KUCHING: Sarawak’s strategic location at the heart of Asia positions the state to tap into a 700-million population market through the development of the new deep-sea port at Tanjung Embang.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak’s location places it at the centre of 11 Asian countries, making the state a natural gateway for regional trade and logistics.
“If we look at the map, we can see that Kuching is not far away from the furthest in Asia now, China. On the other side, Hong Kong, and Korea as well. Our population is about 2.8 million.
“And our state is not as big as the others. But, God created us in the middle of Asia. If we are equidistant in Asia, Asia is our destination.
“The market is 700 million, and we cater to that 700 million population. Our future is there, our strength will be competitive, and we will become one of the main players in Asia,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the Kuching Port Authority’s (KPA) 65th Anniversary dinner at a hotel here last night (May 15).
The Premier said the proposed Tanjung Embang port was a long-term strategic move to sustain Sarawak’s economic growth while addressing the increasing cost of dredging the Sarawak River and surrounding waterways.
According to him, dredging works would need to be carried out every three years at an estimated cost of between RM300 million and RM500 million for each cycle.
“That is why our government now wants to develop a new port. From the cost-benefit analysis, the cumulative cost of dredging is high. But once you have a port somewhere else, you don’t have to dredge, then you save the cost in the long term,” he said.
He also said the development of the new deep-sea port at Tanjung Embang is crucial to ensuring Sarawak remains competitive in the future, particularly as global port operations become increasingly digitalised and efficient.
“In the long run, it will be cheaper, you get a new port, and then at the same time, with your superb services, that port can become one of the significant ports in Asia,” he said.
Citing the growth of cargo handling at the Kuching Port Authority, he said the port managed less than 200,000 tonnes of cargo in 1961 before increasing to 10.4 million tonnes in 2025 — a 74-fold increase.
He also praised Kuching Port Authority for becoming the first port in Malaysia to receive MS ISO 9002 certification for container handling management systems in 1998, followed by ISO 9001 certification for containerised, dry bulk and general cargo handling.
“These accomplishments reflect a strong and enduring culture of innovation and continuous improvement,” he said.
