Sarawak in a ‘peculiar’ situation — SSSA chairman
SIBU: Sarawak is in a delicate situation as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) is the state government but at the federal level, it is in the opposition.
Chairman of Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA), Pierre Song, thus advised the people to be wise and careful when making decisions.
“For example, if we are to strive for the restoration of the initial period of independence, the original shipping laws and regulations, we still rely on the state government to negotiate with the federal government in G2G, which is more practical,” he said in his address at SSSA’s 32nd annual general meeting at Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce on Saturday.
Song reminded that though the cabotage policy had been relaxed for more than a year, prices of goods did not fall.
“We all know that this is caused by the state of Sabah. It is the consumer population that is motivated by some politicians and individual minds.
“Our shipping industry is a minority. We are still collecting information to prove that the high price is not caused by the inland navigation policy.
“In particular, in terms of Sabah, it should also be explained that the policy of inland navigation should be relaxed. Has it lowered the price and benefited the people?” he asked.
Meanwhile during the AGM, several issues were raised.
Among them were Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act 2017, maintaining Kuching as a port of registry in Malaysia, Edu- Cor fund to benefit Sarawak seafarers, and to review the cabotage policy exemption between East and West Malaysia.
Others were domestic safe manning requirements to continue applying to domestic ships plying East-West Malaysian routes, and Malaysian seafarers to be accorded taxexemption status in serving the types of ships.