BINTULU: The return of Bintulu Port to Sarawak after decades under federal administration is a very historic occasion for the state, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sarawak was not receiving the strategic asset for free, but was compensating the federal government for its acquisition.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for agreeing to return the port to the state government, with compensation agreed upon by both parties.
“Many people think that we are taking it for free. No. We are repaying you for the assets of Bintulu Port acquired by the Sarawak Government.
“There are many perceptions that Sarawak is always asking for more and more. But that is not the case. These matters are based on constitutional provisions and also on the Malaysia Agreement,” he said.
He said this during the cheque handover ceremony marking the transfer of Bintulu Port from federal to state ownership held at Menara Kidurong, Bintulu Port Authority here on Sunday.
Abang Johari recounted the history of Bintulu Port, noting that ports fall under the State List under the Federal Constitution.
However, when plans were made to develop Bintulu Port decades ago, Sarawak required a loan of approximately RM400 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“It was during this period that discussions took place between the late Tun Hussein Onn, who was then Prime Minister, and the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub.
“They agreed that the port would be developed by the federal government, even though, in principle, it fell under the State List.
“Both the federal and state governments agreed to this arrangement because, at that time, Sarawak was unable to provide the required guarantee for the ADB loan of about RM400 million.
“As a result, the management and implementation of Bintulu Port came under the federal government,” he explained.
Abang Johari expressed appreciation to Anwar for agreeing to return the port to Sarawak through a mutually agreed compensation arrangement.
He also thanked Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and their respective officials for their efforts in facilitating the transition of Bintulu Port from federal to state ownership.
Looking ahead, Abang Johari said Sarawak would continue upgrading the port with modern facilities to support the state’s evolving economic landscape.
He noted that Bintulu had been recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Transition Industrial Cluster, adding that Sarawak’s clean energy resources and low-carbon initiatives positioned it to become a leading sustainable economic hub.
“Bintulu Port will play a central role in achieving and maintaining that status,” he said.
The ceremony marked the formal conversion of Bintulu Port from a federal port to a state port, officiated by Uggah and Loke, and witnessed by Anwar, Abang Johari and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof.
The federal government and the Sarawak government reached an agreement in February on the acquisition of Bintulu Port for RM1.8 billion.
