Kota Kinabalu: An interim proposal to address congestion at Sepanggar Port will be tabled in the state Cabinet soon, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said.
The state Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transportation said the interim solution is necessary to immediately address the issue while waiting for the long-term measures to be implemented.
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Ewon said he previously accompanied a prime mover from a depot in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park to Sepanggar Port to collect a container that was to be delivered to a customer.
“I did it to fully understand and examine the complaints about the congestion faced at the port,” he said Sunday (Jan 11) after conducting the surprise inspection at Sepanggar Port here.
Ewon said that the inspection confirmed the complaints were valid, with several factors identified as contributing to the congestion, including operational efficiency issues.
“Many factors contribute to congestion at Sepanggar Port, but efficiency issues must be tackled and improved,” he said.
He stressed that congestion at Sepanggar Port has now become the number one priority for his ministry because the port is a key variable in the overall industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sabah.
“Congestion at this port has a direct impact on supply chains, logistics costs, and the competitiveness of industries and entrepreneurs in the state,” he said.
Ewon said several discussions will be held with relevant stakeholders before the Cabinet paper is presented to obtain approval for the interim solution.
He assured the people that the Sabah government is committed to ensuring smooth port operations to support Sabah’s sustainable economic growth.
