BIMP-EAGA urged to come up with clear connectivity policy
KOTA KINABALU: Top officials, members and industry players from Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-PhilippinesEast Asean Growth Area (BIMPEAGA) countries met in Puerto Princesa last weekend to discuss strategies on how to revive its direct flight and open sea link between Sabah and Palawan.
They also focussed on how to overcome barriers in their respective businesses, boost trading activities, and spur growth in the area.
Movement of people was disrupted over a decade ago when the weekly Kota KinabaluPuerto Princesa direct flight (MASwings) was suspended.
Despite continued aggressive efforts from Sabah and Palawan governments to pave way for a passenger/roll-on-roll-off cargo ferry operation, the sea connectivity project has yet to be realised.
As a result, the noble desire to see easy movements of goods and people between Kudat in Sabah and Bululuyan in Palawan remain uncertain.
During the 4th PEDCO Palawan Business and Tourism Forum (Jan 19-21), industry players participants strongly expressed their intentions to help realise and facilitate the resumption of direct flights and the once-thriving sea route to stimulate economic growth in the said regional groupings.
During gatherings of minds, BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Kudat chairman Datuk James Ibrahim urged top leaders of the regional grouping to formalise a clear air and sea connectivity policy.
He said it should be a one policy that will be recognised and respected by all the governments of the member-countries.
“A clear and uniform connectivity policy will pave way for smooth implementation of proposed and future connectivity projects intended for the people of the regional grouping…the policy will stop any unnecessary confusions and delays to industry players and the respective governments,” James told participants at the forum.
He added that the policy should also be respected by the respective international authorities involved in issuance of aviation and maritime official requirements and clearances.
The officials, participants, and other industry players agreed that it was observed of lately that air and sea connectivity projects implemented by concerned business councils (BEBC) still encounter unnecessary stumbling blocks as a result of the absence of a clear policy.
James said the policy must synchronised with the requirements of every individual government as well international regulatory organisation involved in the issuance of maritime and aviation clearances and certificates.
“Complying with international aviation and maritime certification requirements is also a major obstacle in the delay of connectivity projects faced by industry players,” James who is a respectable businessman and community leader of Sabah particularly Kudat stressed.
Frustrated with the long delays of the highly publicised KudatBululuyan Roll-On, Roll-Off ferry service, James reiterated that it is indeed vital for BIMP-EAGA leaders to seriously conduct round-table meeting to once and for all identify the most effective solution to address the much prolonged unsolved issue.
Carried by his emotion, James said the realisation of connectivity project in the district has been delayed for quite a long time despite both Sabah businessmen and Palawan counterparts having invested too much efforts, time and cash to the noble project.
“I have been working very hard with the Palawan businessmen and their provincial and local officials for more than two decades to make sure that the ferry operation will come true… unfortunately until we still don’t know when we can start operation,” he lamented.
James insisted that the KudatBululuyan ferry service will not only ease movement of people but also level-up economic revenues in many sectors of both borders particularly tourism, agriculture, and barter trade and commercial trading activities to mention few.
Latest last year, BIMP-EAGA’s connectivity project was officially launched in Sabah with the maiden voyage of M/V Princess Khalil signifying the Bongao-Lahad Datu new sea route.
However, scheduled regular ferry sea journeys has yet to start due to additional frequently changing maritime requirements both from national and international authorities.
Similar problems are now faced by the operator of recently launched Lahad Datu-W Sulawesi new route.
On the part of BIMP-EAGA, Mindanao Business Council Chairman Vicente T. Lao and BARMM Country Director Popoy Laudin as well as Palawan Country Director Eng. Cipriano DC Barroma and Palawan Alternate Country Director Alex A Paglumotan agreed that the time has come for top official to conduct a meeting to address and identify solutions regarding policy matters pertaining connectivity projects.
Lao also stressed on the importance of CQIS (CustomsQuarantine-ImmigrationSecurity) while Laudin vowed to give support to the proposal made by the Kudat chairman.
Barroma in reacting to the proposal said a clear and well supported connectivity policy is beneficial to all stakeholders and governments respectively.
“I fully support the holding of a round-table meeting and creation of a clear connectivity policy,” he stressed.
Expressing similar support, Paglumotan said, “We will make things happen.”
He said creation of the connectivity should be respected by all especially the relevant governments to ensure smooth flow of sea and air links endeavours now and in the future.
“We are looking for the launching of the KudatBululuyan ferry service…surely Malaysians and Filipinos will benefit from the noble projects,” Paglumotan added.
In a similar tune of support, BEBC Sabah Chairman Dr Raymond Alfred said he will also inform BIMP-EAGA Sabah Special Envoy Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on the issue.
“Yes, Datuk James’ suggestion is wise and most acceptable,” he said adding that the Sabah participants are pleased for being invited to the forum.
For Sabah Cross Border Trade Association President Razanah Paimin, she said the proposal raised by Datuk James Lim during the recently concluded business and tourism forum was a noble one which everyone should support.
“I strongly believe that having a clear and well supported connectivity policy for all will make things easy for the everyone and will improve revenues and level-up standard of living of Malaysians and Filipinos,” Razanah stressed.