KUCHING:The Kuching Port Authority (KPA) has created history by recording its highest cargo handling volume in the 65 years since its establishment.

Chairman of KPA and Tanjung Datu Assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan revealed that KPA handled 325,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers and a total cargo volume of 10.42 million tonnes last year.

"In terms of finances, this achievement resulted in a net surplus of RM16 million, numbers that reflect the hard work and commitment of every single KPA staff member," he said.

He said this when speaking at the KPA 65th Anniversary Dinner, which was officiated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg at a leading hotel here on Friday.

With this achievement, he added, KPA will not rest on its laurels but plans to construct a new container yard to increase its annual capacity by an additional 200,000 TEUs to accommodate the growing volume of vessels and cargo.

Furthermore, he stated that the vehicle storage area at Senari will also be expanded by the end of this year to accommodate an additional 1,000 vehicles, thereby increasing the total capacity to 3,500 vehicles.

"This step will position Senari as a major regional vehicle distribution hub," he said, adding that the Senari Terminal will also be expanded with a 250-metre wharf extension involving a cost ceiling of RM150 million.

Also present were the Sarawak Premier’s daughter Dayang Norjihan Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, President of the Dewan Negara Senator Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Ministers for Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak Datuk Ir. Aidel Lariwoo and Datuk Majang Renggi, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya and other dignitaries. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos By: Shahril Haqim
Translator: Ryan Lim