Luke RintodAre Sabahans, who have suffered as a result of the implementation of the cabotage policy since 1980, so stupid as to have 'misunderstood' the policy?
KOTA KINABALU : Federal Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha has come under attack for alleging that Sabahans, who have been weighed down by cabotage policy since 1980, have ‘misread and misunderstood’ the whole concept of national policy which regulates shipment of goods between domestic ports.
State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah chairman Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Kong’s arrogant denial was a contradiction to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s view of the cabotage policy.
He took Kong to task for his statement that foreign ships were free to dock at any port in the state with no restrictions.
The cabotage policy stipulated that all foreign goods be transported within the country’s ports by Malaysian vessels only, once they arrived in Malaysia which is normally in Port Klang.
This has invariably contributed to the higher costs of goods in East Malaysia.
Various quarters in Sabah including the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) had been calling for the scrapping of the policy, which was implemented in 1980.
Kong had reportedly said: “The government actually practices very liberal cabotage policy in the country…
But people must understand what is cabotage policy, and when and where the ships can operate. There are misconceptions and mis-perception over the policy and issue.”
Kong’s dismissal of Sabah’s plea has touched a raw nerve here.
When did they cancel cabotage?
In a biting statement issued here today Kitingan slammed Kong, asking when the federal government had ‘cancelled’ the cabotage policy.
“Since when did the federal (government) cancel the cabotage policy? Please show us the special announcement that there is no more cabotage policy. Don’t just say it.
“Even the prime minister said “we are considering (on reviewing cabotage), but here a minister is saying there is no cabotage.
“(How can he) when this very cabotage policy has been strangling our economy in Sabah and Sarawak.
Because of cabotage, cost of living is higher here, cost of transportation is higher and this has discouraged investors from coming to Sabah,” said Kitingan.
He said the as a result of the cabotage policy there was a delay cost which eats into profits, invariably forcing local business to raise prices, much higher than in the peninsular adversely affecting the poor.
“It also makes our goods not competitive for export,” said the maverick politician from Harvard University.
Kitingan also challenged Najib to put his “commitment to Malaysians” by implementing the 20-points in the Malaysia Agreement.
“If you (Najib) really mean what you said that you are committed to the future of Malaysia as reported, then please implement the Malaysia Agreement, the 20 Points as the only way to save Malaysia is to respect the original concept of Malaysia and restore Sabah and Sarawak’s position as equal partners in the Federation.
“Furthermore, to save Malaysia will be to implement “one country, two systems” whereby a unitary system for the Malaya Federation and a federation system for Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya as equal partners,” he said.
He added that the Umno-led federal government had rescinded and blocked on many occasions the pledges to respect East Malaysia’s autonomy as granted in 1963.
The abolishment of the cabotage policy is one of the seven points in the Borneo Agenda that STAR and United Borneo Front (UBF) had seeked from a potential partner in the coming federal government.
Storage costs and the cost of port services contribute to the rising prices. The increase in prices of goods in Sabah said to be a result of the Cabotage policy is not necessarily true.
ReplyDeleteCabotage policy is an anti-autonomy policy imposed by Malaya on East Malaysia. This is to protect Port Kelang as shipping hub in
Deletesouth east asia.
If the policy is remove, Sabah ports can beat Port Kelang anytime due to Sabah strategically closer port to top 3 biggest economy in the World namely China, US and Japan.
Foreign ships are free to transport transit containers from main vessels that berth in Peninsular direct to Sabah. Any decision to import or export a container direct to or from Sabah is an independent business decision made by shipping company concerned.
ReplyDeleteImport or export a container direct to or from Sabah is NOT possible due to Cabotage policy.
DeleteOne of the reason of the increase in cost of goods is the rise in the oil prices. The volume of goods carry by the vessels is another factor lead to the increase of the cost in E.Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteNeed to do an investigation/studies on this matter.
Cabotage policy isn’t necessarily the cause of increase in prices of goods.
ReplyDeleteI presume other factors like increase in oil could have led to changes in prices of goods.
DeleteBetul, tapi secara tak langsung polisi ni pun agak membebankan juga.
DeleteIt is part of the reason why prices of goods is higher in East Malaysia.
Deletebetul tu, harga barang di sabah lebih mahal di sebabkan polisi ini.
DeleteThere is need to properly carry out several measures to study this issue.
ReplyDeleteDemi kebaikan bersama, cadangan ini patut dipertimbangkan.
DeleteInvestigating the matter will help resolve problems due to price increment.
ReplyDeleteI hope the government will do something about this concern.
ReplyDeleteApapun alasannya, asal namanya membebankan rakyat kaji balik dan kalau perlu masuhkan saja.
ReplyDeleteJangan tangguhkan hal ini lagi. Makin lama makin teruk pula jadinya, tahu sajalah sekarang ni dah dekat PRU.
ReplyDeleteHarap kerajaan akan buat sesuatu terhadap perkara ini.
ReplyDelete"We do not need the Minister to come here and tell us about the cabotage policy in other places. Like in United States, China or Australia, they have cabotage policy but it must be realised that in these places they have alternative modes of transportation like railways and road transport for transferring goods," he said.
ReplyDelete"But between the peninsula and Sabah, what other kind of transportation have we to transfer goods, it is only via seaÉit is different, we should look at the geographical differences. Unfortunately they (Ministry) do not look at it that way," he said.
"That is why I said there is nothing wrong about the cabotage policy, but just make sure they understand the scenarioÉwhy do we need to suffer for over 30 years just because of this policy.
What is your point of view?
I agree with you actually, there is nothing wrong with having the cabotage policy, however the implementation must be relevant to the current situation and does not burden the people. Najib said he might review the cabotage system and I hope those policies that are no longer works will be changed or eliminated. Cabotage actually has its own purpose, but make sure none of the points will affect the people negatively. I'm sure a win-win situation can be achieved if some thoughts are put into it.
DeleteFSM Datuk Wong Khen Tau yakin bahawa kerajaan akan menangani masalah kabotaj, kerajaan persekutuan sedang mempertimbangkan cadangan untuk mengaji semua sistem ini, diharapkan masalah kos pengangkutan yang tinggi ini akan diselesaikan supaya tidak lagi membebankan Sabah.
ReplyDeletedan diharapkan tindakan segera akan diambil oleh kerajaan.
Deletesudah beban dari 1980an sampai sekarang baru nak buat terlambat sudah sayang
DeleteMasih belum terlamat jika mau bantu dari sekarang ini.
DeleteKong has denied giving inaccurate information to the people in Sabah regarding the Cabotage policy. he said he understood the needs of Sabah people and the government had wanted a win-win situation for all stakeholders, particularly the people in Sabah
ReplyDeleteTalk Only No Action !
Deletepolisi ini membebankan rakyat sabah dan sarawak..
ReplyDeletemaka adalah wajar polisi ini dimansuhkan oleh kerajaan selari dengan konsep rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan..
ReplyDeletePolisi yang membebankan rakyat harus di mansuhkan sahaja.
Deleteatau naiktaraf pelabuhan di sabah sebagai pelabuhan mega..atau berikan subsidi barangan khasnya untuk sabah dan sarawak sahaja..
ReplyDeletediharapkan kerajaan akan berbuat sesuatu mengenai polisi ini demi kepentingan rakyat sabah dan sarawak.
ReplyDeleteSCRAP si Jeffrey! Raja KATAK!! suka lompat sana sini ja!! organize tea parties ja kerja.. teda pun ikhlas mau bantu rakyat!! complain ja kerja!! duit si Jeffrey mcm gunung mana dia simpan??? tolong la rakyat
ReplyDeleteJK ada agenda sendiri, bukan ikhlas mau bantu rakyat.
DeleteJeffrey pandai cakap sahaja, tindakan tiada.
ReplyDeletepolisi ini dikatakan membebankan rakyat, sebaiknya ia dikaji semula.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey have so much money and land time PBS and when he was in power Yayasan Sabah. What has he done with the money?? organising tea parties and complain only!!
ReplyDeleteJeffrey only like to hop about! He's the King of Frogs. He wants to join UMNO last time but got rejected! becos he's too crazy and corrupted!
Maka polici ini perlulah dikaji semula untuk memastikan beban akan berkurangan.
ReplyDeleteNamun saya ada dengar mengenai COOP1M yang akan dilaksanakan di Sabah dan Sarawak. Ini adalah bagi harga yang sama dengan apa yang ada di Semenanjung.
ReplyDeleteIf the cabotage policy has no benefit to Sabahans then why should we still want to implement it? Can we just abolish it?
ReplyDeleteThe status of the cabotage policy in Sabah is still under considering by the Federal Government.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reason, both parties should have the positive impact.
ReplyDeleteOn the claim that the cabotage policy had resulted in the high prices of goods in east Malaysia compared to the peninsula, it was evident that the prices of consumer goods had not gone down in tandem with the current lower freight rates and that the cause of this must be investigated by the relevant government agencies.
ReplyDelete