Kota Kinabalu: Shipping container haulage lorries queueing for four km outside the Sapangar Bay Container Port, Wednesday, is proof of valuable time wasted due to inefficient port operations.
“Logistic haulage companies have now imposed their own increase in haulage fees from RM200 to RM350 per container depending on the Last-Mile Delivery destination distance from the Sapangar Bay Container Port, Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) President Datuk Michael Lui Yen told a press conference, Wednesday.
“In the past, every lorry could expect to haul four to five containers per day. Now, many just manage to haul one and two if they are willing to do overtime and wait until night time,” Lui said.
Prior to this, due to ministerial entreaties to shipping lines companies not to levy congestion charges, they were willing to adopt a wait-and-see posture to determine whether the Sapangar Bay Container Port operations would improve after two weeks. Lui was not optimistic about the situation improving.
Lui who also the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) President conveyed appreciation to Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Ewon Benedick on behalf of the local business community for his help to get a temporary reprieve from shipping lines companies from imposing congestion charges.
However, Lui said the feedback is that not all ship owners would heed the Minister’s call, as some businesses continue to bear congestion charges in order to clear their refrigerated containers that have perishable shelf life foodstuff.
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Lui expressed grave concern that now shipping container haulage companies are imposing increased haulage charges due to the inefficiency of the Sapangar Bay Container Port operations due to lack of equipment and unproductive work culture causing delays.
Lui said it is feared that the shipping companies would re-impose their congestion charges after the long Hari Raya Haji-Kaamatan-Wesak and Agong’s birthday holidays.
He said the situation is driving up costs for businesses that is causing cost-push-inflation of retail prices affecting consumers, despite the temporary reprieve from shipping lines from imposing congestion surcharges.
Lui called for accountability to prove tangible improvements to solve delays and cost-push-inflation liabilities from the Sabah Port Authority, Suria Capital Holdings Berhad’s Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd in joint venture with DPW Sabah Sdn Bhd through DPW Sabah Sdn Bhd, and to show some goodwill to jointly bear the costs that were unfairly foisted on businesses and consumers.
