FSI calls for more funds for Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal

KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) is appealing to the Federal Government to inject additional funds to help finance future planning of the Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal (SBCT).

“If we aspire to create another hub port (SBCT), we appeal for more funds for future planning,” FSI president Datuk Mohd Basri Abd Gafar said.

He said the realization of the SBCT as a hub port must be given top priority by the Federal Government in order to speed up foreign vessels calling on Sabah ports and to address trade imbalance issue.

“We feel that the RM1.1 billion allocation for Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal, is nowhere close to the government’s allocation for development of Port Klang as the hub,” he said when commenting on the Cabotage Policy issue.

He said the FSI welcomes the cabotage policy exemption announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abduk Razak .

He also thanked Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman and Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for taking the initiative to further liberalize the policy.

Basri said FSI strongly believed that the liberalization as announced by the Prime Minister in May would be realized more effectively if the government would consider to endeavour to generate enough publicity and constantly promote the latest liberalization move to the global business communities and attract foreign liners to call on Sabah ports.

He said it was also vital the licensing authority played an important role in its effectiveness in implementation, above all, by adopting business-friendliness and reducing bureaucracy in issuing licences to foreign vessel owners keen to serve in this region.

“Form a national logistic council well-represented by stakeholders from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak for holistic views, input and coordination mechanisms to advance the nation’s logistics development and trade facilitation,” the FSI suggested.