Wee: Hubs to boost connectivity between Sabah’s ports, airports

PETALING JAYA: At least three consolidation hubs along the Pan Borneo Highway will be set up by the Transport Ministry to develop the network to transport and distribute goods between Sabah’s ports and airports, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister said the plan was part of the Federal Government’s implementation of the Logistics and Trade Facilitation Masterplan.

The consolidation of cargo at trans-shipment hubs will enable significant cost savings by consolidating smaller shipments, leading to greater efficiency as well as a greener logistics network as fewer vehicle movements are necessary.

This would improve the supply chain, Dr Wee added.

“The consolidation hubs will be located in Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau.

“We will continue to engage industry players to identify locations that will give optimum impact to Sabah’s logistics ecosystem,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday following his virtual meeting with several Sabah logistics industry players.

The meeting was initiated by Sabah Logistics Forum (SLF) chairman Datuk Ng Kiat Min, who is also managing director of Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd.

Dr Wee also announced that the ministry has invited SLF to be part of the National Logistics Taskforce (NLTF).

“With SLF’s inclusion, the ministry can expect to receive more meaningful input on Sabah’s logistics landscape to aid Malaysia’s overall growth.

“NLTF is the space for a comprehensive bird’s eye view of initiatives and proposals to develop the logistics sector, and I welcome SLF’s ideas and suggestions to develop the Sabah side,” he said.

Dr Wee added that to ensure Sabah’s logistics infrastructure will grow in the most comprehensive manner possible, help from other agencies in related fields such as security and the economy is also necessary.

Saying that the virtual meeting was a “fruitful discussion”, he added that the ministry is looking forward to more engagements with industry players.

Also present during the meeting were Sabah Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association president Datuk Johnson Dai, Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sabah branch chairman Datuk Seri Wong Khen Thau, Federation of Sabah Industries president Richard Lim, Sabah Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers chairman James Ha, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia Sabah branch chairman Siti Noraishah Azizan, and Sabah Shipping Agents Association president Chow Yang Ann.