KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan Shu Kiah has urged federal ministers to communicate with one another to avoid making different statements on the cabotage policy.
Tan said it was difficult when Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek stated that the cabotage policy had to be removed because it was outdated but Transport Minister Dato’ Seri Liow Tiong Lai said repealing the policy was unnecessary as he could help Sabah.
On the other hand, Tan pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had clarified that it was not true that things in Sabah were expensive because of the cabotage policy.
“They give me an impression that they don’t even talk to one another. It is very easy for Shabery to check with Liow or Najib.
“Federal ministers must talk to one another,” the Industrial Development Minister said, referring to Shabery and Liow.
Tan said he had discussed and shared views with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman and Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan on the policy, as well as presented his views in the state cabinet. He also explained about the cabotage policy in the State Legislative Assembly and communicated with his colleagues, in addition to publications in the Sabah Industry Quarterly (SIQ).
Tan said this when asked to comment on Shabery’s recent statement that the implementation of the cabotage policy, particularly involving export companies in Sabah, would be discussed at next month’s meeting of the National Export Council.
Shabery said he understood the challenges faced by Sabah exporters in delivering their goods, in particular agro-food products to other countries, as they were forced to go through Port Klang first.
The federal minister also said the cabotage policy was no longer practical and was an old system that needed to be reviewed.
Tan said he was happy that Shabery’s concern on the export of some marine products that had to go through Port Klang.
“If he could find any way to resolve that would help the exporters, I will be happy to hear that.
“We want to make sure we could actually increase our exports, especially agriculture products.
Having said that, Tan pointed out that he was in charge of the manufacturing sector, and not agricultural products.
“As far as anything I say in relation to agricultural products, I am happy to hear that the minister is now addressing this problem, if that is the problem.”
He hoped that representatives from Sabah would be invited to attend the National Export Council meeting next month as well.
On the other hand, Tan urged the people to read and understand what he has written in SIQ about the cabotage policy before making statements.
“I want to clarify that as the Minister (of Industrial Development), I do not take sides (on whether to abolish the cabotage policy).
“I explain what cabotage is, what is true, what is false, by publishing it in the SIQ.
“My only hope is that people read what is published. These people talk a lot without reading and understanding what is written by me.
He said the SIQ also included views from Najib, Liow, Pairin and even the opposition on cabotage.
Tan said there were many ‘spin masters’, who claimed that agricultural and manufacturing products were having problems in export because of the cabotage policy, therefore making things more expensive in Sabah.
“That is not right. Najib has explained that in Sabah.
Whether it is agricultural or other products, Tan said the people should not blame the cabotage policy for causing everything in Sabah to be more expensive.
“That is too much. Don’t get carried away. Besides the SIQ publication, Tan said he had also advertised to explain about the cabotage policy.
“The only thing I ask is for the rakyat not to be confused. But if people do not read before making statements, I can’t say anything.
“I must insist after all the trouble I take to do my publication, that people do not make statement unless they have read what has already been published, whether it is my magazine (SIQ) or any other materials.
“You must read and understand the issue before you make a statement.”