Bintulu Port Takeover Demonstrates Cooperation Between Federal & Sarawak Governments
BINTULU: The takeover of Bintulu Port’s management by the Sarawak Government starting September 1, 2026 proves that cooperation and mutual understanding between the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government can resolve complex issues together.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that the process took approximately three years before a solution was agreed upon by both parties.
“The Minister has gazetted the repeal of the Bintulu Port Act effective August 31, 2026, while starting September 1, 2026, the Sarawak Government will manage Bintulu Port,” he said.
He said this when met by the media after the Farewell Ceremony for the Bintulu Port Authority from the Federal Government here on Friday.
According to him, three main matters agreed upon in the takeover process involve the absorption of all Bintulu Port Authority (BPA) staff, the return of part of BPA’s assets, and related payments for those assets.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the resolution shows that an issue that was originally complex can be addressed through effort, mutual understanding, and the spirit of Malaysia.
“For Sarawak, we will commit to ensuring that Bintulu Port continues to be developed so that it becomes renowned not only in Malaysia, but also globally,” he said.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak, said the development of Bintulu Port also benefits Malaysia, in line with the principle that the development of Sarawak is part of national development.
Bintulu Port will fall under the management of the Sarawak Government starting this September 1, after 47 years of administration by the Federal Government.
Also present during the ceremony were Minister of Transport Malaysia Anthony Loke, Deputy Minister of Transport Malaysia Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, Deputy Ministers for Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo and Datuk Majang Renggi, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak (MIPD) Datu Chiew Chee Yau, Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, who is also a Member of the Bintulu Port Authority Board of Directors Dato Normah Osman, and General Manager of the Bintulu Port Authority Captain Zakhir Khan Yusop. — UKASnews
