Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah Chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe called on the State Government to treat the escalating congestion crisis at Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) with the utmost urgency.
He cautioned that without immediate intervention, the bottleneck could lead to economic regression for Sabah.
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Phoong noted that current infrastructure and operational challenges at the port have fallen short of required standards.
Frequent equipment breakdowns have slowed vessel turnaround times, while a backlog of empty containers has hampered yard efficiency, as the port struggles to facilitate the timely return of these containers to ships.
He said since DP World took over management of Sapangar Port in September 2024, the global operator pledged to reduce transit costs, shorten delivery times and raise performance standards across Sabah’s entire supply chain.
In light of these commitments, Phoong encourages the State Government to thoroughly review the progress of these promised investments.
Specifically, he suggested a review of the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) injected into the port and the status of critical machinery upgrades – such as new cranes and trucks – to ensure the facility meets its intended operational targets.
Furthermore, regarding the newly introduced RM500–RM1,000 “Congestion Surcharge,” Phoong expressed concern that the timing is particularly challenging for the private sector.
Given the current uncertainty in global geopolitical developments, he suggested that any increments in port fees be put on hold.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring that the costs of temporary operational challenges are not passed down to struggling SMEs and manufacturers during such volatile times.
Phoong urged the State Government to look into this crisis seriously and take all necessary measures to resolve the situation, including fostering greater transparency regarding the progress of the partnership with DP World.
He reminded all stakeholders that the port is the most crucial lifeline for Sabah’s economy, and its efficiency is directly tied to the survival of the State’s industrial sector.
Reflecting briefly on his past efforts, Phoong said he remained closely engaged with port efficiency during his previous role.
This included the strategic move of Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) operations from Sapangar Bay to the Kota Kinabalu Port, a measure implemented specifically to de-congest the main terminal and allow SBCP to focus entirely on container throughput until its expansion and upgrading are fully completed.
