KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the official handover of Bintulu Port to the Sarawak government from the federal government, marking a new chapter in the management of the strategic port.
The handover on Wednesday (Sept 16) was particularly significant as it took place during the national-level Malaysia Day 2026 celebrations hosted by Sarawak.
At the handover ceremony held at the Kuching International Airport, Transport Minister Anthony Loke represented the federal government, while Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas represented the state government.
In a statement, the Sarawak Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry said the handover involved four key documents, namely the Ports (Privatisation) (Amendment of Schedule) Order 2026 and the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) (Vesting Date) Order 2026. Also handed over were documents relating to the determination of the effective date of the Declaration of an Area in the District of Bintulu to be a Federal Port (Repeal) Act 2024 [Act 858] and the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2024 [Act 859].
"With the coming into force of Act 858 and Act 859 on Sept 1, Bintulu Port officially changed its status from a federal port to a state port under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak government," the statement said.
The transition also saw the dissolution of the Bintulu Port Authority (LPB), with its functions taken over by the Bintulu Port Authority (Sarawak), a state statutory body established under the Port Authorities Ordinance 1961.
The statement said that effective Sept 1, 2026, all assets, rights, interests and obligations of LPB were transferred and vested in the state government.
The takeover of Bintulu Port took about three years, beginning with Abang Johari's announcement of the takeover intention on Jan 30, 2023, before the proposal was approved by the Sarawak Cabinet in February that year.
Anwar also announced the agreement to hand over Bintulu Port when tabling Budget 2024 in parliament on Oct 13, 2023.
The federal and state governments subsequently signed a memorandum of understanding on March 22, 2024, before the legislative process was finalised with the passage of Act 858 and Act 859 by the Dewan Rakyat in July 2024.
On Feb 4, the federal and Sarawak governments reached an agreement on the takeover value of LPB amounting to RM1.8bil.
A "completion agreement" was subsequently signed on June 21, 2026, followed by a cheque handover ceremony from Sarawak to the federal government in Bintulu. - Bernama
