Asian Supply Base (ASB) Sdn Bhd is facing potential delays in meeting the April 1 deadline for the crew change operations due to this.
Suhaili added that the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit's (Mampu) system installed for Immigration screening was not operational.
The ASB chairman called on the authorities in Putrajaya to address the matter promptly, emphasising its impact on security and Labuan's economy.
During a visit to the crew change operations temporary facility at Wisma ASB recently, he highlighted the urgency of starting crew change operations by March to align with PETRONAS' scheduled oil drilling activities the following month.
He said he would personally meet the Home Affairs Minister to resolve any bureaucratic hurdles and expedite Immigration personnel placement.
Suhaili said he would also write to the Prime Minister.
"Labuan's economy is under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.
"I will also raise the issue during the upcoming Parliament session on Feb 26," he added.
He said the delay in implementing crew change operations could entail multinational companies sending crews to Kota Kinabalu for Immigration clearance.
Suhaili said ASB, a Labuan-based Sabah government linked-company (GLC), had allocated RM25mil to build a three-storey crew change terminal scheduled for completion in October 2024.
He said the return of crew change activities to Labuan would significantly benefit the island's economy, with hundreds of oil and gas crew members arriving and departing daily.
Suhalii said ASB had received an exemption order from the Sabah Home Affairs and Research Office (PHEDNP) on April 22, 2022, authorising approval for oil and gas crew change documentation clearance from PHEDNP and the Sabah Immigration Department.
