Chong (second left) and Yong at the press conference, together with Abdul Aziz (left) and Yii.
KUCHING: DAP Sarawak is calling on the state government to stop imposing channel maintenance recovery charges, through Kuching Port Authority (KPA), on shipping agents and importers until the Sarawak River dredging project has commenced.
According to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, there is no justification for the government or KPA to impose the charges since the dredging project is now delayed.
He said the charges were supposed to be implemented effective June 1 last year, but it was postponed by the late chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, was not happy that the charges were introduced beginning June 1 this year, forcing the shipping agents and importers here to ‘pay at least RM12 million per annum for nothing’.
“Please postpone it again until the (dredging) project commences, or until it reaches completed,” he told reporters here yesterday, accompanied by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and his two special assistants, Kelvin Yii and Abdul Aziz Isa.
Chong believed that the annual RM12 million in additional port charges named ‘channel maintenance recovery charges’ – though imposed on the shipping agents – would ultimately be transferred to the consumers.
“The state government has a moral obligation to reduce the burden of the people, not to impose ridiculous charges which add to the already high cost of living and suffering of the people,” he said.
Chong said the charges were purportedly introduced for the maintenance of the deepened Sarawak River to allow larger cargo ships to dock at Senari Port.
However, the river dredging project for Sarawak River, scheduled to kick off this year with an initial estimated cost of RM360 million, has yet to commence.
He said based on a written reply he received in Parliament on Tuesday, the cost of the project had inflated by RM100 million as the scope of works would now cover flushing effects work.
He also said during a debate in Parliament on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Abdul Aziz Kiprawi said the project was still under re-consideration for new budget to be approved.
“I don’t think the project would start this year.
“In other words, the dredging project is delayed even before its commencement,” said Chong.
Last year, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the federal government had allocated RM360 million to carry out dredging works over a period of four years at the Senari Terminal.
Liow was quoted as saying that a six-month study on the project had been on-going and the actual implementation should commence last October.
Dredging works are expected to involve a distance of 23.4km from Muara Tebas right to Pending, costing RM360 million to complete.