Keep Sabah ports in Sabahans’ hands – SAPP

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) calls on the Chief Minister and the Sabah Minister of Infrastructure to clarify press reports that Sabah’s ports, especially the container port at Sepanggar, will be open to investors from China.

Richard Yong

In a press statement yesterday, SAPP secretary general Datuk Richard Yong We Kong said that it has been reported that Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had told China investors that “Malaysia welcomes China’s firms to invest in Malaysian ports” and that the Sepanggar port “is still in the development stage and the government hoped to upgrade the port to international level in which foreign investments were much needed.” Liow was leading a big delegation of Malaysian businessmen and government officers for a three-day working visit to Beijing last week.

“Does Minister Datuk Seri Liow mean that the Sabah ports are now open for privatisation to China investors? If so, why is this not made known to the people of Sabah? Or is the federal Minister of Transport unduly interfering with the affairs of the Sabah government?” asked Richard.

“As far as we know, Sabah ports are relatively well managed. If investors are needed, then it is up to the Sabah government to organise it properly. But we feel that the ownership and control over Sabah ports must remain in the hands of Sabahans through Sabah government’s agencies,” said Richard, who is a former board member of the Sabah Ports Authority before the board was corporatised several years ago.

“The priority of the federal government, especially the Transport Minister, should be to abolish the dreaded Cabotage policy which is responsible for the higher costs of living in Sabah. The abolition of the Cabotage policy will also make Sabah’s ports more attractive to more shipping lines,” he said.