MIRI: The state government has been called on to prioritise a project to deepen Miri Port in Kuala Baram.
Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the project would have a major impact on Miri’s economy.
“The completion of the channel will certainly help to boost the sustainable economic development of Miri, with bigger ships able to enter Miri Port and, at the same time, help boost the growth of the existing shipbuilding industry,” he said during the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Chinese New Year celebration on Friday.
Lee said the project was first proposed in 2010 as a solution to keep the river mouth passable to deep draft vessels.
“The proposal is also viewed as a good catalyst to promote other economic activities including tourism such as having cruise ships berthing at Miri Port,” he said.
Lee also thanked Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg for supporting Miri’s tourism development.
“More recently, the approval of transforming the Miri Resident’s and District Office into Miri Cultural Heritage Museum, which will become a reality soon, as well as approval of RM1 million to upgrade the road from Brunei CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine) to Sungai Tujuh CIQ to dual carriageway and approval of RM5 million each for tourism infrastructure and Tusan Beach shows that our CM is very concerned towards the development of Sarawak as a whole,” he said.