Phoong Jin Zhe
KOTA KINABALU: The State Cabinet has mandated the State Secretary to lead the efforts in addressing the Sepanggar Port congestion issues promptly.
Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said a meeting has been held recently with stakeholders including the Port Operator.
“I have been really concerned about the recent congestion issues at Sepanggar Port and the potential increase in surcharges, which have been highlighted by many including industry players lately.
“I’ve brought this critical issue to the attention of the state cabinet during our last meeting on Wednesday.
“The Cabinet understands how urgent this situation is and therefore has mandated the State Secretary to lead the efforts in addressing it promptly,” he said in a statement today.
Phoong emphasised the detrimental impact that prolonged congestion and increased surcharges could have on Sabah’s industrial sector and the overall economy.
“It will certainly hurt Sabahan’s industry and potentially cause inflation to consumers of Sabah.
“Sabah’s industry will suffer a lot if this issue persists. An increase in surcharges will only add to the burden on our industrial players and negatively affect the economic growth of Sabah. It’s crucial that we take immediate steps to ensure the efficient and effective operation of Sepanggar Port.
“Ports are vital for industrial development and play a crucial role in Sabah’s economic progress. We must ensure that the congestion issue must be resolved and the surcharges do not add unnecessary burdens to consumers and industrial players, especially when our major foreign investments and local industries are now significantly boosting our export performance,” he said.
Phoong said he and his Ministry are committed to working collaboratively with all relevant parties to ensure a swift and effective resolution to the port congestion issue, safeguarding the interests of Sabah’s industrial sector and overall economic stability.
