Julaihi: Sarawak studying ways to take over Bintulu Port

0

Datuk Julaihi Narawi

KUCHING: The state government is currently studying ways to take over Bintulu Port and other federal entities in the state, said Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi.

Responding to a question from by Aidel Lariwoo (GPS-Sadong Jaya) in the State Legislative Assembly today, he said: “The study is aimed at finding the best way to empower port management in the state.”

Julaihi did not mention what are the other federal entities the state government wanted to take over.

Aidel had asked what were the state government’s plans to fully take over Bintulu Port from the federal government.

He also asked what was the land’s status of the Bintulu Port site as well as the state government’s share holdings in Bintulu Port.

Julaihi replied that the land belonged to the state government and was leased to Bintulu Port for 99 years.

“The site at Bintulu Port now belongs to the Sarawak state government and is leased starting March 5, 1983, until March 4, 2082, with a lease of RM1.5 million a year. When the lease expires, the land will still belong to the state government,” he said.

In terms of share holdings, Julaihi said that the state government had share holdings of 39.72 per cent in Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd.

The share holdings were through the State Financial Secretary (26.67%) and its subsidiary (13.04%).

In September, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing had revealed that the state government was aiming to take over Bintulu port.

He had also said the state government is studying whether the law enacted by Parliament in 1981 for the establishment of Bintulu Port is enforceable in Sarawak.

However, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has voiced his opposition, pointing out that it will not be an easy move for Sarawak as the port was established through an act of law in Parliament.